Accession Number:

ADA471566

Title:

Defense Science Board 2005 Summer Study on Reducing Vulnerabilities to Weapons of Mass Destruction

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON DC ACQUISITION TECHNOLOGY AND LOGISTICS/BUSINESS SYSTEMS

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

2007-05-01

Pagination or Media Count:

83.0

Abstract:

Reducing U.S. vulnerabilities to weapons of mass destruction is a topic of great importance to the nations security. The technology of weapons of mass destruction WMD has proliferated in the past decade as information and capabilities have become more accessible. Thus, actions to prevent such an attack should have high priority for the U.S. government and the Department of Defense. Why is the threat from weapons of mass destruction so important today After all, the United States faced the potential of massive destruction from nuclear weapons in the former Soviet Union for nearly half a century during the Cold War. The principle answer lies in the uniqueness of the security environment today. The growing spread of weapons of mass destruction provides small groups of individuals with the ability to deliver devastating harm to the United States. Such power, in the past, could only be delivered by nation-states with large economic, political, industrial, military, and social resources. Furthermore, these resources were valued by nation-states and could be readily held at risk making such policies as mutually assured destruction effective in dealing with the threat.

Descriptors:

• *MASS DESTRUCTION WEAPONS
• NUCLEAR WEAPONS
• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• UNITED STATES
• POLICIES
• NATIONAL SECURITY
• OPERATIONAL READINESS

Subject Categories:

• Nuclear Weapons

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE