Project on Managing the Atom, Harvard University and Nuclear Threat Initiative
May 2002
HKS Authors
See citation below for complete author information.
James R. Schlesinger Professor of the Practice of Energy, National Security, and Foreign Policy
Teresa and John Heinz Research Professor of Environmental Policy
Abstract
The possibility that terrorists could acquire a nuclear weapon and explode it in a U.S.
city is real. This would be a more difficult f
eat than chemical or biological terrorism, but the
massive, assured, instantaneous, and comprehensive destruction of life and property that
would result may make this a priority for terrorists. While efforts to reduce the chances of
this happening have been underway since long before last September 11 – and have recently
been bolstered in some respects – the size and the speed of the U.S. and international
response is not yet remotely commensurate with the magnitude of the threat. This report
briefly reviews the dimensions of the danger and the efforts now underway to combat it, and
then recommends seven sets of actions that ought to be undertaken immediately to bolster the
barriers against this horrifying threat.
Citation
Bunn, Matthew, John P. Holdren, and Anthony Wier. "Securing Nuclear Weapons and Materials: Seven Steps for Immediate Action." Project on Managing the Atom, Harvard University and Nuclear Threat Initiative, May 2002.