Can We Deter Terrorists From Employing Weapons of Mass Destruction on the U.S. Homeland?

<p>Information discovered as a result of the current war on terrorism suggests a terrorist-led attack on the U.S. homeland involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD) remains a very real possibility. Some believe the U.S. faces its greatest WMD threat since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis but many discount the effect deterrence can have on terrorist groups. Deterrence however is an attractive option in that the costs to implement a deterrence-based strategy are minimal when compared to defending the entire homeland or defeating all elements of a threatening terrorist organization. Little research however has been done to evaluate the effectiveness deterrence can have on a group bent on harming the U.S. with WMD. This paper attempts to fill this void in the literature by exploring the contributions deterrent strategies can have on a terrorist group who may have the capability and/or intent to launch a WMD attack on America. A four-step model comprising 1) Screening 2) Analyzing 3) Strategizing and 4) Monitoring is developed to serve as a framework for policymakers in determining how to allocate resources and effort among deter defend and defeat strategies. At each step the model uses predictive organizational and self-examination factors to highlight the adversary's vulnerabilities and outline potential deterrent strategies. It is then tested against al Qaeda the terrorist organization presently posing the most likely WMD threat to the U.S. homeland in order to demonstrate its utility. The paper concludes with significant findings and recommendations for action.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>