A review of a book coming out in August reminds us of the ultimate terror threat: "Nuclear Terrorism: The Ultimate Precentable Catastrophe" by Graham Allison - founding Dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and the Berlfer Center for Science and International Affairs. The Center has mades its mission to track the remaining Soviet nuclear arsenal. The reviewer for the NYPress writes http://www.nypress.com/17/26/books/AlexanderZaitchik.cfm "It is a strange world indeed where dirty bombs are the good news." "Midway through...Allison has knocked out every reassuring myth about why a nuclear attack is less likely than other forms of terror." "Across the board, the situation is worse than people probably assume." "'On the current path,' Allison writes, 'a nuclear terrorist attack on America in the decade ahead is more likely than not.' If current trends are allowed to continue beyond the next decade, a nuclear attack 'becomes inevitable.'" But who would attack the US? "Three years before 9/11, the head of the Congressional Task Force on Nonconventional Terrorism told an audience in Washington, 'There is no longer much doubt that bin Laden has succeeded in is quest for nuclear suitcase bombs.' Allison believes the biggest threat to be a dark alliance between al Qaeda and Pakistani nuclear scientists, nine of whom have been underground since 1998, some with known extremist sympathies." But Jemaah Islamiyah, Chechen separatists, splinter groups within Hezbollah are all possible agents. What to do? While Bush recieves some praise, much criticism is directed at his administration. John Kerry has adopted most of his main proposals for a policy speech last month. Essentially, Allison would extend and refine an already successful program for the past. In 1991, the United States established a wide ranging security assistance initiative to help alleviate the adverse risks associated with many nuclear related problems. Informally called "Nunn Lugar" for its initial sponsors, Senators Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Sam Nunn (D-GA), the program is often referred to by its advocates as 'defense by other means.' Where is their Nobel Peace Prize? The US needs to build on this work, and I look forward to reading Allision's book. --Orson
