Nuclear Terrorism: The Risks and Consequences of the Ultimate Disaster

(Paperback)

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Description

Americans in the twenty-first century are keenly aware of the many forms of terrorism: hijackings, biological attacks, chemical weapons. But, the deadliest form is almost too scary to think about - a terrorist group exploding a nuclear device in an American city. In the urgent call to action, Graham Allison, one of America's leading experts on nuclear weapons and national security, presents the evidence for two provocative, compelling conclusions. First, if policy makers in Washington keep doing what they are currently doing about the threat, a nuclear terrorist attack on America is inevitable. Second, the surprising and largely unrecognized good news is that nuclear terrorism is, in fact, preventable. Allison offers an ambitious but feasible blueprint for eliminating the possibility of nuclear terrorist attacks, if we are willing to face the issue squarely.

Reviews

Allison goes beyond the usual hand-wringing about a nuclear-armed Al Qaeda. He presents sharp critiques of White House failures to tackle the problem and proposes concrete solutions. - Newsweek

Comprehensive but accessible . . . a major contribution to public understanding. - The New York Times Book Review

In an era of colour-coded terror alerts and rigorous security checks, Allison provides a rare dose of alarmism well informed. - The Boston Globe

Allison makes the subject clear and accessible; his recommendations come across as not only logical, but also imperative. - Foreign Affairs

Author Bio

Graham Allison, founding dean of Harvard's modern John F Kennedy School of Government is the director of the Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs and the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government. The author of Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis, he served as special advisor. The author of Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis, he served as special advisor to the secretary of defence under President Reagan and as assistant secretary of defence under President Clinton.