Nuclear Reset - Program on Strategic Stability Evaluation (POSSE)

Chapter 8. <strong>Nuclear</strong> Terrorism163the greater the probability of their unsanctioned use, including byterrorist groups.The U.S. 2010 <strong>Nuclear</strong> Posture ReviewThe nonclassified results of the U.S. 2010 <strong>Nuclear</strong> Posture Reviewpublished on April 10, 2010, 2 contain significant new elements forassessing nuclear threats to the United States. For the first timefor this type of document, it lists the main threats to U.S. securityas nuclear terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear weapons.At the same time, the document does not stop at simply identifyingthe danger, but contains a fairly detailed program for combatingthese threats as well.It alleges that Al Qaeda and its “extremist allies” are seekingto acquire nuclear weapons, and that if they had them, they woulduse them. Although terrorist groups do not currently have the resourcesto produce weapons-grade materials on their own, the factthat nuclear materials remain extremely susceptible to capture ortheft, together with the availability of sensitive equipment and technologieson the nuclear black market, creates a serious risk thatterrorists will be able to acquire everything they need to build a nuclearweapon.The document mentions three ways to prevent the proliferationof nuclear weapons and avert threats of nuclear terrorism. First,the United States will seek to bolster the nuclear nonproliferationregime and its cornerstone, the NPT. In order to further this goal,the United States must work to block the nuclear ambitions of Iranand North Korea, strengthen IAEA safeguards and enforce e compli-ance with them, establish barriers to the illegal trade in nuclearitems, and promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy in a way thatavoids creating additional risk of proliferation. The second elementis the active pursuit of the implementation of President BarackObama’s initiative to ensure reliable security for all vulnerablenuclear materials worldwide within four years. Finally, the thirdelement involves further arms control initiatives. Aside from finalizingthe new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty signed in April2010, the proposed measures also include Senate ratification of theComprehensive <strong>Nuclear</strong> Test Ban Treaty and its entry into force,and negotiation of a verifiable Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.