What is the likelihood that these and other terrorist organizations can use weapons of mass destruction?
This issue has been a policy concern. Osama Bin Laden has publicly pronounced that acquiring weapons of mass destruction, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN), is a religious duty. The threats are the following: • Nuclear weapons There is no persuasive evidence that the terrorist organizations possess nuclear weaponry or the means to deliver such weapons. However, both the United States and the Soviet Union developed portable “suitcase” nuclear weaponry during the cold war. Due to the secrecy involved with the development and locations of this weaponry, it is difficult to determine with certainty that all such devices are accounted for. Pakistan does have a limited nuclear capability but the threat of terrorist use of this weaponry is remote. • Chemical weapons These are agents such as the sarin gas used by an extremist organization in the Tokyo subway attack. There is no evidence at this point that terrorist organizations have the ability to cause mass destruction th
