Milton M. Hoenig

The hidden danger: Risks of nuclear terrorism

Abstract Nuclear power plants and research reactors are vulnerable to acts of sabotage and to terrorist attacks that could breach safety systems and result in releases of substantial amounts of radioactivity. In addition, with expanding civil commerce in weapon‐usable forms of plutonium and uranium, and with the vast numbers of tactical nuclear weapons stored in areas of intense terrorist activity, it is also plausible that terrorists could build or steal a weapon or carry out a credible hoax. As terrorist groups become more determined, more violent and more technologically advanced, the possibility of nuclear terrorism increases. The potential for nuclear terrorism should be a matter of special concern for Western Europe because of the possible interaction between a high level of “nuclearization” and a high level of terrorist activity by sophisticated groups operating across national boundaries. Potential risks and corrective measures are discussed here, based on the report of the International Task Forc...

Energy Department blurs line between civilian, military reactors

An unfinished nuclear power reactor in Washington state is the Energy Departments latest candidate for a facility to produce plutonium and tritium for nuclear weapons. The author believes the project is unsafe and provocative.