ISSUE 6:
Terrorism is growing in intensity, scale, and threat.

Terrorism is increasingly destructive, proliferating, and difficult to prevent. In addition to conventional explosives, chemical weapons, computer viruses, the weapons that may become available to terrorists, e.g. nuclear and biological weapons make the threat increasingly ominous. The arsenals of the United States, Russia, and many other nations contain biological and chemical weapons that also have massive killing potential. These materials need not be stolen since their manufacture requires easily obtainable raw materials and conventional technology.

    Actions to address this issue that were rated the most effective and practical:

  1. Tighten laws, regulations, and inspections associated with security of nuclear stocks - led by governments with some leadership by UN organizations.

  2. Destroy existing stockpiles of biological weapons - led by governments with some leadership by UN organizations.

  3. At least double the amount of funding devoted to protection against terrorist acts, such as airport security - led by governments.
    Other suggested actions by order of effectiveness:

  4. Expand coordination/cooperation among nations (especially among those that might not normally cooperate) regarnding information, early warning, apprehension, and punishment of terrorists - led by governments with some leadership by UN organizations.

  5. At least double the amount of funding devoted to detection, capture and punishment of terrorists; perhaps shifting funds from conventional military to anti-terrorism - led by governments.

  6. Develop protection strategies for biological attack - led by governments.

  7. Create social marketing programs that promote respect and tolerance for ethnic and other forms of diversity - led by NGO's with some leadership by governments.

  8. Plan to build resilience and redundancies into socio-technical systems to avoid possible catastrophic disruptions (including electronic infrastructures from info-terrorism) - led by governments.

  9. Establish an open forum for discussion of issues that enflame terrorists - led by NGOs and UN organizations.

  10. Toughen world wide penalties for convicted terrorists, including mandatory death sentences - led by governments.

Return to Index

Last Updated: