The Seven Myths of Nuclear Terrorism By: Dianne Valencia

First Myth: What Terrorist Want Terrorists are not especially interested in staging a nuclear catastrophe. Terrorists are not especially interested in staging a nuclear catastrophe.

Second Myth: Getting The Bomb It is believed by many officials that the nuclear materials required to make a bomb are nearly impossible for terrorists to obtain. It is believed by many officials that the nuclear materials required to make a bomb are nearly impossible for terrorists to obtain.

Third Myth: Making The Bomb Nuclear terrorism conflates the difficulty of producing the nuclear material needed for a bomb. Nuclear terrorism conflates the difficulty of producing the nuclear material needed for a bomb.

Fourth Myth: The Search For Sponsors The myth is that the only plausible way terrorists could get a nuclear bomb or the ability to make one is from a state. The myth is that the only plausible way terrorists could get a nuclear bomb or the ability to make one is from a state.

Fifth Myth: The Defense Of Borders A mistaken belief is that it is possible to put in place around the United States and other major countries a security cordon that can reduce to a low level the risk those nuclear weapons and materials might be smuggled in. A mistaken belief is that it is possible to put in place around the United States and other major countries a security cordon that can reduce to a low level the risk those nuclear weapons and materials might be smuggled in.

Sixth Myth: The Military Option The notion that such an offensive alone will be able to dispel the shadow of danger. It is crucial for the United States and its allies to do everything they can to destroy terrorist groups that have nuclear ambitions. The notion that such an offensive alone will be able to dispel the shadow of danger. It is crucial for the United States and its allies to do everything they can to destroy terrorist groups that have nuclear ambitions.

Seventh Myth: What States Want This applies to states rather than terrorist groups. The states would prefer to have indigenous nuclear material production capabilities, but such capabilities are expensive and difficult to acquire. This applies to states rather than terrorist groups. The states would prefer to have indigenous nuclear material production capabilities, but such capabilities are expensive and difficult to acquire.

Conclusion The good news is that nuclear terrorism is largely solvable if nuclear bombs and bomb materials can be kept out of terrorist hands. The good news is that nuclear terrorism is largely solvable if nuclear bombs and bomb materials can be kept out of terrorist hands.