Weapons of Mass Destruction and the New Terrorism

Weapons of Mass Destruction and The New Terrorism
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Weapons of Mass Destruction and The New Terrorism
Non-State Actors’ Willingness and Ability to Use WMD
Global nations have made significant advancements in deterring Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) becoming easily accessible by non-state actors. These efforts have reduced the threats of attacks, improving global health security. Despite achieving these milestones, Reynolds (2020) warns that no place has achieved absolute safety from the ever-looming WMD threats. The author acknowledges that non-state actors, including international and domestic terrorists, present a real threat due to their ongoing access to advanced education and technologies. Hummel and Burpo (2020) also support this observation by stating that small groups have increasing access to big weapons despite decades of collaboration between international bodies to prevent such a situation. Thus, the availability of know-how and technologies confirms the ability of non-state actors to design and willingly deploy WMD to further their diverse agendas.
The worrying issue facing many nations, including the United States, is that small terrorist groups have unfettered access to sophisticated technology and WMD knowledge. Hummel and Burpo (2020) identify specific technologies that present an increasing threat because their access is an enabler for the non-state actors and their ability to create diverse weapons. For instance, the author highlights synthetic biology, additive manufacturing, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as the leading causes of concern in the fight against WMD attacks by non-state actors (Hummel & Burpo, 2020). Although these advancements have transformed the world through associated development, including improving security surveillance, they also present a danger of misuse by violent non-state actors. Trends demonstrate that the ease of access to these technologies continues to equip terrorist groups and increase their ability to design and launch WMD attacks. As a result, Reynolds (2020) agrees that terrorists present emerging threats as they exploit existing technological improvements. Such aspects illustrate the worrying nexus between WMD attacks and emerging technologies.
Notable incidents confirm the willingness and ability of non-state actors to deploy WMD as a tool for advancing their agenda. Reynolds (2020) indicates that in the last three decades, terrorists have demonstrated their continued determination to execute WMD attacks in different global areas. For instance, in 1994, a chemical attack resulted in the mortality of eight individuals and the hospitalization of approximately 200 others in Matsumoto, Japan. Many other chemical attacks have occurred, including the Sarin one in Tokyo in 1995, the United States Anthrax release in 2001, gas in Khan al-Assal, Syria, in 2013, and the 2017 nerve gas strike in Khan Sheikhoun killing over 90 individuals (Reynolds, 2020). Other attacks were explosive and radiological. These events demonstrate that non-state actors remain willing to execute attacks for diverse purposes, including economic, religious, or pol...