Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism

***** Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism. Russell D. Howard and James J. F. Forest, editors; published by McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, www.dushkin.com (Web); 624 pages; $41.25.

The potential for terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) has loomed for decades. In the post-9-11 world, however, it is all the more important that security managers know exactly what threats exist. This text is a credible reference that fills that need.

The book is a compendium of articles written by academics, social scientists, and government authorities on terrorism and WMDs, also known as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats. The essays address all of these and are divided into four basic sections: understanding the threat, responding, lessons-learned, and future threats. Some articles are case studies, covering incidents such as the Aum Shinrikyo cult’s 1995 sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway, and the 2001 anthrax mailings in the United States. Another piece addresses cyberterrorism as a potential WMD.

One particularly interesting article discusses the availability of instructional materials and technology for designing and building WMDs, both via the Internet and in published documents left over from the Cold War. The author addresses the fundamental question of whether terrorist groups can obtain WMDs. The answer, of course, is yes. The necessary materials, however, come at a price.

Each article is thoroughly annotated, offering the reader suggestions for further study. One of the book’s appendices provides an extremely interesting overview of the effects of CBRN weapons.

This book is not an easy read. It is complex, as is the subject matter. It would serve well as a reference for college or graduate level seminars on terrorism, but security professionals might also find it a useful reference outside of the classroom.

Reviewer: Adrian A. Barnie, CPP, CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner), CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist), is with the anti-money laundering unit of KeyBank’s financial intelligence unit in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a member of ASIS International.