Combating the Nuclear Terrorist Threat:A Comprehensive Approach to Nuclear Security

摘要

In his first speech on nonproliferation as president, Barack Obama addressed the threat of nuclear terrorism1 as "the most immediate and extreme threat to global security." He stated that the need to provide greater security for nuclear material and facilities is a global imperative. As terrorists have demonstrated their willingness to inflict mass casualties and announced their intention to acquire nuclear material, states around the world must join together to help ensure that the threat of nuclear terrorism does not become a reality. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plays a crucial role in helping the United States meet this mandate. Together with other interested U.S. governmental offices, the DOE and its predecessor organizations have worked, in cooperation with other states and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to prevent terrorists and other non-state actors from obtaining a nuclear weapon or the nuclear materials needed to develop one. Today, DOE's National Nuclear Security Administrations (NNSA) International Physical Protection Program, within the Office of International Regimes and Agreements (NA-243), conducts various activities, including bilateral visits to states that have received U.S.-obligated nuclear material, to support domestic and international obligations. This paper will first review the aforementioned legal obligations and then discuss the actions taken by the program to uphold U.S. laws and ensure international commitments are met.