The New Nuclear Threat

By: Bob Orr
Topics: Field Notes

(CBS)

Bob Orr is a correspondent for CBS News based in Washington.

Let me just say upfront this is a tough story to do, and we'll probably be criticized for hyping a threat that many people feel is improbable, if not impossible.

However, if the FBI is worried and the Russian government is worried, then I'm worried.

As far as we know, Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda have never gotten their hands on a nuclear weapon, but that's not for lack of trying. In 1998, bin Laden said acquiring nukes "for the defense of Muslims is a religious duty." And we know al Qaeda tried on at least one occasion to buy nuclear material from a bogus dealer who was more interested in stealing the terrorists' money.

Now, the FBI has called together security officials from 28 countries to discuss the nuclear threat and to map strategies for sharing information and cutting off the supply of materials on the black market.

Tonight on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric we'll talk one-on-one with FBI chief Robert Mueller, who warns in stark terms that the destruction of 9/11 could pale in comparison that caused by a nuclear strike against an American city.

We'll also take you inside the New York Police Department to show you what cops and technology are doing on the home front -- the last lines of defense.

While we don't want to exaggerate the threat, we can't ignore it either. The 9/11 Commission called the government's missteps leading up to 9/11 "a failure of imagination". Taking that lesson, no conceivable threat should be off the table for security officials or out of bounds for public discussion.

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by ericmichael1 June 14, 2007 2:10 PM EDT: I also wanted to mention that, as an anti-terrorism professional, I read a lot of terrorism-related books as they come into the public library system, but this is the only one of them that I would actually buy and have at home.

I do not know Mr. Aviv, but he reportedly was a former Israeli military officer involved in counter-terrorism. His advice is sound and put into simple terms.

Eric; Reply to this comment


by ericmichael1 June 14, 2007 1:19 PM EDT: Katie,

If we think it can't happen--we are deceiving ourselves.

But we don't have to act like survivalists, either. Fear isn't the answer. Education is. And Preparedness is, also.

The best $35.00 you can spend on Amazon (or
check it out of your library, but it definitely
is not a two week read):

The Complete Terrorism Survival Guide: How to Travel, Work and Live in Safety, by Juval Aviv.

It has simple instructions on what to do and what not to do in the event of a CBRNE attack and a hundred other good anti-terrorism tips. I highly recommend it, as it is written for laypeople and not just for professionals in anti-terrorism.

It could save you and your family if a weapon of mass destruction is used near your home or work. Since you guys live in NYC, it is even more imperative that you get it and read it.

Have a great day!

Eric; Reply to this comment


by crusademedia June 13, 2007 8:56 PM EDT: Al Qaeda has Nuclear Weapons and this is not a new threat. It is a few years old as a story.

http://www.crusade-media.com/news1.html; Reply to this comment


by one_american June 13, 2007 6:43 PM EDT: If anyone would be supplying dirty bomb materials to terrorists, look no further than Iran.

They are already fighting multiple proxy wars with watever weapons they can get their hands on...; Reply to this comment