Will Terrorists Go Nuclear?

A leading expert on terrorism and a senior adviser at the RAND Corporation, Jenkins (Unconquerable Nation) addresses the contentious issue of nuclear terror in this exhaustive study that seeks to separate what we fear from what we might reasonably expect. The author traces the debate over nuclear terror from the Cold War to its contemporary nexus with al-Qaeda, noting that 9/11 renewed all the old debates and significantly altered our perceptions of what was plausible. Furthermore, the Bush administration's saber-rattling and the relentless media coverage exaggerated the threat and left the nation intentionally terrified. While acknowledging al-Qaeda's efforts to obtain nuclear weapons, Jenkins points out that the evidence confirms… ambition, not capability or the knowledge to fabricate a nuclear device. Finally, the author invites the reader to assume the role of president in a frightening scenario that begins with a nuclear blast in Manhattan. Jenkins's ambitious goal seems to be not to downplay the nuclear threat posed by terrorists but to get Americans to address it logically and dispassionately; his thoroughly documented and carefully reasoned study is an important step in that direction.