NCJ Number
190883
Date Published
2000
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This chapter described the easiest means by which a terrorist group can acquire nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) weapons: state support and sponsorship.
Abstract
State sponsorship of terrorism has increased since the 1970's, much of it with broad political objectives such as the overthrow of specific regimes and the extension of the political influence of the sponsoring state. During the Cold War, the United States funded and armed numerous anticommunist groups in the developing world such as the Contras in Nicaragua. In the post Cold War world, there has been a shift in state sponsors of terrorism to states in the developing world. The seminal event in using nonstate actors to pursue foreign policy goals was the seizure of the United States Embassy in Iran in 1979. In 1999 the United States designated Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Libya, Sudan, and Syria as state sponsors of terrorism, and stated that Afghanistan was not cooperating in antiterrorist activities. Many of these states have religious and ideological motivations for sponsoring terrorism. It is Iran that is generally considered to be the most active sponsor of terrorism. The majority of the alleged sponsors of terrorism are believed to possess chemical, biological, and radiological weapons. One of the key factors that could impact upon the frequency and nature of state sponsorship of NBC terrorism is the actions of powerful rogue elements within governments and bureaucracies. One of the principal factors inhibiting state sponsors from NBC terrorism is the fear of retribution if they were ever discovered to be responsible for such an attack. Desperate leaders in these states might release NBC weapons to terrorist groups to further their goals, particularly if their regime was threatened, and they wanted to exact final revenge against their enemies. It could be concluded that an act of state-sponsored terrorism would be such an extreme act that it would be an option of last resort for any of these states. 40 notes