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The Nuclear Terrorism Readiness And Alert Center: Transforming The Aspirational Nature Of International Law Into Operational Capabilities, Mckay Smith

McKay Smith

Senior government officials, particularly those in the Intelligence Community, need to find a novel and creative solution for combating the deadly threat of nuclear terrorism. For decades the United States has been heavily involved in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons through traditional international law. It is noteworthy, however, that the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, the crown jewel of all arms control treaties, does not contain a feasible method of countering the threat of nuclear terrorism. Taken as a whole, treaty law does not lend itself to conflicts against non-state actors such as al-Qaeda. Specifically, terrorists do not sign non-proliferation treaties …