Tactical Nuclear Weapons: Emergent Threats in an Evolving Security Environment

By Brian Alexander, Brian Alexander, Alistair Millar

Book Overview

For three decades, arms control treaties have provided a legal basis for limiting and reducing long-range nuclear weapons. However, thousands of sub-strategic, or tactical, nuclear weapons (TNWs) are not monitored or controlled by any existing treaties or formal agreements, even though they can pose security risks equal to or exceeding those of strategic nuclear weapons.

As the world has seen, the rise of international terrorism highlights the potential dangers of tactical nuclear weapons. Because they can be relatively small and portable--particularly but not exclusively in the case of so-called "suitcase" bombs - tactical nuclear weapons are easier to transport and more vulnerable to theft than other nuclear weapons. In terrorists' hands, they would wreak havoc far surpassing the devastation of September 11. According to the Department of Defense, terrorists would most likely use a nuclear weapon against either a military installation or a political target (a seat of government, large population center, or commercial port city). This possibility raises the stakes in the international effort to control and reduce TNWs.

Despite the critical need for a more informed debate on the issues involving tactical nuclear weapons, little has been published previously on this subject. To bring more attention to this long-ignored danger, Brian Alexander and Alistair Millar have assembled a cadre of ten experts who frame the debate on a multitude of issues ranging from terrorism and arms control to the weapons programs of Russia, India, Pakistan, and China.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1574885855
• ISBN13: 9781574885859
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Potomac Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A critical debate on the issues

This expert analysis of considerable depth and weighty price tag might limit it to college-level collections strong in political issues and military insights, but this solid and very highly recommended analysis of three decades of arms control treaties and their legal and social impact makes for an important guide to any collection interested in international terrorism issues. Little has been published prior to this, making this critical debate on the issues surrounding tactical nuclear weapons an important addition to such a collection.

The GREATEST book!

This book is a very fabulous book that every person on the intire planet should read. I happen to know the author, and he is a very good writer and knows what he is talking about. I DEMAND YOU TO READ THIS BOOK :) YOU WILL ENJOY IT! ~ChristinE~