Countering the nuclear threat to the homeland. Pt. I and II : hearing before the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, first session, March 14 and March 21, 2007.
Countering the nuclear threat to the homeland. Pt. I and II: hearing before the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, first session, March 14 and March 21, 2007.
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Contents: Countering the Changing Threat of International Terrorism, from the report of the Nat. Comm. on Terrorism; Road Map for Nat. Security: Imperative for Change, Phase III Report of the U.S. Comm. on Nat. Sec./21st Cent., excerpt on Securing the Nat. Homeland; Report Card on the DoE Nonprolif. Programs with Russia; The Threat of Bioterrorism and the Natural Spread of Infectious Diseases, Senate Comm. on Foreign Rel.; Report of the Accountability Review Boards on the Embassy Bombings in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam; 1st and 2nd Annual Reports of the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction: Assessing the Threat; and Toward a Nat. Strategy for Combating Terrorism.
Vulnerabilities abound in U.S. society. The openness and efficiency of our key infrastructures â€" transportation, information and telecommunications systems, health systems, the electric power grid, emergency response units, food and water supplies, and others â€" make them susceptible to terrorist attacks. Making the Nation Safer discusses technical approaches to mitigating these vulnerabilities. A broad range of topics are covered in this book, including: Nuclear and radiological threats, such as improvised nuclear devices and "dirty bombs;" Bioterrorism, medical research, agricultural systems and public health; Toxic chemicals and explosive materials; Information technology, such as communications systems, data management, cyber attacks, and identification and authentication systems; Energy systems, such as the electrical power grid and oil and natural gas systems; Transportation systems; Cities and fixed infrastructures, such as buildings, emergency operations centers, and tunnels; The response of people to terrorism, such as how quality of life and morale of the population can be a target of terrorists and how people respond to terrorist attacks; and Linked infrastructures, i.e. the vulnerabilities that result from the interdependencies of key systems. In each of these areas, there are recommendations on how to immediately apply existing knowledge and technology to make the nation safer and on starting research and development programs that could produce innovations that will strengthen key systems and protect us against future threats. The book also discusses issues affecting the government's ability to carry out the necessary science and engineering programs and the important role of industry, universities, and states, counties, and cities in homeland security efforts. A long term commitment to homeland security is necessary to make the nation safer, and this book lays out a roadmap of how science and engineering can assist in countering terrorism.
