Government Failing to Protect America from Grave Threats of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism

Submitted by scott.madar on January 27, 2010 - 9:52am

On January 26, 2010, former Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) and former Senator Jim Talent (R-MO), chair and vice chair of the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, released a report card indicating that the U.S. government is not taking the necessary steps to protect the country from the threats posed by WMD and terrorism.

Of 17 grades, the report card includes three failing “F” grades on rapid and effective response to bioterrorism; Congressional oversight of homeland security and intelligence; and national security workforce recruitment.  Fortunately, all three grades could be substantially improved by committed leadership in Congress and the Administration.

The Report Card also includes “A” grades for achieving specific actions related to a review of domestic programs to secure dangerous pathogens, for finalizing and approving an Interagency Bioforensics Strategy, and for conducting recommended reorganization inside the National Security Council.

In December 2008, the Commission released its World at Risk report with a unanimous threat assessment: Unless the world community acts decisively and with great urgency, it is more likely than not that a weapon of mass destruction will be used in a terrorist attack somewhere in the world by the end of 2013.  That weapon is more likely to be biological than nuclear.  The Commission identified a series of recommendations and specific actions that Congress and the Administration should take to change the trajectory of risk.  The report card evaluates steps taken to implement these recommendations and to protect the United States from the threats of WMD proliferation and terrorism.

The threat assessment was based on multiple factors.  There is direct evidence that terrorists are trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction and acquiring WMD fits the tactical profile of terrorists. Terrorists also have global reach and the organizational sophistication to obtain and use WMD. Finally, the opportunity to acquire and use such weapons is growing exponentially because of the global proliferation of nuclear material and biological technologies.

Report Card Grades

Recommendation

Grade

Biological Risks

 

Enhance the nation’s capabilities for rapid response to prevent biological attacks from inflicting mass casualties.

F

Tighten government oversight of high-containment labs

D+

Conduct a comprehensive review of the domestic program to secure dangerous pathogens.

A

Strengthen domestic and global disease surveillance networks.

C

Propose a new action plan for achieving universal
adherence to the Biological Weapons Convention.

B+

Develop a national strategy for advancing bioforensic capabilities.

A

Nuclear Risks

 

Implement a comprehensive policy toward Pakistan.     

Incomplete

Work with Russia to reduce dangers of WMD.

C

Strengthen the nonproliferation regime.

B

Review cooperative nuclear security programs. 

B+

Government Reform

 

Reform congressional oversight to better address intelligence, homeland security, and crosscutting 21st-century national security missions.

F

Implement education and training programs to recruit and retain the next generation of national security experts.

F

Integrate, under a single overarching strategy, efforts to coordinate, integrate, and deliver foreign assistance, public diplomacy, and strategic communications.

C

Designate a White House principal advisor for WMD proliferation and terrorism.

A-

Create a more efficient and effective policy coordination structure by restructuring the National Security Council and Homeland Security Council.

A-

Citizen and Community Preparedness

 

Practice greater openness of public information so that citizens better understand the WMD threat.

B-

Work with a consortium of state and local governments to improve preparedness in the event of a WMD attack. 

C

 

The bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism was created by Congress to address the grave threat that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction poses to the United States. Its report, World at Risk, identified 13 recommendations consisting of 49 actions that Congress and the Administration should take to change the trajectory of risk. More information about the Commission, including the interim report, is available at www.preventwmd.gov

Source: Press Release

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