Skip to page content

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Weapons of Mass Destruction
commentary
The Mission to Counter WMD: Avoiding Missteps While Transitioning Responsibility
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Feb 10, 2017
Defense One
U.S. Special Operations Command will soon lead the Pentagon's anti-WMD efforts. SOCOM is well positioned to contain and reduce threats, but will need new expertise to prevent the acquisition of related material and respond to crises.
Read More »

Chemical Terrorism
commentary
Deterring ISIS's Ambitions
Natasha Lander
Mar 7, 2016
The Cipher Brief
Western leaders cannot discount the possibility that ISIS may attempt a chemical attack within their borders. They should look to the robust alliances, treaty regimes, and international organizations to which most of them already ascribe as one way to address this threat.
Read More »
Biological Weapons and Warfare
commentary
Russia on the Horns of a Nuclear Dilemma
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Feb 19, 2016
Foreign Policy Concepts
While the murder of Alexander Litvinenko is a human tragedy, broader concerns about the lowering of WMD norms and violations of international law should be addressed. The use of radioactive matter to kill him represents a serious breach of international agreements.
Read More »
Nuclear Deterrence
commentary
Celebrating the Success of Project Sapphire
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Susan Koch, Jeffrey Starr
Nov 21, 2014
The National Interest
Twenty years ago this week, the United States transported over 600 kilograms of at-risk, weapons-usable highly enriched uranium (HEU) from Kazakhstan to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for safekeeping. Kazakhstan had the courage to trust its new relationship with the U.S. to help prevent the proliferation of dangerous material to countries that might seek to build nuclear weapons.
Read More »
Weapons of Mass Destruction
commentary
N.K. WMDs Carry Catastrophic Potential
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
Nov 19, 2014
The Korea Herald
The failure of the United States and South Korea to prevent North Korea from gaining significant quantities of weapons of mass destruction saddles those governments with serious military responsibilities, should North Korea go to war or should its government collapse.
Read More »
commentary
Intelligence -- a Funhouse of Reflections
Gregory F. Treverton
Feb 15, 2004
San Francisco Chronicle
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Read More »
commentary
Why We Didn't Get the Picture
Bruce Berkowitz
Feb 1, 2004
Washington Post
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Read More »
commentary
The Decision for War Was Still Right
Charles Wolf, Jr.
Jul 18, 2003
Wall Street Journal
commentaries by RAND Staff: insightful commentaries on current events, published in newspapers, magazines and journals worldwide.
Read More »
commentary
N. Korea's Threat to S. Korea
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
Mar 7, 2003
United Press International
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Read More »
commentary
Forum: What's a 'Just War' These Days?
Terrence Kelly
Feb 16, 2003
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
As we move from theory toward practice, Terrence K. Kelly re-examines the standards for an era of prolific weapons of mass destruction.
Read More »
commentary
War or Peace? Why, for Now, There Will Be No War with Iraq
Gregory F. Treverton
Jan 19, 2003
San Francisco Chronicle
commentaries by RAND Staff: Why, for now, there will be no war with Iraq.
Read More »
commentary
Iraq's Had Time to Really Hide Its Weapons Sites
John V. Parachini
Sep 19, 2002
Newsday
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Read More »
commentary
Sitting on the Sidelines Isn't Good Enough
Robert E. Hunter
Mar 11, 2002
Los Angeles Time
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Read More »
commentary
Osama Bin Laden--Not Wanted: Dead or Alive
John Arquilla
Dec 30, 2001
Los Angeles Times
Turning the next phase of this conflict into the most expensive manhunt in history might well divert attention and needed resources from what should be the war's central aim: to defeat Al Qaeda before it mounts an attack with a weapon of mass destruction.
Read More »