Corey Hinderstein, the vice president
of the International Program at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, looks
back on the progress made in securing loose nuclear material in the ten
years since 9/11; more specifically, Hinderstein discusses the
likelihood of al Qaeda obtaining a nuclear bomb or nuclear material,
bolstering security at medical and industrial facilities that have
stockpiles of low-grade nuclear material, and the dangers of apathy
Corey Hinderstein: A great deal of progress has been made since 9/11, and there is a growing international consensus on the need for swift action to prevent a nuclear terrorist event. Thankfully, countries have a much greater awareness of what is at stake. More than ever, global policymakers recognize the potential for catastrophic human, environmental, economic, and societal damage if a terrorist were to succeed in using nuclear material in a bomb. This heightened awareness underscores the need to secure or eliminate all vulnerable nuclear material, as evidenced by President Obama’s 2009 Prague speech and the convening of the first Nuclear Security Summit, held last year in Washington, DC.
The United States, in particular, has made great strides through the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) at the Department of Energy, which works to identify, secure, remove, and in some cases dispose of vulnerable nuclear and radiological materials around the world. Since it was created by President Bush in 2004, GTRI has removed or secured more than 895 nuclear bombs worth of highly enriched uranium and plutonium.
Corey Hinderstein, VP of the International Program at NTI // Source: Nuclear Threat Initiative
Homeland Security NewsWire:
Two years after President Obama’s pledge to secure all nuclear material
around the world within four years and ten years after 9/11, what is
the current state of security for the stockpiles for nuclear weapons as
well as materials? That is to say, are the additional measures that have
been put in place over the past decade adequate, or does more need to
be done?Corey Hinderstein: A great deal of progress has been made since 9/11, and there is a growing international consensus on the need for swift action to prevent a nuclear terrorist event. Thankfully, countries have a much greater awareness of what is at stake. More than ever, global policymakers recognize the potential for catastrophic human, environmental, economic, and societal damage if a terrorist were to succeed in using nuclear material in a bomb. This heightened awareness underscores the need to secure or eliminate all vulnerable nuclear material, as evidenced by President Obama’s 2009 Prague speech and the convening of the first Nuclear Security Summit, held last year in Washington, DC.
The United States, in particular, has made great strides through the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) at the Department of Energy, which works to identify, secure, remove, and in some cases dispose of vulnerable nuclear and radiological materials around the world. Since it was created by President Bush in 2004, GTRI has removed or secured more than 895 nuclear bombs worth of highly enriched uranium and plutonium.
Nuclear security has also been strengthened through sustained engagement between the U.S. and Russia, including key U.S.
government threat reduction programs. The creation of the World
Institute for Nuclear Security has allowed countries to share best
practices in nuclear security and streamline processes to more
effectively secure nuclear and radiological materials. Finally,
President Obama’s Nuclear Security Summit in Washington brought
political attention at the head-of-state level to the issue of nuclear
terrorism, acknowledging that this global problem truly requires a
global solution. The second Summit will be held in March 2012 in Seoul,
South Korea.
Worldwide stocks of nuclear materials are undoubtedly more secure than they were ten years ago, but the job is not done. In fact, this must be a constant undertaking— even if the president’s four-year effort is met. Large amounts of nuclear and radiological material will remain in civil and military programs for the foreseeable future. Our efforts to secure this material will require vigilance and constant
http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/
Worldwide stocks of nuclear materials are undoubtedly more secure than they were ten years ago, but the job is not done. In fact, this must be a constant undertaking— even if the president’s four-year effort is met. Large amounts of nuclear and radiological material will remain in civil and military programs for the foreseeable future. Our efforts to secure this material will require vigilance and constant
http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/