What is being done to prevent terrorists from obtaining nuclear weapons?

Nuclear explosion

Carol Forsloff - Washington - Every year there are world summits that bring leaders together to discuss various problems.  With the rise of terrorism, and of ISIS demonstrations and beheadings, there are more discussions worldwide.  But over the years meetings have emphasized the importance of not allowing nuclear weapons to fall into the hands of terrorists.

A major conference in 2010 underlined specifically how risky it is for terrorists to gain control over nuclear weapons.  A two-day conference of world leaders met to find ways to prevent extremists from obtaining nuclear weapons.

At the White House, that year, Joe Biden spoke with reporters and advised how important it is for the United States and other countries to work together to prevent terrorists from getting weapons and using them to create additionally dangerous concerns for the rest of the world.
This came also at a time when world leaders were attending a summit in Washington DC designed to develop plans for building cooperative relationships to reduce proliferation of nuclear weapons.

In his opening remarks prior to a luncheon meeting with these leaders, Biden stressed the aims of the summit, but also underlined the fact that the United States supports the peaceful uses of nuclear power and technology. He reminded the assembled attendees who are looking to use nuclear technology peacefully, "As countries seeking to develop your nuclear sectors, we stand ready to support you, to share our experience with you."

But Biden also observed that risks were involved in the proliferation of nuclear materials without proper controls and cooperative efforts, including with industry. He reminded them, "More than half the world's dangerous nuclear materials are owned not by governments but by industry. And we will work with them, as we will work with you, to address our common concerns.

These concerns were also expressed by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, who declared, "Nuclear terrorism is one of the greatest threats we face today. That is why, in Washington, I will call on all world leaders to come together, perhaps at the United Nations in September, to further advance this essential cause for humankind."

Ban went on to praise the recent START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty} signed by President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last week and ended his remarks with his intention, "to realize a world free of nuclear is a top priority of the United Nations and the most ardent aspiration of human beings."

The two-day summit was attended by nearly 50 world leaders at the time. President Obama met individually with many of them as his administration plays host to the gathering.

But beyond meetings, what do experts believe the leaders must do to prevent terrorists from obtaining nuclear weapons?

In 2012 the New York Times looked at this issue, reporting on how experts tell us security needs to be tightened and that terrorists look for loopholes in order to find weaknesses, gaps in security, where they can find information.

With the lapses in security, demonstrated by hacking incidents and the ability for folks like Edward Snowden to take secret materials, then take them first to China, then to Russia, US security experts are particularly alarmed.

At the same time, many of those in social media advocate for complete freedom on the Internet and that the revelation of government spying is critical for citizen information, even as security experts counter it.

And while the conversation escalates over freedom vs international security, government experts and others remind us it is just a matter of time before information falls into the wrong hands, an alarming possibility in a tinder box of issues.