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April 24th, 2024 | 3:14 PM ET

The Evolution of Weapons of Mass Destruction

Posted: January 19th, 2016

North Korea’s claim to have tested a hydrogen bomb earlier this month and allegations that ISIS used a mustard agent against Iraqi Kurds in August have brought some deep questions to the forefront of our national security discussion on weapons of mass destruction (WMD):  Was a WMD really used?  Who used it and why?  How was it obtained? Will more follow? How should we respond?

Weapons of mass destruction—which include chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons—were once primarily considered strategic weapons developed by states for deterrence purposes.  The WMD threat is now expanding to include new users, targets, and motivations. 

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Categorized as:Defense Systems Tech/CyberTagged with:

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