Redefining the CBRN risk assessment

Abstract

Recent discussions on the nature of nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) warfare inevitably lead to the popular statement that the potential terrorist use of chemical and biological warfare agents, radiological “dirty bombs,” and nuclear (CBRN) devices represents the greatest threat to NATO and other countries. There is little, if any, discrimination made between the military application of NBC weapons by a nationstate such as North Korea or Pakistan and the terrorist application of CBRN hazards against noncombatant targets, despite the disparity in mass, sophistication, and impact of the two threats.