Why Would Terrorists Want to Employ CBW?

here are several reasons why certain terrorist groups or individuals might favor the use of CBW over other kinds of weapons:

• If used effectively, CBW are potentially capable of inflicting a large number of casualties—more than is possible with conventional explosives
  
  
• CBW can have a greater psychological impact than conventional explosives, as suggested by the 2001 anthrax letter attacks, which killed only five people but frightened millions of Americans.
  
  
• Terrorists may seek to obtain greater status or bargaining power by demonstrating that they have the technological capabilities required to develop, produce, and deliver CBW agents.



• Although CBW agents are not nearly as destructive as nuclear weapons, they are much easier and cheaper to acquire.



• The psychology or ideology of a particular terrorist group or individual may lead to a fascination with poisons and disease.

This material is produced independently for NTI by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents.
Copyright © 2004 by MIIS.