Summary

Remember that homeland security began with the 1995 Tokyo Subway Attacks which were significant because it was the first time a non-state actor deployed a Weapon of Mass Destruction. The 1995 Tokyo Subway Attacks sent shockwaves through security establishments around the world because defenses to fend off WMD attacks from nation states do not work against non-state actors. National defenses are predicated on the concept of deterrence, the notion that if you attack me with WMD, I will retaliate with the same, if not worse. Deterrence works against nations because few leaders care to accept a no-win scenario. On the other hand, deterrence is meaningless against non-state actors because you can’t retaliate; you might send them to jail or even kill them, but time-and-again non-state actors have demonstrated their willingness to accept a no-win scenario. In short, they are more willing to commit suicide. In December 2018, the Trump Administration issued its new strategy for countering WMD in the hands of non-state actors, what they call: “WMD Terrorism”. The Department of Homeland Security Counter WMD Office plays an important role in the 2018 Strategy by trying to monitor and track potential radiological, nuclear, and biological threat to the US. The DHS CWMD Office monitors sensors located at major ports of entry and key sites both inside and outside the US. United States Code prohibits the acquisition, possession, and employment of WMD inside the US. The deliberate or even accidental release of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agents inside the US would most likely result in domestic catastrophic destruction.