Wk5ThreatDiscussion
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Townsend Harris High School *
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101B
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Information Systems
Date
Nov 24, 2024
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docx
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According to Fuhrmann (2008), dual-use goods are "those that can be used in weapons of
mass destruction (WMD) programs or legal civilian applications." The intelligence community
has difficulty identifying the threat because the materials can be used for practical and radical
purposes. This is happening in China, where the government continues pursuing two different
goals: expanding internet access for the country's economy and business while enforcing certain
undesirable online behaviors. Additionally, China keeps expanding its cyberattacks around the
globe, continuing to target networks and steal intellectual property (Clapper, 2014). In addition,
analysts face significant risks from WMDs and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and
nuclear) threats. Weapons of mass destruction have emerged as one of the main concerns and
issues for the US intelligence communities, from Iran's nuclear weapons capability to worrying
about "dirty bombs." The efficient control of dual-use materials, such as WMDs and CBRN uses,
is one of the most crucial factors for US intelligence communities (INTL434, 2023).
Dual-use materials, such as CBRN, can be produced and used as hazardous weapons that
can kill hundreds of people and create millions of dollars’ worth of collateral damage. The
difficulty intelligence analysts face when analyzing the use of dual-use material is identifying the
material's commonality, worth, and purpose (Direnzo 2015). All across the world, intelligence-
gathering capabilities are evident. When intelligence analysts try to ascertain the employment of
dual-use materials, it cannot be easy because these items are employed for widespread purposes
and are simple to analyze (Clapper 2014).
For instance, fertilizers have two different uses. People can use them as a necessary
component of farms and crop growth. However, some fertilizers also produce results comparable
to those of weaponization. There are many examples of dual-use materials. However, with
technological improvements, US analysts are more concerned about their usage as some nation-
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states want to acquire and develop such dual-use materials as weapons. Their delivery system
seriously threatens American allies, forces stationed abroad, and national interests. (Clapper,
2014).
In today's globalized economy, biological and chemical materials frequently serve two
purposes: for scientific research and for people to create and deploy them as weapons of mass
devastation. The threat of dual-use materials and destabilizing the nuclear proliferation of such
materials from some nation-states, including Iran, North Korea, and Syria, pose a significant
challenge to the US intelligence community and analysts. They directly threaten the United
States as a country (Clapper, 2014). The most crucial of all is that the proliferation of WMDs and
CBRN does not only involve rival nation-states; non-state actors like terrorists may also utilize
them. Numerous reports and initiatives have involved terrorist organizations (particularly Al
Qaeda and ISIS) attempting to get WMD after 9/11. Osama Bin Laden even suggested using
WMDs was acceptable, as stated in the source (INTL434, 2023). When one imagines a future
where terrorists might exploit dual-use materials as WMDs; one would envision great upheaval
and disorder. Also, trying to regulate the development and acquisition of CBRN because of its
dual-use features would be the toughest task for analysts.
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References
INTL434. (2023). “
Week 5: WMD AND CBRN Threat Lessons
.” American Public University
System (APUS).
Clapper, J. R. (2014). Worldwide threat assessment of the US intelligence
community.
Washington DC
.
Dirienzo, T. P. (2015).
A Systems Analysis of US Army Operations in Cyberspace
(Doctoral
dissertation, The George Washington University).