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Articles by Nickolas Roth
Why al-Zawahiri’s death should focus attention on nuclear terrorism-foreign and domestic
The news that Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of the al-Qaeda terror group, was killed in a drone strike is not just a counterterrorism victory, but also a win for those seeking to prevent catastrophic nuclear terrorism. Al-Zawahiri’s role in the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center is well known, but his role in supporting al-Qaeda’s elaborate attempts to acquire a nuclear weapon is less well publicized. The threat of nuclear terrorism is not hypothetical.
The Ukraine invasion highlights why Biden’s Nuclear Posture Review should endorse bold new vision for nuclear security
"Molten plutonium in processing" by Los Alamos National Laboratory is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 The political crisis and human tragedy unfolding in Europe as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will dominate national security debates for the foreseeable future. As the world’s eyes focus on this conflict in the coming days and weeks, the Biden administration will likely also be rolling out key nuclear policy documents.
Nuclear Security News and Member Updates Roundup, August 2021
COVID-19 Notice: To protect the health of our team and our community, Stimson Center staff are working remotely. The Stimson office is closed to all visitors. All public events are now online. Staff remain available via email, phone, and video conference. During this time, the Stimson Center will continue its important work, informing policymakers and the public — here, on social media, and via email.
Security Under Strain? Protecting Nuclear Materials During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Although it is not the first crisis the nuclear sector has faced, the coronavirus pandemic is unprecedented due to its global scale, extended duration and direct impact on humans. While many governments and nuclear industry bodies had developed contingency plans for pandemics and other extreme events, it is intrinsically difficult for these to be realistically tested and exercised in advance.
U.S. Priorities for Reducing the Risk of Nuclear Terrorism
An act of nuclear terrorism anywhere in the world would be a global humanitarian, economic, and political catastrophe, and would undermine the role of nuclear technology for energy, medical, industrial, and other purposes. Unfortunately, this is not a hypothetical concern. Well-resourced terrorist groups espousing apocalyptic ideology have pursued nuclear weapons in the past.
A threat to confront: far-right extremists and nuclear terrorism
Last March, neo-Nazi Timothy Wilson was killed during a shootout as he was planning to bomb a hospital treating COVID-19 patients.
Nuclear safety, coronavirus, nuclear weapons, nuclear power
Nuclear safetyMaintaining Nuclear Safety and Security During the COVID-19 Crisis By William Tobey, Simon Saradzhyan, and Nickolas Roth Published 21 April 2020 Every major industry on earth is struggling to adapt in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes nuclear facilities and nuclear-powered vessels, which count among the critical infrastructure of dozens of nations now struggling with the pandemic, representing more than half the world’s population.
How to keep nuclear power plants operating safely during the coronavirus pandemic
Masked policemen are seen on the grounds of the Federal Supreme Court (Bundesgerichtshof) in Karlsruhe, southern Germany, after five Tajiks suspected to be members of an Islamic State terror cell were arrested.
Maintaining Nuclear Safety and Security During the COVID-19 Crisis
Every major industry on earth is struggling to adapt in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes nuclear facilities and nuclear-powered vessels, which count among the critical infrastructure of dozens of nations now struggling with the pandemic, representing more than half the world’s population. Meanwhile, ISIS has already announced its intent to exploit the pandemic while a number of other violent extremist organizations are also taking pains to exploit the crisis.
Presidential candidates need a plan for reducing nuclear terrorism risks
As presidential candidates hit the campaign trail this year, voters should ask them: “What’s your plan for keeping nuclear weapons and the materials to make them out of terrorist hands?” Every candidate who is serious about national security should have an answer to that question; every president for more than two decades, including Donald Trump, has described nuclear terrorism as one of the gravest dangers the United States faces.
Rhetoric aside, the US commitment to preventing nuclear terrorism is waning
With the world focused on the United States and North Korea, it’s easy to forget that every president for a quarter-century has said preventing nuclear terrorism was a national security priority.
The effects of a single terrorist nuclear bomb
The escalating threats between North Korea and the United States make it easy to forget the “nuclear nightmare,” as former US Secretary of Defense William J. Perry put it, that could result even from the use of just a single terrorist nuclear bomb in the heart of a major city.
The future of US-Russian nuclear deterrence and arms control
During the latter part of the Cold War, many strategists thought of nuclear deterrence and arms control as two of the most essential stabilizing elements of the same strategy in managing an adversarial relationship. The renewed crisis between the West (the United States and NATO member states) and Russia demonstrates how critical these elements are to the strategic nuclear relationship.
Managing the Atom | Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
In the modern era, there is great convergence in the technologies used by friendly nations and by hostile ones. Signals intelligence agencies find themselves penetrating the technologies that they also at times must protect. To ease this tension, the United States and its partners have relied on an approach sometimes called Nobody But Us, or NOBUS: target communications mechanisms using unique methods accessible only to the United States.
Book Review: The Era Of U.S.-Russian Nuclear Cooperation - Harvard - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: International Security; Managing the Atom; Science, Technology, and Public Policy The social and economic chaos of the Soviet Union’s collapse engulfed its nuclear weapons complex as well, potentially putting at risk thousands of nuclear weapons and enough nuclear material to make tens of thousands more.
The Era Of U.S.-Russian Nuclear Cooperation - Harvard - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: International Security; Managing the Atom; Science, Technology, and Public Policy The social and economic chaos of the Soviet Union’s collapse engulfed its nuclear weapons complex as well, potentially putting at risk thousands of nuclear weapons and enough nuclear material to make tens of thousands more.
Iran’s Parchin Particles: Why Should Two Mites of Uranium Matter? - Harvard - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Two specks of uranium might determine whether or not the Iran nuclear deal succeeds or fails. “The Obama administration has concluded that uranium particles discovered last year at a secretive Iranian military base likely were tied to the country’s past, covert nuclear weapons program,” the Wall Street Journal reported last month. The International Atomic Energy Agency first disclosed the discovery in a footnote to a key report last December.
"Strengthening Nuclear Security in a Post-Summit World"
Authors: Martin B. Malin, Executive Director, Project on Managing the Atom, Nickolas Roth, Research Associate, Project on Managing the Atom Belfer Center Programs or Projects: International Security; Managing the Atom; Science, Technology, and Public Policy This spring, the United States hosted the fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC.
Russia in Review
Russia in Review Media Feature July 1, 2016 Belfer Center Programs or Projects: US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism ABSTRACTRussia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for June 24-July 1, 2016 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda. Nuclear security: The upper house of the Russian parliament has approved the creation of a National Guard.
U.S. can't ignore rising nuclear danger
It is, of course, not unusual for candidates to critique each other's qualifications. But there is a good reason why assessing the candidates' judgment and temperament is particularly important: The president of the United States has complete authority over more than 1,000 nuclear weapons ready to launch. The reality is that miscalculation or miscommunication with another country could result in catastrophe.
Opinion: U.S. can't ignore rising nuclear danger
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are once again trading barbs over who has the right disposition to be president -- including who is best suited to have a "finger on the button." It is, of course, not unusual for candidates to critique each other's qualifications. But there is a good reason why assessing the candidates' judgment and temperament is particularly important: The president of the United States has complete authority over more than 1,000 nuclear weapons ready to launch.
"U.S. can't ignore rising nuclear danger"
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: International Security; Managing the Atom; Science, Technology, and Public Policy "Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are once again trading barbs over who has the right disposition to be president -- including who is best suited to have a "finger on the button. It is, of course, not unusual for candidates to critique each other's qualifications.
Opinion: U.S. can't ignore rising nuclear danger
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are once again trading barbs over who has the right disposition to be president -- including who is best suited to have a "finger on the button." It is, of course, not unusual for candidates to critique each other's qualifications. But there is a good reason why assessing the candidates' judgment and temperament is particularly important: The president of the United States has complete authority over more than 1,000 nuclear weapons ready to launch.
"A New Era for Nuclear Security"
Authors: Martin B. Malin, Executive Director, Project on Managing the Atom, Nickolas Roth, Research Associate, Project on Managing the Atom Belfer Center Programs or Projects: International Security; Managing the Atom; Science, Technology, and Public Policy The 2016 nuclear security summit was a pivotal moment for the decades-long effort to secure nuclear material around the globe.
"Japanese Nuclear Material Arrives in the United States"
Op-Ed, Nuclear Security Matters, Project on Managing the Atom, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center Programs or Projects: International Security; Managing the Atom; Science, Technology, and Public Policy This week the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced that 546 kilograms of plutonium and highly enriched uranium (HEU) shipped from Japan arrived in the United States.
"A Step Forward for the International Nuclear Security Regime"
Op-Ed, Nuclear Security Matters, Project on Managing the Atom, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center Programs or Projects: International Security; Managing the Atom; Science, Technology, and Public Policy "One of the key announcements at the Nuclear Security Summit today was that enough countries have ratified the amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials (CPPNM) for it to enter into force.
"Belfer Experts Work to Strengthen Nuclear Security"
Authors: Nickolas Roth, Research Associate, Project on Managing the Atom, Martin B. Malin, Executive Director, Project on Managing the Atom In the months and weeks before the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C., Belfer experts promoted a series of ideas to strengthen measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapons or the essential ingredients to make them.
"Nuclear security: Continuous improvement or dangerous decline?"
Authors: Matthew Bunn, Professor of Practice; Co-Principal Investigator, Project on Managing the Atom, Martin B. Malin, Executive Director, Project on Managing the Atom, William H.
Preventing Nuclear Terrorism: Continuous Improvement or Dangerous Decline?
Report, Project on Managing the Atom, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School Authors: Matthew Bunn, Professor of Practice; Co-Principal Investigator, Project on Managing the Atom, William H. Tobey, Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Martin B.
Russia in Review
Russia in Review Media Feature September 18, 2015 Belfer Center Programs or Projects: US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for September 11-18, 2015 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda. Nuclear security: No significant developments. Iran nuclear issues: No significant developments.
Russia in Review
Russia in Review Media Feature July 24, 2015 Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for July 17-24, �2015 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda. Nuclear security agenda: Two suspected terrorists arrested by the Italian police allegedly were planning an attack against the nuclear weapons base at Ghedi.
Russia in Review
Russia in Review Media Feature July 10, 2015 Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for July 3-10, 2015 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda.
Russia in Review
Russia in Review Media Feature June 26, 2015 Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for June 19-26, 2015 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda. Nuclear security agenda: No significant developments.
Russia in Review
Russia in Review Media Feature June 19, 2015 Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for June 12-19, 2015 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda.
"U.S.-Russian Nuclear Security Cooperation: Rebuilding Equality, Mutual Benefit, and Respect"
Policy Brief, Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy, University of Hamburg Belfer Center Programs or Projects: International Security; Managing the Atom; Science, Technology, and Public Policy The United States and Russia are the two countries with the vast majority of the world's nuclear weapons and material.
Russia in Review
Russia in Review Media Feature June 5, 2015 Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for May 30 � June 5, 2015 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda.
Russia in Review
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for May 22-29, 2015 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda. A report by the UN security council says there are more than 25,000 foreign terrorist fighters currently involved in jihadi conflicts and they are travelling from more than 100 member states. (Guardian, 05.26.15).
Russia in Review
Russia in Review Media Feature May 22, 2015 Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for May 15-22, 2015 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda.
"Don't Weaken Our Defenses Against Nuclear Smuggling"
Authors: William H.
Russia in Review
Russia in Review Media Feature February 13, 2015 Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for February 6-12, 2014 � I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda.
Russia in Review
Russia in Review Media Feature February 6, 2015 Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for January 30 - February 6, 2014 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda.
Russia in Review
Russia in Review Media Feature January 30, 2015 Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for January 23-30, 2014 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda.
Belfer Center Named Top University Think Tank
For the second year in a row and the third time in four years, Harvard Kennedy Schools Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs has been ranked the best university-affiliated research center in the world. The ranking appears in the Global Go To Think Thank Index, produced annually by James McGann, director of the University of Pennsylvanias Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program.
Russia in Review
Russia in Review Media Feature January 23, 2015 Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for January 16-23, 2014 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda.
"Strengthening International Nuclear Security Cooperation"
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: International Security; Managing the Atom; Science, Technology, and Public Policy From October 15 to 17, 2014 the Stanley Foundation convened a group of experts and policymakers from the United States and abroad to address these issues at its 55th annual Strategy for Peace Conference.
"What Can the Secret Service Teach Us About Nuclear Security?"
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: International Security; Managing the Atom; Science, Technology, and Public Policy "One of the more notable storylines throughout 2014 was the continued failures of the U.S. Secret Service.
Russia in Review
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for December 19-24, 2014 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda. NATO-Russia relations, including transit to and from Afghanistan: The next issue of Russia in Review is to be distributed on January 9, 2015. Back issues of Russia in Review are available here.
Russia in Review
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for December 12-19, 2014 Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for December 12-19, 2014 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda.
Russia in Review
Russia in Review Media Feature December 12, 2014 Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for December 6-12, 2014 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda.
Russia in Review
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for November 26-December 5, 2014 I. U.S. and Russian priorities for the bilateral agenda.
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