Perspective and Review of Current Nonproliferation and Arms-Control Topics

The 1990s have seen a tremendous transformation in the nonproliferation and arms-control landscape. The end of the Cold War meant the beginning of a new series of challenges relating to the security of nuclear weapons, fissile materials, chemical and biological agents, and related technologies. The break-up of the Soviet Union resulted in the de facto distribution of nuclear weapons and fissile materials in multiple, independent states as opposed to one. The emerging terrorist threat has been made more frightening by the possibility of terrorist acquisition of information, materials, and technology to make nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. The bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the Tokyo subway sarin incident showed that advanced countries were vulnerable to "homegrown" terrorist attack. The acceptance of the international safeguards regime, which had operated for nearly two decades, was challenged by the findings after the Persian Gulf War of nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare programs in Iraq, a country under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.