Taking the Long View: Sometimes Life Seems Too Complicated

As I write this column, the terrible terrorist attack in Paris is still fresh in everyones mind, Belgiums prime minister has established the highest terror alert for a sustained serious and imminent threat, and Russia has determined the downing of its Metrojet airliner over the Sinai was a result of a terrorist bomb. Intelligence assets have joined forces to find the planners of the Paris attack, and representatives from many nations are gathering to develop strategies for addressing the international concerns of a growing threat to freedom and democracy. All of these events come at a time when there are many critical uncertainties that could impact the Institute, as addressed in last issues column, A World Full of Critical Uncertainties.1 In this context, there is a question that many are asking more and more these days: What happens if one of these terrorist groups obtains nuclear materials?