Preventing Terrorism Through Providing Nuclear Security

Preventing Terrorism through Providing Nuclear Security The Department of Homeland Security was initiated as a result of the worst terrorist attack in United States history, September 11th, 2001, with the purpose of providing protection for the American people from a wide variety of terrorist threats. On March 24th and 25th, 2014, President Barack Obama along with 52 other world leaders travelled to The Hague, Netherlands for the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit. While there the President stated in the U.S. National Progress Report, â€Å"Nuclear terrorism represents the most immediate and extreme threat to global security, requiring a strong and enduring commitment to domestic and worldwide action.† (Department of Homeland Security 1, 2014,†¦show more content†¦Nuclear Forensics and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office Nuclear forensics is one of the two key elements of nuclear security. Nuclear forensics is the analysis of seized contraband nuclear or radioactive material and any corresponding material in order to provide evidence that will assist in identifying the source of the nuclear or radioactive material and determine its point of origin (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2006). Nuclear forensics also covers the use of the information gathered by the original analysis to determine the routes of transit and any corresponding equipment. The process of nuclear forensics and evidence gathered can ultimately to be instrumental in the prosecution of all those responsible (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2006). Domestic Nuclear Detection Office is the primary entity for nuclear detection in America. Detection is another of the key elements the Department of Homeland Security focuses on improving constantly, through the use of its Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, in order to continue to strive towards fending off terrorist attacks, and providing protection for the American people as well as assist in the international effort to enhance global nuclear security (Department of Homeland Security 2, 2016). The DNDO’s mission is to, â€Å"Prevent nuclear terrorism by continuously improving capabilities to deter, detect, respond to, and attribute attacks, in coordination with domestic and