The radioactive materials so eagerly sought by terrorists to construct a simple radioactive dispersion weapon (RDW) will soon be traveling the U.S. interstate highway system and its railways. That transformation may begin in 2010 and continue for the foreseeable future. The article describes why the peculiar characteristics of spent nuclear fuel transportation make it an ideal terrorist weapon that is difficult to defend. The scope and characteristics of the waste-shipping program will be described. The reasons terrorists may find these shipments an easy and attractive weapon also will be described. The article calls for substantial revisions to the regulations governing the shipment of these materials.
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