Identifying the Roles of the Separate Governmental Agencies in Countering theProliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Among Nonstate Actors Throughout the Counterproliferation Continuum

摘要

The threat posed by nation states and nonstate actors armed with WMD is arguablythe greatest, current threat to US national security. Governmental efforts to counter this threat are inherently inefficient due to the current organizational and command and control (C2) structure. This study first groups governmental efforts to counter this threat into ten functional areas which are then collated into a model christened the Counterproliferation Continuum. This model defines the roles of the major, separate governmental agencies in each functional area. The Counterproliferation Continuum demonstrates a linkage between the counterterrorism and nonproliferation/ counterproliferation arenas. Further, this thesis identifies shortfalls in the current organizational and C2 structures and proposes changes to optimize governmental efforts. Rectifying required shortfalls requires the formation of a controlling entity routinely involved in the process and empowered with the ability to coordinate interagency efforts and streamline the flow of information and resources. This study researches options and proposes a C2 organizational and structural regrouping which will more efficiently focus governmental efforts to counter this threat.