Unprepared for the Manhattan Bomb: Civilian Defense and Nuclear Counterterrorism

Abstract

Modern civilian defense programs are insufficient in protecting the American population from a nuclear terrorist attack, especially in urban centers. This thesis discusses why American politicians and the public are resistant to civilian defense, particularly with regards to nuclear attacks. It argues that a nuclear terrorist attack on the United States is probable in the near future. It gives recommendations for what should be salvaged from civilian defense of the past in preparation for a “Manhattan bomb.”