Potential Values of a Simple BW Protective Mask

Proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) weapons is a growing concern. Unless the spread of these weapons can somehow be halted, major changes will be required in allied defense strategy and capabilities. The risks and costs of defending vital interests will rise substantially. Correspondingly, the US, the UK, and their allies will find defense of their important interests more difficult and painful, and other states will become far less willing to support such defense efforts. Recognizing this, the allies are aggressively searching for more effective political means to halt NBC proliferation, and, to the extent it cannot be halted, for military and technical means to counter it. Clearly these pursuits complement each other. Political measures can complicate, slow, and deter proliferation and strengthen the basis for international reaction when evidence of prohibited programs appears. Thus, they should reduce the number and scope of the NBC weapons programs to be countered, buy time to deploy countermeasures, and win domestic and international political support for difficult counterproliferation actions. At the same time, better means of countering NBC weapons should decrease demand for them by reducing their political and military utilities.