Comments on: Allison on WMD Commission Take-Aways http://www.hlswatch.com/2008/12/27/allison-on-wmd-commission-take-aways/ News and analysis of critical issues in homeland security today. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:03:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: J. http://www.hlswatch.com/2008/12/27/allison-on-wmd-commission-take-aways/comment-page-1/#comment-132014 J. Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:13:13 +0000 http://www.hlswatch.com/2008/12/27/allison-on-wmd-commission-take-aways/#comment-132014 "it is more likely than not a weapon of mass destruction will be used in a terrorist attack somewhere in the world by the end of 2013" In testimony to the Senate Homeland Security committee, former Sen. Talent admitted that the comission had developed this statement based on their collective "gut." Transcript quote: "And we know that their opportunities to get the material are growing. So you put all that together, and it's the conclusion of all these people we talked to and our gut level that is a near-term risk, which is, I think, very key. It's not something that's in the intermediate or long term. It's near term. It -- they're -- they're close it and, hence, the five-year period. Now we don't have some intel and you've seen it already that 2013 -- but -- but -- and this is why I think Admiral McConnell -- and I don't think that was accidental -- shortly after we said this basically confirmed it at the Kennedy School." This report overly hyped the threat, and although there were some good recommendations (and I stress, some), the commissioners' words to the Senate show how transparent and careless their review really was. “it is more likely than not a weapon of mass destruction will be used in a terrorist attack somewhere in the world by the end of 2013″

In testimony to the Senate Homeland Security committee, former Sen. Talent admitted that the comission had developed this statement based on their collective “gut.” Transcript quote:

“And we know that their opportunities to get the material are growing. So you put all that together, and it’s the conclusion of all these people we talked to and our gut level that is a near-term risk, which is, I think, very key. It’s not something that’s in the intermediate or long term. It’s near term. It — they’re — they’re close it and, hence, the five-year period.
Now we don’t have some intel and you’ve seen it already that 2013 — but — but — and this is why I think Admiral McConnell — and I don’t think that was accidental — shortly after we said this basically confirmed it at the Kennedy School.”

This report overly hyped the threat, and although there were some good recommendations (and I stress, some), the commissioners’ words to the Senate show how transparent and careless their review really was.

]]> By: William R. Cumming http://www.hlswatch.com/2008/12/27/allison-on-wmd-commission-take-aways/comment-page-1/#comment-131931 William R. Cumming Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:26:33 +0000 http://www.hlswatch.com/2008/12/27/allison-on-wmd-commission-take-aways/#comment-131931 Still digesting the report. Sorry that the Commission did not review and accept or reject the findings and recommendations of the so-called Deutch Report issued on same subjects in 1999. So far little new ground broken by this group except for focus on Pakistan. Since Pakistan went nuclear in 1998 really no new ground broken there either. Is the problem that Islamic Pakistan has the bomb or is the real issue who is next? I think if North Korea, Iran, or someother country breaks out and goes nuclear then within a very short time the expansion to a 20 country list of nuclear powers will occur. It is clear that No other countries Now count of the US to take the lead on non-proliferation issues since the expansion of nuclear capability since 1945 has occurred nominally under US leadership of the whole proliferation life cycle. By 2030 looks like 30 ballistic missile, nuclear capable countries with no thinking as to how to address that world or the national security environment it will dictate. Still digesting the report. Sorry that the Commission did not review and accept or reject the findings and recommendations of the so-called Deutch Report issued on same subjects in 1999. So far little new ground broken by this group except for focus on Pakistan. Since Pakistan went nuclear in 1998 really no new ground broken there either. Is the problem that Islamic Pakistan has the bomb or is the real issue who is next? I think if North Korea, Iran, or someother country breaks out and goes nuclear then within a very short time the expansion to a 20 country list of nuclear powers will occur. It is clear that No other countries Now count of the US to take the lead on non-proliferation issues since the expansion of nuclear capability since 1945 has occurred nominally under US leadership of the whole proliferation life cycle. By 2030 looks like 30 ballistic missile, nuclear capable countries with no thinking as to how to address that world or the national security environment it will dictate.

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