Huma Rehman
Radiological weapons, which are weapons designed to disperse radioactivity without a nuclear explosion, get little attention compared to nuclear and chemical weapons. But Death Dust: The Rise, Decline, and Future of Radiological Weapons Programs brings a new clarity to the worrisome potential of radiological warfare. Through a series of case studies, the authors shed light on the reasons behind the pursuit and eventual abandonment of these weapons by states such as the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Egypt, and Iraq.
They explore the unique motivations and strategic calculations that led these countries to pursue radiological weapons, despite the international community’s general abhorrence towards them, identifying patterns and deviations, and offering valuable lessons for policymakers and scholars in understanding the potential proliferation of these weapons in the future.
The case studies illuminate the historical drivers behind the pursuit of radiological weapons, such as the desire for a strategic advantage without resorting to full-scale nuclear war. However, technical difficulties beset the development of devices intended to spread radioactive materials over large areas. International pressure played a role, too. The United Kingdom ultimately abandoned its radiological weapons program due to the challenges of achieving the desired strategic effects and the moral implications of developing such weapons. The history of international concern over Iraq’s attempts to create a radiological weapon during Saddam Hussein’s regime are also well canvassed.
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