Citation

Dolink A. Stud. Conflict Terrorism 2003; 26(1): 17-35.

Affiliation

Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, CA, USA

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10576100390145143

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The use of suicide bombings by some organizations is often presented as evidence of eroding constraints among terrorists to use chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons. Besides a possibly more reckless approach to violence resulting from the weakened instinct of self-preservation, it is clear that suicide delivery of such weapons would have great tactical advantages over other forms of delivery. This article explores the often neglected nuances of contemporary suicide terrorism to explain why this practice does not necessarily make a mass-casualty chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack by a terrorist group more likely.