quish their arsenals, and sign nuclear free, and non-proliferation treaties. The cold war was a time of massive weapons stockpiling, and preparing for a conflict of unimaginable force, in essence, Armageddon. Both super powers began extensive development of all forms of weapons of mass destruction. Both sides enmassed incredible amounts of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons(FIG 3, Appendix C); despite bans against chemical and biological weapons. Unfortunately, the breakup of the former Soviet Union caused there to be several gaps in the security of their stockpile of weapons. Fortunately, all former Soviet states, apart from Russia have relinquished their arsenals. However, Russia no longer has the funds available to put the weapons under proper lock and key, and the cost of dismantling Russia's chemical weapons alone would be over ten billion dollars (US)(CNN Post Script). The country does not have the ability to properly protect these weapons from theft, and does not have the funding to destroy them. It is only a matter of time before a glitch in the system occurs, and some weapons disappear, only to be found at the time of use. In Russia, there have been over 11 attempted thefts of uranium and 900 attempts at illegal entry at nuclear facilities(CNN Post Script). Also, an ex-member of Borris Yeltsins administration, Alexei Yablokov was quoted saying "the (Russian) military might simply have no record of some of the portable nuclear bombs". This total lack of knowledge of the weapons would make it impossible to make sure that they were accounted for and secured. Until all Russian weapons of mass destruction are catalogued and properly protected, the threat of a terrorist group, or hostile country acquiring these weapons remains high. The development of new forms of weapons of mass destruction is an ongoing task, and not always intentional. Where the nuclear bomb was created first for the purpose of destruction, other technologi...
