WORLD AT RISK - THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON THE PREVENTION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

On May 18, 2008, Congress established the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, a bipartisan committee charged with investigating the nation's approach to halting the spread of nuclear and biological weapons. Recommended by the 9/11 Commission and mandated by Congress, the Commission's report will serve as a measure for the next Administration's national security strategy. Both Senators McCain and Obama have acknowledged that terrorist acquisition of a nuclear or biological weapon is the greatest threat to national security; this is the first Commission to examine how well the United States has prepared itself to prevent such a threat. The Report analyzes the current threat posed by WMDs, assesses how well our government is positioned to respond to WMDs, and makes recommendations on what the next President and Congress must do in order to better prevent this threat. Since May, the Commission has interviewed over 200 experts inside andoutside of government. They have met with counterterrorism and intelligence officials at home and abroad who are working to stop proliferation and terrorism.