DNDO IN THE US STATE MECHANISM TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM

Abstract

Based on the analysis of the relevant US legislation, the article discusses the complex issues of forming a system for combating acts of nuclear terrorism, including coordination of interaction between state bodies and organizations in detecting signs of possible threats. Modern challenges and threats (terrorism, regional conflicts, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction) in the context of the aggravation of the international situation, the improvement of technologies actualize the problem of counteracting acts of nuclear terrorism and the topic of the article. The purpose of this work is to explore the complex issue of the distribution of functions of US government agencies through the analysis of the mission of the Internal Office for the Detection of Nuclear Weapons (DNDO), aimed at combining the efforts of state and local governments within the framework of a system for detecting radioactive materials that are out of regulatory control. The author has revealed the adaptability of the structure of the state bodies of the United States to changes in actual threats of a nuclear, radiological, chemical and biological nature. As a result of the analysis of the functions of the DNDO, the readiness and ability of the state to combine the efforts of the elements of the state's mechanism for detecting nuclear or radiological terrorist attacks and responding to them are substantiated. A government-coordinated response can minimize the humanitarian and economic impacts, prevent public confidence in the US government machinery at the federal, state, and local levels, and the government's ability to respond to the crisis.