Sting Reveals Security Gap at Nuclear Agency

Protecting nuclear materials is a challenging task even for the most security-conscious of nations. Investigators from the US Government Accountability Office managed to avoid scrutiny by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and purchase moisture-density gauges that contain radioactive materials. Counterfeit licenses allowed investigators to purchase unlimited amounts of radioactive material. Furthermore, the entire ordering procedure was done using telephones and fax machines, meaning investigators never had to leave their desks. The NRC commissioner cited a finite amount of resources at his disposal to counter terrorism and argued that turning the moisture gauges into weapons would have required substantial work. Regardless, critics say that the operation shows, despite years of warnings, the NRC has not done enough to prevent terrorists from gaining radioactive material. As nuclear technology proliferates, seemingly mundane devices can become dangerous weapons in the wrong hands. – YaleGlobal