FIVE MINUTES PART MIDNIGHT

In: The national interest, Band 26, S. 3-13

Abstract

THE STRENGTH OF SCIENCE HAS GROWN TO A POINT WHERE A COMPARATIVE HANDFUL OF SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS CAN SUCCESSFULLY PURSUE TASKS THAT ONCE REQUIRED THE CONCERTED EFFORT OF HORDES OF THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST. THERE STILL PERSISTS THE NAIVE BELIEF THAT BEGAN WITH THE MANHATTEN PROJECT--THAT SECRETS CAN BE KEPT, HOWEVER, A GREAT DEAL OF WEAPONS-RELATED INFORMATION THAT IS NOT LABELED AS SUCH IS HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT WITHIN INNOCENT-SOUNDING SUBDISCIPINES THAT ARE BOTH UNCLASSIFIED AND SO WIDELY DISSEMINATED AS TO DEFY ANY ATTEMPT TO RETURN THEIR SENSITIVE CONTENT TO EFFECTIVE REGIMES OF SECURITY AND COMPARTMENTALIZATION. AFTER ANALYZING THE AGE OF PROLIFERATION, THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT THE PRESENT REGIME OF PROLIFERATION CONTROL MAY BE AMONG THE RARE SET OF ENTITIES--A FIT OBJECT FOR CATASTROPHE THEORY.