"This is a book every American can and should read. In "RIGHT OF BOOM," Benjamin Schwartz writes with the literary skill and imagination of a great novelist, informed by years of experience in the US government agencies responsible for our nation's security. He explains why an instance of nuclear terrorism on American soil is more plausible than every before--and imagines what will happen if such a terrifying event should ever take place."--Alan Luxenberg, President of the Foreign Policy Research Institute
"In today's international scene, so full of constant surprises, Schwartz in "RIGHT OF BOOM" does the great service of forcing us to think ahead about what would be the ultimate tragic surprise--an attack of nuclear terrorism. With nuclear explosive material today in the hands of more and more countries and with so much of it stored in conditions of questionable security, the scenario he sketches is becoming more plausible almost daily. One cannot read Schwartz's analysis without realizing that this would be an event of transforming importance in international relations, indeed for the world as we know it. Most importantly, the book offers practical thoughts on how to avoid that tragedy and, if it cannot avoided, how to deal with the aftermath--advice our nation's policymakers would do well to heed."--John McLaughlin, Distinguished Practitioner-in-Residence, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and former Deputy Director and Acting Director, CIA (2000-2004)
""RIGHT OF BOOM" effectively bridges the gap between an often aloof scholarly literature and the frequently sensationalist and unreliable popular treatments of the danger of nuclear terrorism. Schwartz makes a compelling case for imagining the unimaginable and highlights the urgency to do so before it is too late. His chilling forecast of the all too plausible consequences of our failure to treat nuclear terrorism as an imminent threat, along with lucid explanations of the latent tools that we already have available 'left of boom' that could help to prevent the horrific scenario that he weaves, offer a valuable and accessible contribution that should be of interest to anyone interested in national security issues." --David A. Cooper, Ph.D., The James V. Forrestal Professor and Chair of the National Security Affairs Department of the U.S. Naval War College and the former Principal Director for Homeland Security Integration, Director of Nonproliferation Policy, and Director of Strategic Arms Control Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
""RIGHT OF BOOM" makes an important contribution to the literature of nuclear terrorism. Rather than focusing on 'What if?', Ben Schwartz analyzes 'What then?' This is a ground-breaking analysis of the policy dilemmas that would ensue after nuclear terrorism. Like Herman Kahn before him, Schwartz urges us to 'think about the unthinkable' before it happens so we can deal with it more effectively." --Mark M. Lowenthal, President of the Intelligence and Security Academy; former Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Analysis and Production
"Are we prepared to face the reality of nuclear terrorism and do we understand the consequences of such an act? How would national and international leadership and citizens around the world respond to such a devastating reality? Would we know who did it; would forensic evidence quickly point to the culprit and more importantly, how would the fear of a next attack change our culture and faith in government? These are just a few of the important issues raised by Benjamin Schwartz in "RIGHT OF BOOM." This thoughtful and fresh approach to the prospect of catastrophic and deliberate nuclear destruction is a must read for students and practitioners interested in a range of security related issues from terrorism, deterrence, and homeland security to countering weapons of mass destruction policy and proliferation prevention."--Richard A. Love, Professor and Senior Research Fellow, National Defense University
"America is about to enter the whole new world of the second nuclear age, a world defined by a quantum leap in the number of threatening nuclear powers. Benjamin Schwartz's masterful book provides us with the light that can guide us through the darkness. "RIGHT OF BOOM" should be read and internalized by anyone with responsibility for America's national security." --Professor James Kurth, Swarthmore College
"How would the United States government respond if a nuclear bomb exploded in the heart of Washington, D.C.? With a deep sense of the history of nuclear proliferation, knowledge of pragmatic policymaking, and the growth of terrorism, Schwartz unpacks this nightmarish scenario from the multiple vantage points of the senior policymaker, ally, rogue state, and terrorist. As he adroitly guides us through the various phases of 'right of boom, ' Schwartz convinces the reader of the acute limitations of the state in containing nuclear terrorism in the face of insurgencies, nefarious non-state actors, and uncooperative governments. At the same time, Right of Boom smartly identifies a path for governments towards resolution for a doomsday event that no one believes could happen--but as Schwartz emphasizes, is already within the realm of the possible. In doing so, "RIGHT OF BOOM" contributes to the important dialogue underway on the future of American national security and its relevance in a changing global order."--Shamila N. Chaudhary, Senior South Asia Fellow, International Security Program at New America; and former Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the White House National Security Council
"I had the honor or serving alongside Ben Schwartz, whose singular passion for preventing and preparing for weapons of mass destruction terrorist attacks leaps off the pages of "RIGHT OF BOOM." It describes a rare event, WMD terrorism, something we must never allow to happen and do everything we can to prepare for if it does."--Andy Weber, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs
"In "RIGHT OF BOOM," Benjamin Schwartz, a seasoned national security professional and gifted writer, provides an analysis of how to prevent and respond to a nuclear terror attack on the United States, as well as the international political history necessary to place in perspective such an unprecedented calamity. RIGHT OF BOOM is a highly-readable, authoritative, and thought-provoking account of one of the leading security challenges of our time."--Matthew Kroenig, Associate Professor and International Relations Field Chair in the Department of Government at Georgetown University, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security at The Atlantic Council, and author of "Exporting the Bomb: Technology Transfer and the Spread of Nuclear Weapons"
"The book is appropriately unsettling, while remaining a reasoned overview of a hard-to contain problem...The nature of his subject means Schwartz introduces more questions than answers, and he does so in a serious way that will make readers think about myriad aspects of nuclear terrorism." --"Foreward Reviews
""Benjamin Schwartz deserves much credit. "Right of Boom," forces us to consider what just one atomic explosion might mean for humanity's future. Even better for a book about public policy, he writes with accessibility for serious readers, neither talking down to us nor assuming that we have technical expertise in his field...Balanced and packed with impressive analysis, it should be required reading for policymakers, and for all those who care about American security." --"Washington Free Beacon"
This is a book every American can and should read. In "RIGHT OF BOOM," Benjamin Schwartz writes with the literary skill and imagination of a great novelist, informed by years of experience in the US government agencies responsible for our nation's security. He explains why an instance of nuclear terrorism on American soil is more plausible than every before and imagines what will happen if such a terrifying event should ever take place. Alan Luxenberg, President of the Foreign Policy Research Institute
In today's international scene, so full of constant surprises, Schwartz in "RIGHT OF BOOM" does the great service of forcing us to think ahead about what would be the ultimate tragic surprise an attack of nuclear terrorism. With nuclear explosive material today in the hands of more and more countries and with so much of it stored in conditions of questionable security, the scenario he sketches is becoming more plausible almost daily. One cannot read Schwartz's analysis without realizing that this would be an event of transforming importance in international relations, indeed for the world as we know it. Most importantly, the book offers practical thoughts on how to avoid that tragedy and, if it cannot avoided, how to deal with the aftermath advice our nation's policymakers would do well to heed. John McLaughlin, Distinguished Practitioner-in-Residence, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and former Deputy Director and Acting Director, CIA (2000 2004)
"RIGHT OF BOOM" effectively bridges the gap between an often aloof scholarly literature and the frequently sensationalist and unreliable popular treatments of the danger of nuclear terrorism. Schwartz makes a compelling case for imagining the unimaginable and highlights the urgency to do so before it is too late. His chilling forecast of the all too plausible consequences of our failure to treat nuclear terrorism as an imminent threat, along with lucid explanations of the latent tools that we already have available left of boom that could help to prevent the horrific scenario that he weaves, offer a valuable and accessible contribution that should be of interest to anyone interested in national security issues." David A. Cooper, Ph.D., The James V. Forrestal Professor and Chair of the National Security Affairs Department of the U.S. Naval War College and the former Principal Director for Homeland Security Integration, Director of Nonproliferation Policy, and Director of Strategic Arms Control Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
"RIGHT OF BOOM" makes an important contribution to the literature of nuclear terrorism. Rather than focusing on What if?, Ben Schwartz analyzes What then? This is a ground-breaking analysis of the policy dilemmas that would ensue after nuclear terrorism. Like Herman Kahn before him, Schwartz urges us to think about the unthinkable before it happens so we can deal with it more effectively. Mark M. Lowenthal, President of the Intelligence and Security Academy; former Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Analysis and Production
"Are we prepared to face the reality of nuclear terrorism and do we understand the consequences of such an act? How would national and international leadership and citizens around the world respond to such a devastating reality? Would we know who did it; would forensic evidence quickly point to the culprit and more importantly, how would the fear of a next attack change our culture and faith in government? These are just a few of the important issues raised by Benjamin Schwartz in "RIGHT OF BOOM." This thoughtful and fresh approach to the prospect of catastrophic and deliberate nuclear destruction is a must read for students and practitioners interested in a range of security related issues from terrorism, deterrence, and homeland security to countering weapons of mass destruction policy and proliferation prevention." Richard A. Love, Professor and Senior Research Fellow, National Defense University
"America is about to enter the whole new world of the second nuclear age, a world defined by a quantum leap in the number of threatening nuclear powers. Benjamin Schwartz s masterful book provides us with the light that can guide us through the darkness. "RIGHT OF BOOM" should be read and internalized by anyone with responsibility for America s national security. Professor James Kurth, Swarthmore College
How would the United States government respond if a nuclear bomb exploded in the heart of Washington, D.C.? With a deep sense of the history of nuclear proliferation, knowledge of pragmatic policymaking, and the growth of terrorism, Schwartz unpacks this nightmarish scenario from the multiple vantage points of the senior policymaker, ally, rogue state, and terrorist. As he adroitly guides us through the various phases of right of boom, Schwartz convinces the reader of the acute limitations of the state in containing nuclear terrorism in the face of insurgencies, nefarious non-state actors, and uncooperative governments. At the same time, Right of Boom smartly identifies a path for governments towards resolution for a doomsday event that no one believes could happen but as Schwartz emphasizes, is already within the realm of the possible. In doing so, "RIGHT OF BOOM" contributes to the important dialogue underway on the future of American national security and its relevance in a changing global order. Shamila N. Chaudhary, Senior South Asia Fellow, International Security Program at New America; and former Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the White House National Security Council
I had the honor or serving alongside Ben Schwartz, whose singular passion for preventing and preparing for weapons of mass destruction terrorist attacks leaps off the pages of "RIGHT OF BOOM." It describes a rare event, WMD terrorism, something we must never allow to happen and do everything we can to prepare for if it does. Andy Weber, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs
In "RIGHT OF BOOM," Benjamin Schwartz, a seasoned national security professional and gifted writer, provides an analysis of how to prevent and respond to a nuclear terror attack on the United States, as well as the international political history necessary to place in perspective such an unprecedented calamity. RIGHT OF BOOM is a highly-readable, authoritative, and thought-provoking account of one of the leading security challenges of our time. Matthew Kroenig, Associate Professor and International Relations Field Chair in the Department of Government at Georgetown University, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security at The Atlantic Council, and author of "Exporting the Bomb: Technology Transfer and the Spread of Nuclear Weapons"
"The book is appropriately unsettling, while remaining a reasoned overview of a hard-to contain problem...The nature of his subject means Schwartz introduces more questions than answers, and he does so in a serious way that will make readers think about myriad aspects of nuclear terrorism." "Foreward Reviews
""Benjamin Schwartz deserves much credit. "Right of Boom," forces us to consider what just one atomic explosion might mean for humanity s future. Even better for a book about public policy, he writes with accessibility for serious readers, neither talking down to us nor assuming that we have technical expertise in his field...Balanced and packed with impressive analysis, it should be required reading for policymakers, and for all those who care about American security." "Washington Free Beacon""
