[stylin_geek]

The point I think most people miss about nuclear weapons and the creation thereof is one expects that the creator of the weapon wants to remain alive for a considerable time after the weapon is detonated. However, given that some terrorists flew jets in to the side of a building, I think it is reasonable to assume longevity is no longer an issue for would be nuclear weapons builders. Which then means that someone who is really dedicated will not care about nuclear radiation, and will be more than happy to assemble a weapon, knowing full well that the radiation exposure alone will probably kill him. However, this will not matter, as he expects to last no longer than it takes to detonate the weapon. And, if radiation poisoning is not an issue, then I believe the number of people needed to create the weapon would drop dramatically.

[Imal]

A very good point. Most of the encumbrances "experts" assume terrorists would face are based on safe assembly. A suicidal Islamist team would have no need for glove boxes or concerns about inhaling plutonium dust.

They are also not constrained to making efficient weapons. If they simply get enough material to exceed a critical mass, whether uranium or plutonium, they can make a viable and very destructive bomb. The simplest design is nothing more than a pipe bomb in which two or more slugs of material are driven together by explosives to form a critical mass, which then is contained by the pipe (aka explosive lens) and almost instantly creates a supercritical explosion (a giant KABOOM).

The lack of accountability for the whereabouts of fissionable materials is the greatest danger, but there are countries, such as North Korea, that pose an inherent danger. And the U.S. has agreed by treaty to help NK with its nuclear program. Gee, I wonder what they might build with fissionable material?

Imal