THE CENTRAL PROBLEM OF NUCLEAR TERRORISM LIES IN THE UNIQUE, RECKLESS TERRORIST STANCE ON THE BALANCE OF RISKS THAT CAN BE TAKEN AND IN THOSE PARTICULAR CONDITIONS WHICH DETERMINE THIS STANCE. THEREFORE, A STRATEGY TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM RESTS UPON AN AWARENESS OF TERRORISTS' PREFERENCES AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THESE PRIORITIES CAN BE AFFECTED BY TERRORISTS' ALIGNMENTS WITH OTHER STATES, THE PERCEPTION OF THE UTILITY OF EXTREME VIOLENCE, AND TERRORISTS' PERCEPTIONS OF SYMPATHY FROM OTHER GROUPS. EFFECTIVE COUNTERTERRORIST MEASURES MAY BE ACHIEVED ONLY AT CONSIDERABLE COST TO CERTAIN BASIC DEMOCRATIC VALUES. PEOPLE SENSITIVE TO THE PRESERVATION OF CIVIL LIBERTIES MUST INSURE THAT A JUDICIOUS RESPECT FOR ESSENTIAL HUMAN RIGHTS TEMPERS THE NATURE OF SECURITY EFFORTS EMPLOYED. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IS REQUIRED TO COUNTER THE THREATS OF NUCLEAR TERRORISTS WHO MAY EXHIBIT A STANCE OF NIHILISM OR SIGNS OF PSYCHOPATHY. TERRORIST OPERATIVES COULD ACQUIRE AN ATOMIC WEAPON BY THEFT FROM THE ARSENALS OF THE UNITED STATES, CHINA, INDIA, OR OTHER NATIONS. WEAPONS STORAGE SITES CAN BE PENETRATED DESPITE FENCES AND GUARDS. RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS FROM INDUSTRY ARE VULNERABLE TO SEIZURE BY CRIMINAL GROUPS, AND THE DISPERSAL OF SUCH MATERIALS WOULD CAUSE LETHAL CONTAMINATION. ALTHOUGH FEAR OF PUNISHMENT COULD DETER SOME CRIMINALS FROM ATTEMPTING THEFT OR SABOTAGE OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES, NEGATIVE SANCTIONS STIFFEN RATHER THAN DIMINISH TERRORIST RESISTANCE. NEVERTHELESS, INTERNATIONAL EXTRADITION PROCEDURES AND A COLLECTIVE DEFENSE STRUCTURE COULD PREVENT NUCLEAR TERRORISM. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)