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Stephen Younger talked about terrorism and its affect on diversity at an Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month talk Monday at the Laboratory. Photo by LeRoy N. Sanchez, Public Affairs

Younger: Terrorism makes valuing diversity even more important

"Terrorism is an insidious threat because there is no one to attack, no clearly defined group or center," said Stephen Younger of the Theoretical (T) Division. Younger spoke Monday in the Physics Building Auditorium for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Younger's talk, "A Changing World in the Face of Global Terrorism," focused on his unique perspective of the government's defense policy changes since Sept. 11, 2001, and the resulting implications on diversity.

Younger contrasted today's world of terrorism and the yesteryear of the Cold War by stating that during the war both sides followed rules of engagement. "We knew how to behave; there was stability in approach," Younger said.

Younger added, "At the end of the Cold War there was a peace dividend. We extended a hand to the Eastern block countries. There also was optimism that the threat of nuclear war had been buried. Our optimism was shattered by the tragic events of Sept. 11."

"Americans were shocked that we were attacked on our own turf by icons of commerce. American icons attacking American icons," he said, referring to the Boeing aircraft that attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

There was a new enemy. Global terrorism seemingly would stop at nothing to achieve its goals. Enemies that die to become martyrs -- who receive their reward in the afterlife -- are an enemy without a territory, Younger said.

Why haven't terrorists attacked the U.S. using weapons of mass destruction? Younger asked. He offered various reasons, such as U.S. intelligence disruption of terrorist activities.

He said terrorists have a greater interest in chemicals and biological weapons than in nuclear weapons because they are easier to use to accomplish their goal. "It will be a challenge to stop, but it can be done by shipping and storing these toxic chemicals in a more secure fashion," said Younger.

Efforts exist to help manage the daunting task of stopping terrorist activities, such as the work done by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, exercising rights under various treaties, the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, which allows dismantlement of weapons of mass destruction and defense against chemical and biological weapons, Younger said.

While director of DTRA Younger made significant contributions to national security and the Department of Defense. Younger implemented a Threat Anticipation Program and employed authors, artists, sociologists, religious historians, people from the United States, Asia, Africa and around the world to talk and to develop simulations about why terrorists were active and what could be done to stop the activities, he said.

"The frontier of national security studies is shifting from technology to social science. Force is no longer the issue . . . it can be very expensive and the U.S. can't sustain the operational tempo," Younger explained.

"We must embrace diversity and understand how different cultures think and learn about their value systems. One must experience them, preferably by living in close contact. We are blessed in this country by having people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. This is a national asset," said Younger.

"If there is ever a time for diversity, this is it," Younger said.

The talk was sponsored by the Asian American Diversity Working Group, the Diversity Affirmative Action Board and the Diversity (DVO) Office.

--Kathryn Ostic

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