While in the past fifteen years the US Government’s cooperative nonproliferation programs (CNP) have proven to be the best and most cost effect tools for mitigating the threat of terrorist groups acquiring WMD capabilities, these programs are beset by a lack of evolution and innovation. And, perhaps the most under-leveraged and undervalued aspect of CNP activities is that which focuses on the human dimension of the nonproliferation threat: the scientist redirection programs. This paper describes why existing efforts are no longer viable and proposes a new model based on creating incentives for private companies to employ former Soviet Union weapons scientists in Silk Road countries, rather than the current, unsustainable approach involving government patronage.
