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Charles P. Blair

Charles P. Blair

Blair is a former Senior Fellow for State and Non-State Threats at the Federation of American Scientists and teaches graduate courses for George Mason University's biodefense program and Johns Hopkins University. His current work centers on terrorists' perceptions and command and control of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield conventional explosive (CBRNE) weapons, focusing on the technical dimensions of CBRNE agents and their potential weaponization by violent non-state actors.

 

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Articles by Charles P. Blair

Columnists
27 September 2013
Biosecurity
Middle East

A ruinous road to Damascus: Can the US avoid it?

Charles P. Blair

All options in Syria are bad, but some are worse than others—and may require boots on the ground.

Slideshow
26 August 2013

The chemical weapons of Syria

Charles P. Blair
Columnists
22 July 2013
BiosecuritySpecial Topics
AmericasMiddle East

Lessons unlearned

Charles P. Blair

Once again, evidence of WMD is lacking. This time it’s in Syria.

Columnists
12 June 2013
Americas

Barely lethal

Charles P. Blair
Opinion
26 March 2013
Biosecurity

The thin red line

Charles P. BlairMila Johns

Both opposition forces and the Syrian government have alleged that chemical weapons were used in last Tuesday's attack on the village of Khan al-Assal, bringing to the fore one of the most potentially far-reaching of the many dangers that have arisen during Syria's civil war. Now entering its third year, the Syrian revolt -- by far the longest uprising of the Arab Spring -- is the first in history that threatens to violently topple a government armed with weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Opinion
1 March 2012
Biosecurity

Fearful of a nuclear Iran? The real WMD nightmare is Syria

Charles P. Blair

As possible military action against Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program looms large in the public arena, far more international concern should be directed toward Syria and its weapons of mass destruction. When the Syrian uprising began more than a year ago, few predicted the regime of President Bashar al-Assad would ever teeter toward collapse. Now, though, the demise of Damascus's current leadership appears inevitable, and Syria's revolution will likely be an unpredictable, protracted, and grim affair.

Opinion
16 November 2011
Nuclear Weapons

Fatwas for fission: Assessing the terrorist threat to Pakistan's nuclear assets

Charles P. Blair

Pakistan has long been considered a potential source of nuclear weapons for terrorists, even before it had a full-fledged nuclear program and decades before it demonstrated a yield-bearing nuclear explosive capability.

1 November 2011
Features

Fatwas for fission: Assessing the terrorist threat to Pakistan’s nuclear assets

Charles P. Blair