--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The possibility that terrorist groups…" description: "\"The possibility that terrorist groups could obtain weapons of mass destruction should not be dismissed as a fiction. This is a horrific threat the inte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/ban-ki-moon-1778_accident_the-possibility-that-terrorist-groups-co_2161097.png" --- # The possibility that terrorist groups could obtain weapons… ![“The possibility that terrorist groups could obtain weapons of mass destruction should not be dismissed as a fiction. This is a horrific threat the international community should take seriously. As long as these weapons exist, so, too, does the risk of their use - by accident or design.” quote by Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/ban-ki-moon-1778_accident_the-possibility-that-terrorist-groups-co_2161097.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/ban-ki-moon-1778_accident_the-possibility-that-terrorist-groups-co_2161097.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/ban-ki-moon-1778_accident_the-possibility-that-terrorist-groups-co_2161097.png) > “The possibility that terrorist groups could obtain weapons of mass destruction should not be dismissed as a fiction. This is a horrific threat the international community should take seriously. As long as these weapons exist, so, too, does the risk of their use - by accident or design.” [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The risk of terrorist groups acquiring WMDs is real and must be taken seriously, because accidents or deliberate use could cause catastrophic harm. **In simple terms:** Terrorists could get WMDs, posing a serious danger. Key Takeaway Treat the threat as real and act to prevent it. Themes security terrorism global risk policy prevention Mood urgent concerned serious Type policy warning call‑to‑action When to use this quote - international negotiations - border security - intelligence monitoring - public preparedness Key Concepts non‑proliferation deterrence risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How can the international community ensure compliance? - What safeguards are most effective against accidental release? A Different Perspective Even with safeguards, enforcement is difficult and political will may wane. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accident/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Dismissed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dismissed/) [Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does/) [Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Horrific](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrific/) [Horrific Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrific-threat-4586235/) [International](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international/) [International community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-community/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Obtain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obtain/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Possibility Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility-terrorist-3502985/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Seriously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seriously/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Take](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take/) [Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist/) [Terrorist groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist-groups/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [Weapons Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-exist-2229060/) [Weapons Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-mass/) [Weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-of-mass-destruction/) ## Related quotes > [The thing that keeps me awake at night is a nexus between terrorism and massive destruction...the possibility that a terrorist organization could either acquire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-flournoy/the-thing-that-keeps-me-awake-at-night-is-a-nexus-between-terrorism/) [Michele Flournoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-flournoy/) > [The truth is, as long as nuclear weapons exist, we are not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/the-truth-is-as-long-as-nuclear-weapons-exist-we-are-not-safe/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [As long as nuclear weapons exist, there is a risk that they will be used. And the consequences of their use would be catastrophic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-wallstrom/as-long-as-nuclear-weapons-exist-there-is-a-risk-that-they-will-be/) [Margot Wallstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-wallstrom/) > [I don't have a gun. But I think they level the playing field. I accept that there's really nothing you can do about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-don-t-have-a-gun-but-i-think-they-level-the-playing-field-i-accept/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [This means that the only function of nuclear weapons, while they exist, is to deter a nuclear attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-rotblat/this-means-that-the-only-function-of-nuclear-weapons-while-they-exist/) [Joseph Rotblat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-rotblat/) > [Whether weapons exist in Iraq, Saddam Hussein or post-Saddam Hussein, it is a serious enough issue that require that we continue to go and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/whether-weapons-exist-in-iraq-saddam-hussein-or-post-saddam-hussein/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [As long as nuclear weapons exist, the chances of survival of the human species are quite slight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/as-long-as-nuclear-weapons-exist-the-chances-of-survival-of-the-human/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Strangely, charity sometimes gets dismissed, as if it is ineffective, inappropriate or even somehow demeaning to the recipient. 'This isn't charity,' some donors take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/strangely-charity-sometimes-gets-dismissed-as-if-it-is-ineffective/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [We used to be a serious country. When we got attacked at Pearl Harbor, we took on Imperial Japan, Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/we-used-to-be-a-serious-country-when-we-got-attacked-at-pearl-harbor/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [There is no question that Iraq is one of the main problems. You'd have to be blind not to see what a magnet and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/there-is-no-question-that-iraq-is-one-of-the-main-problems-you-d-have/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [If Pakistan and ISI stop supporting terrorist groups, security situation in South Asia would improve significantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnath-singh/if-pakistan-and-isi-stop-supporting-terrorist-groups-security/) [Rajnath Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnath-singh/) > [We can no longer expect an Intelligence Community that is mostly male and mostly white to be able to monitor and infiltrate suspicious organizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/we-can-no-longer-expect-an-intelligence-community-that-is-mostly-male/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [Through the Internet, ISIS and other terrorist groups reach people they wouldn't ordinarily be able to reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-donovan/through-the-internet-isis-and-other-terrorist-groups-reach-people/) [Dan Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-donovan/) > [ We call for, on the other hand - how do you deal with ISIS \[Islamic State\], of course, is the question that comes up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/we-call-for-on-the-other-hand-how-do-you-deal-with-isis-islamic-state/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [I think generally the heads of terrorist groups are very, very smart people. They're also great manipulators. I would presume that cult leaders are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-napoleoni/i-think-generally-the-heads-of-terrorist-groups-are-very-very-smart/) [Loretta Napoleoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-napoleoni/) ## More by Ban Ki-moon > [Planet Earth is our shared island, let us join forces to protect it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/planet-earth-is-our-shared-island-let-us-join-forces-to-protect-it/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [My observation is China is thinking more as a global player than regionally, in both politics and economics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/my-observation-is-china-is-thinking-more-as-a-global-player-than/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [With her courage and determination, Malala has shown what terrorists fear most: a girl with a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/with-her-courage-and-determination-malala-has-shown-what-terrorists/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [I have been, and will remain, outspoken in my insistence that Israel has a right to live in peace and security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-have-been-and-will-remain-outspoken-in-my-insistence-that-israel/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Building sustainable cities - and a sustainable future - will need open dialogue among all branches of national, regional and local government. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/building-sustainable-cities-and-a-sustainable-future-will-need-open/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [We must follow the wisdom of the Brundtland Report. We must pursue development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/we-must-follow-the-wisdom-of-the-brundtland-report-we-must-pursue/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [We have reached a new milestone as a human family. With seven billion of us now inhabiting our planet, it is time to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/we-have-reached-a-new-milestone-as-a-human-family-with-seven-billion/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Grave security concerns can arise as a result of demographic trends, chronic poverty, economic inequality, environmental degradation, pandemic diseases, organized crime, repressive governance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/grave-security-concerns-can-arise-as-a-result-of-demographic-trends/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Some might complain that nuclear disarmament is little more than a dream. But that ignores the very tangible benefits disarmament would bring for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/some-might-complain-that-nuclear-disarmament-is-little-more-than-a/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [On this International Day for the Abolition of Slavery let us reaffirm the inherent dignity of all men, women and children. And let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/on-this-international-day-for-the-abolition-of-slavery-let-us/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [I believe that the topic of chemical weapons is critically important for international peace and security, and I take note of the ongoing debate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-believe-that-the-topic-of-chemical-weapons-is-critically-important/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Achieving gender equality requires the engagement of women and men, girls and boys. It is everyone's responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/achieving-gender-equality-requires-the-engagement-of-women-and-men/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Three decades into this crisis, let us set our sights on achieving the "three zeros" zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/three-decades-into-this-crisis-let-us-set-our-sights-on-achieving-the/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Businesses succeed when societies themselves succeed. When countries are affected by violence and the absence of the rule of law, business can and must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/businesses-succeed-when-societies-themselves-succeed-when-countries/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [New York is one of the greatest cities in the world. It is a fitting host to its many international visitors, who can come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/new-york-is-one-of-the-greatest-cities-in-the-world-it-is-a-fitting/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) [Explore all 209 Ban Ki-moon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) ## More Accident quotes > [Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such: it is an accident, not a property, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/fame-we-may-understand-is-no-sure-test-of-merit-but-only-a/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [“The accident in your rearview mirror already happened. The one in front of you is still preventable. Pay attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nakia-r-laushaul/the-accident-in-your-rearview-mirror-already-happened-the-one-in/) [Nakia R. Laushaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nakia-r-laushaul/) > [People dont get married by accident and they dont get divorced by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hayes/people-dont-get-married-by-accident-and-they-dont-get-divorced-by/) [Darren Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hayes/) > [My father had Parkinson's, though he actually died following a bicycle accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/my-father-had-parkinson-s-though-he-actually-died-following-a-bicycle/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [A tragic car accident put me in a wheelchair and dashed my hopes and dreams for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawthorn/a-tragic-car-accident-put-me-in-a-wheelchair-and-dashed-my-hopes-and/) [Madison Cawthorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawthorn/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [The spirit in the body is like wine in a glass; when it spills, it seeps into air and earth and light….It’s a mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-michaels/the-spirit-in-the-body-is-like-wine-in-a-glass-when-it-spills-it/) [Anne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-michaels/) > [accident ruled every corner of the universe except the chambers of the human heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/accident-ruled-every-corner-of-the-universe-except-the-chambers-of/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [There is a French expression that says: to be exposed to an accident, to cross a street without looking at the cars means exposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-virilio/there-is-a-french-expression-that-says-to-be-exposed-to-an-accident/) [Paul Virilio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-virilio/) > [It's no accident that most self-help groups use 'anonymous' in their names; to Americans, the first step toward redemption is a ritual wiping out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/it-s-no-accident-that-most-self-help-groups-use-anonymous-in-their/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [High birth is an accident, not a virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/high-birth-is-an-accident-not-a-virtue/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [“I just got out of the hospital. I was in a speed reading accident. I hit a book mark and flew across the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-just-got-out-of-the-hospital-i-was-in-a-speed-reading-accident-i/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [However, I met with a horrible accident while riding my bike in Sangla Valley. The accident was a wakeup call for me stop getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-shukla/however-i-met-with-a-horrible-accident-while-riding-my-bike-in-sangla/) [Abhinav Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-shukla/) > [“Because the core of my personal philosophy is that everything that happens to us benefits us, I was also spared the futility of cursing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-the-core-of-my-personal-philosophy-is-that-everything-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 922 Accident quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accident/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The possibility that terrorist groups could obtain weapons of mass destruction should not be dismissed as a fiction. This is a horrific threat the international community should take seriously. 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