Capability Quote by Michael Chertoff
“We now have capabilities in science and technology that raise the very realistic possibility that a small group of terrorists could kill not only thousands of people, as they did on September 11th, but hundreds of thousands of people. And that has changed the dimension of the threat we face.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Terrorism and Technology, US Department of Homeland Security, 2005
Advances in tech make it possible for small groups to cause massive casualties, expanding the scale of terrorist threats.
In simple terms: Technology lets tiny groups cause huge harm.
Key Takeaway
Prepare defenses for high‑impact attacks.
Themes
security
technology
terrorism
risk management
Mood
concerned
urgent
Type
policy
warning
When to use this quote
- national security planning
- emergency response
- policy making
- public awareness
Key Concepts
asymmetric warfare
mass casualty
emerging tech
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance tech progress with security?
- What safeguards can limit misuse of emerging technologies?
A Different Perspective
Mitigating such threats requires international cooperation and robust intelligence.
