Report: DOD needs WMD databases

The Defense Department needs a database of potential locations of terrorist activity related to Weapons of Mass Destruction, according to a new report from the Defense Science Board. The report urges DOD and the director of National Intelligence to collaborate on the creation of such a database.

The 80-page report, titled "Reducing Vulnerabilities to Weapons of Mass Destruction," includes recommendations on improving intelligence, preventing attacks, mitigation and Defense Department organization. The board, an advisory committee, released the report earlier this week.

The report points to two programs dating from the Cold War period ? the Modernized Integrated Data Base of global fixed installations related to production of nuclear bombs and weapons, referred to as a "bomb encyclopedia," and the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, which focused on how to deliver countermeasures against those weapons ? as models for the new database and its support systems.

Operation of the new database will require much collaboration and will likely be federated, so that owners of the component data may be responsible for securing the data and protecting its sources, the report said.

"Modern ideas of federation and common-services architecture, coupled with data assurance methods, such as public key infrastructure, should be utilized," the report said.

To implement the recommendation, the report recommends appointment of a single person responsible for development of the database, including its architecture. It also suggests appointment of a mission manager for terrorist pursuit of Weapons of Mass Destruction.