One of the on-going problems in our War on Terror has been the potential for enemies of the United States to use biological weapons against us. It's quite clear that, either through legitimate commercial means or through back channel deals, it would be possible for a terrorist to obtain materials to make such weapons, or obtain the actual weapons themselves.

How likely is such an attack? What would be the consequences? How can we protect ourselves?

Fortress America does not exist. It is acknowledged by most experts that it is easy to move items in and out of our country without detection. Some of the ingredients for a biological attack are very small and easily transported. We cannot realistically prevent such materials from being brought into the country.

The anthrax attacks of 2001 demonstrated that it is possible to stage and execute a biological attack. As a terror weapon, they were very effective. As a weapon of war, they were completely ineffective. They actually affected a few thousand people, with the number of actual cases of anthrax, and the death toll both being less than most experts would have predicted. But the panic and precautions the attacks engendered world wide created terror, the goal of the attacks.

Our government faces the potential of a biological attack against the United States. Public concern and the necessity to take action have forced governments at all levels to plan, and execute plans for the prevention, isolation, and treatment of such an attack. These efforts are being driven by equal parts of concern for our citizens and fear of the political repercussions if nothing was done and an attack occurred.

When you look at the materials that could be used in a biological attack on America, the first question should be: How easily are they handled? The terrorists will be working with infectious diseases and are at risk while they handle them, transport them, and prepare them for dispersal. As the bombers in Israel and the IRA bombers have demonstrated over the years, there is a significant risk to the terrorists that through their own error they will only destroy themselves. Even a suicidal terrorist does not want to die before he delivers his weapon.

Handling these weapons takes some skill and knowledge. The risks of an accident increase with the distances to be transported and the necessity to conceal the weapons and materials. Weapons labs run by the United States military and the Russian military had accidents

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Assessing the threat of biological terrorism?
We want to hear your view. Write now!