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... of-the-art equipment that could have been used for agent production. No evidence, to date, has been established for munitions development and / or agent weapons. The experience of the U. N.
team emphasizes the difficulty of locating a Smoking Gun relative to BW programs. This type of program is much easier to hide from inspection than either chemical or nuclear programs. USAMARIID (2001) U. S. Offensive Program The United States initiated a review of the potential of BW in 1941 - 1942, implemented a program in 1943 and had established its feasibility by 1969. In 1969, President Nixon disestablished offensive studies including the destruction of all stock piles of agents and munitions.
As important events of this program are to be described, the political climate in which the program was implemented must be considered. The policy of the United States was first and foremost to deter its use against U. S. forces, and secondarily to retaliate if deterrence failed. When the biological warfare program was established, the United States was fighting World War II on two fronts, Europe and Asia. When World War II ended, a cold war developed in which the security of the country was still threatened.
The tempo of world attitudes and times have changed significantly in the 23 years following the elimination of U. S. biological warfare programs. Because a potential BW threat still exists, the U. S. maintains a defensive biological program.
USAMARIID (2001) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), biological agents pose a risk to national security because they are easily disseminated; cause high mortality, which would have a major impact on public health systems; cause panic and social disruptions; and require special action and funding to increase public preparedness. 5 As the following facts and figures show, the challenges facing the Bush Administration, the new Office of Homeland Security, and Congress in responding to the growing threat of bioterrorism are immense. (Heritage Foundation, 2001) According to a recent U. S. General Accounting Office (GAO) report, coordination of federal terrorism research, preparedness, and the responsible programs thus far has been fragmented. Several agencies are responsible for coordinating functions, and this both limits accountability and hinders unity of effort. Moreover, several agencies have not been included in bioterrorism-related policy and response planning meetings, and different agencies have developed lists of biological agents as well as disaster response assistance programs for state and local governments. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Justice, the CDC, and the Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP), for example, offer separate assistance to state and local governments in planning for emergencies that include bioterrorism. (USGAO, 2001) Bioterrorism Agents As many as 17 nations, including several the U.
S. State Department considers "state sponsors of terrorism, " have developed lethal biological agents as weapons of war. The list of bacteria, viruses, and toxins explored by these weapons programs is vast -- running in the dozens. We focus on eight agents that may pose the greatest threats. Most of these deadly pathogens are difficult to obtain, process, and most critically, deploy to cause mass casualties. Yet we must understand these agents -- how they would be used and the diseases they trigger -- to prepare for even the most unlikely bio terrorist attack. (Nova, 2001) Some of these agents include anthrax, cholera, botulism, the plague and smallpox.
Of these, the popularity of anthrax could be explained by the fact that there is a vaccine for it, so that it can be safely handled by someone who has been vaccinated. Also, it has a relatively short incubation period, and, while all types can be treated with antibiotics, the inhaled version is often confused with the flue and by the time it is diagnosed, it usually proves fatal. (Nova, 2001) Production of biological warfare agents such as anthrax does not require specialized equipment or advanced technology. When comparing equivalent amounts of biological and chemical warfare agents, the biological agent is farmers potent. Small amounts can produce large numbers of casualties. Delivery vehicles include: aerial bombs, artillery shells, long-range missiles, agricultural sprayers, and spray tanks carried by aircraft. Many of the materials and equipment that are used to produce biological warfare agents are available from legitimate sources and intended for other uses.
It is difficult to limit spread of biological warfare agents because of the dual-use nature of the equipment and technologies. There is a legitimate market for legal products which can be produced with this equipment, i. e. , pharmaceuticals, bio pesticides, etc. (DOD, 1998) Conclusion After reviewing the research, it is apparent that the threat bioterrorism with the use of anthrax and other agents is of worldwide proportions. It is difficult to find laboratory sites, because of the ease of acquisition of the minimal equipment used and the agent itself, in some countries. Another factor is the different modes of relaying the biological agent, which range from massive amounts to small amounts, as distributed through the post office via mail. Even the ongoing infections through the mail are forms of terrorism, since they make a large number of people fearful of being contaminated, although the numbers actually infected are minimal.
This is because the mail is something that is usually taken for granted and trusted. As far as the governments capabilities for handling these threats, on a small-scale, the government does have large numbers of antibiotics on hand to treat people once they have become infected. However, there is certainly not enough vaccine available to pre-inoculate people so that they do not have to worry about becoming infected. Even if they did have enough vaccine for anthrax, there are many other diseases that could be used in biological warfare, and vaccines, if available, would have to be given for all of these. Should we be attacked on a large scale, i.
e. through a missile containing a large number of spores, the devastation would be of pandemic proportions if there were not enough antibiotics available to treat everyone. The United States government is taking the threat of bioterrorism seriously, however there is a long way to go before it can be said that we are fully prepared. It is difficulty in a country where freedom is a top priority to efficiently fight these and other methods of terrorism. People should not have to give up their freedom, however they also need to be protected. It is possible, for instance, that it may become necessary for people to receive mandatory vaccinations.
Right now, to provide more intense screening of packages shipped through the mail, people are required to provide identification when shipping packages from their local post office. Mail is delayed because of the anthrax scares. This is an inconvenience few would complain about. Hopefully, a plan will be devised for maximum safety at minimum loss of freedom.
References Abraham D. Soccer, George D. Wilson, and Sidney D. Dell, The New Terror: Facing the Threat of Biological and Chemical Weapons (Stanford, Cal. : Hoover Institution, 1999), pp. 79 - 81. Anthony H. Cordes man, Asymmetric and Terrorist Attacks with Biological Weapons (Washington, D.
C. : Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2001), pp. 74 - 76 Daniel J. Dire, "CBRNE-Biological Warfare Agents, " eMedicine Journal, Vol. 2, No. 7 (July 3, 2001), Section 2. U. S. Department of Defense.
News Release. Defense Link. "Accelerated Anthrax Vaccination Program to Enhance Force Protection Announced, " March, 1998. U. S. Department of Defense. Defense Link. " Information Paper; DOD Biological Warfare Threat Analysis, " 1998.
USAMARIID. (2001) "History of Biological Warfare, " web Nova (2001) "Biot error, " web U. S. General Accounting Office, Bioterrorism: Federal Research and Preparedness Activities, GAO- 01 - 915, September 2001, pp. 15 - 16.
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Research essay sample on Biological Warfare Agents General Accounting Office
