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Reasoned
Assessment of Bio-Chemical Threat
Excerpts
from an article by an expert on biological and chemical toxins,
attempting to put minds at ease regarding fears that a massive
biological and chemical attack by terrorists is plausible in
the near future:
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...
The
public and far too many policymakers do not understand the substantial
technical hurdles associated with making and dispersing chemical
and biological agents so that massive casualties result. That's
why people usually believe the worst of what they hear.
A
case in point is the dust-up about crop-dusters. Press reports
implied that these instruments of America's agricultural prowess
were just a snap away from raining chemical or biological warfare
agents on hapless citizens. Practically everyone has been scared
stiff.
In
fact, a pilot with limited experience, such as those who flew
the ill-fated aircraft on Sept. 11, would need lengthy instruction
just to avoid crashing a loaded crop-duster on takeoff. Because
the close-knit aerial spraying community tends to clam up when
strangers get nosy, Mohammed Atta was not even allowed to peer
into the cockpit of one of those planes.
True,
crop-dusters spray chemicals, but wind currents will disperse
and carry away a toxic hazard. People can gain a great deal
of protection just by going inside if they see a crop-duster
overhead. Moreover, the sprayers on crop-dusters are not geared
to dispense biological agents in the droplet size needed to
make people fall ill.
The
federal government needs to calm apprehensions about this and
other myths circulating about chemical and biological terrorism,
such as the misperceptions about how easily a city's water supply
could be poisoned. All of the doomsday talk has made many feel
that chemical or biological attacks are inevitable when that is
far from the case.
Another
terrorist gang, the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo, illustrates
how even a group flush with cash and technical capabilities
could not overcome some of the more arcane aspects of chemical
and biological warfare.
...
Despite
years of effort, Aum's corps of roughly 100 scientists and technicians
could not make its $10 million state-of-the-art production facility
churn out the huge quantities of sarin needed to kill thousands.
Many press reports have credited Aum with successfully dispersing
anthrax and botulinum toxin. In actuality the cult's biowarfare
program was a total flop. Americans should know that they are
much likelier to be struck by lightning than to fall victim
to a chemical or bioterrorist attack.
...
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Source:
Military
Response to Attack on America Coming Into Focus
Excerpts
from an article detailing the military steps the U.S. has taken
and the challenges that remain in launching the military response
to the attack on America:
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Intelligence
from Pakistan. Air strikes from Oman or from aircraft carriers.
Troops on the ground in Uzbekistan to back up special forces
operating inside Afghanistan. And perhaps a command center inside
Saudi Arabia.
Three
weeks into America's declared war on terrorism, U.S. military
options are taking shape.
Questions
remain, though.
As
U.S. armed forces position themselves for a possible strike
against Osama bin Laden and Afghan rulers who harbor him, it
remained unclear what kind of action will be taken and when.
Some worry about how the Pentagon can plan war strategy in a
region with potentially unstable, untested and unenthusiastic
allies.
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Source:
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