Biological Warfare

Economy Puts Emergency Readiness in Peril

Greg Schnippel — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:25:32 -0800

The economic crisis is jeopardizing the nation's ability to handle public-health emergencies and possible bioterrorist attacks, according to government leaders and a new report.

Experts Divided Over Risk of Bio-Terrorist Attack

Greg Schnippel — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:03:08 -0800

Even as the United States spends billions of dollars on biological defense initiatives, experts continue to debate the likelihood that terrorists could pull off a major attack using smallpox or another disease agent.

Biological Terror Attack Likely by 2013, Panel Says

Greg Schnippel — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:31:27 -0800

Terrorists are likely to use a weapon of mass destruction somewhere in the world in the next five years, a blue-ribbon panel assembled by Congress has concluded.

Panel Fears Use of Unconventional Weapon

Greg Schnippel — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:07:02 -0800

An independent commission has concluded that terrorists will most likely carry out an attack with biological, nuclear or other unconventional weapons somewhere in the world in the next five years unless the United States and its allies act urgently to prevent that.

Report Sounds Alarm Over Bioterror

Greg Schnippel — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:11:23 -0800

Seven years after the 2001 anthrax attacks, a congressionally ordered study finds a growing threat of biological terrorism and calls for aggressive defenses on par with those used to prevent a terrorist nuclear detonation. Due for release next week, a draft of the study warns that future bioterrorists may use new technology to make synthetic versions of killers such as Ebola, or genetically modified germs designed to resist ordinary vaccines and antibiotics.

Tracking the Spread of Biological Technologies

Greg Schnippel — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:33:33 -0800

The author argues that the current rate of scientific advances is leading to a convergence of "biological, algorithmic, and micromechanical innovations necessary to build a desktop gene printer." He calls for more careful assessment and regulation of these technologies.

Iran Has Potential WMD Capabilities, Reports Say

Greg Schnippel — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:03:56 -0700

Iran's growing industrial and medical capabilities could enable the country to produce chemical or biological weapons if it chose to do so, security expert Anthony Cordesman said in two draft reports released this month.

Anthrax Case Renews Questions on Bioterror

Greg Schnippel — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:11:21 -0700

Until the anthrax attacks of 2001, Bruce E. Ivins was one of just a few dozen American bioterrorism researchers working with the most lethal biological pathogens, almost all at high-security military laboratories.

Today, there are hundreds of such researchers in scores of laboratories at universities and other institutions around the United States, preparing for the next bioattack.

Costly Weapon-Detection Plans Are in Disarray, Investigators Say

Greg Schnippel — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:46:17 -0700

Bush administration initiatives to defend the nation against a smuggled nuclear bomb or a biological outbreak or attack remain poorly coordinated, costing billions of tax dollars while basic goals and policies remain incomplete, according to new reports by congressional investigators.

Virtual game is a 'disease model'

Greg Schnippel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:29:50 -0700