A new threat is stalking nations, as terrorist organizations and rogue states alike appear intent on acquiring and using the poor man's nuclear weapon: biological agents such as anthrax, smallpox, and plague. Attacks against Americans during the past dozen years may be an indication of more worrisome events to come. U.S. military forces in Japan were attacked in April of 1990 with botulinum toxin by the Aum Shinrikyo cult. Hundreds in Oregon were sickened with Salmonella after an attack in 1984. And small amounts of anthrax resulted in widespread panic and frequent evacuations across the United States in the fall of 2001. Ten experts discuss in detail the threats posed by bio-weapons and assess the current state of U.S. biological defenses.
Chapters highlight the future prospects for biological warfare, bio-weapons in the Middle East, potential agroterrorism, the emerging bio-cruise missile threat, prevalent myths and likely scenarios, as well as the public health response. The promise of future world peace after World War II was quickly shattered by the Cold War. Indeed, the nuclear age was born at a time when the world seemed to be emerging from a dark past into a hopeful future. Are we to repeat history? With the end of the Cold War, does the future hold even greater threats? Or is an old threat merely resurfacing with a new level of lethality? This book should be required reading for anyone interested in national security, as well as concerned citizens who wish to know what form this new enemy may take and what can be done to stop it.
Show moreA new threat is stalking nations, as terrorist organizations and rogue states alike appear intent on acquiring and using the poor man's nuclear weapon: biological agents such as anthrax, smallpox, and plague. Attacks against Americans during the past dozen years may be an indication of more worrisome events to come. U.S. military forces in Japan were attacked in April of 1990 with botulinum toxin by the Aum Shinrikyo cult. Hundreds in Oregon were sickened with Salmonella after an attack in 1984. And small amounts of anthrax resulted in widespread panic and frequent evacuations across the United States in the fall of 2001. Ten experts discuss in detail the threats posed by bio-weapons and assess the current state of U.S. biological defenses.
Chapters highlight the future prospects for biological warfare, bio-weapons in the Middle East, potential agroterrorism, the emerging bio-cruise missile threat, prevalent myths and likely scenarios, as well as the public health response. The promise of future world peace after World War II was quickly shattered by the Cold War. Indeed, the nuclear age was born at a time when the world seemed to be emerging from a dark past into a hopeful future. Are we to repeat history? With the end of the Cold War, does the future hold even greater threats? Or is an old threat merely resurfacing with a new level of lethality? This book should be required reading for anyone interested in national security, as well as concerned citizens who wish to know what form this new enemy may take and what can be done to stop it.
Show more"This book represents some of the best topics and authors on the topic of biodefense and is a valuable addition to any library dealing with asymmetric warfare defense and counterproliferations. I recommend this book as must read document to anyone seeking to quickly appreciate an overview of national policy on preparedness and response to biological warfare or bioterrorism." -- Dr. Scott R. Lillibridge, University of Texas, Health and Science Center, Houston "A timely introduction to one of the most complex threats facing America. From the history of illicit use of biological agents through the central role of public health in response and national policy for deterrence to the impact of biotechnology on future threats, the authors not only describe enormous challenges, but offer solutions." -- Dannie Smith, Midwest Research Institute
Disclaimer
Acknowledgments
U.S. Bio-defense Readiness: Thoughts after September 11 by Barry R.
Schneider
Agroterrorism and Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Is the United States
Prepared? by Michael E. Peterson
Surveillance and Detection: A Public Health Response to
Bioterrorism by Barbara F. Bullock
The Anthrax Terror: DOD's Number-One Biological Threat by Jim A.
Davis and Anna Johnson-Winegar
Efficacy and Safety of the Anthrax Vaccine by Richard A.
Hersack
Smallpox: A Primer by Brenda J. McEleney
The Prospects for Biological War in the Middle East by Brad
Roberts
Assessment of the Emerging Biocruise Threat by Rex R. Ziziah
Next Generation Bioweapons: Genetic Engineering and BW by Michael
J. Ainscough
A Biological Warfare Wake-Up Call: Prevalent Myths and Likely
Scenerios by Jim A. Davis
Contributors
JIM A. DAVIS, who holds a doctorate in Public Health and a
degree in veterinary medicine, is Deputy Director at the USAF
Counterproliferation Center.
BARRY R. SCHNEIDER is Director of the USAF Counterproliferation
Center at Maxwell Air Force Base and a Professor of International
Relations at the Air War College.
In this book, ten experts detail the threats posed by bio-weapons
and assess the current state of US biological defenses. They
highlight the future prospects for biological warfare, bio-weapons
in the Middle East, potential agroterrorism, the emerging
bio-cruise missile threat, prevalent myths and likely scenarios,
and the public health response. With its insights into
bioterrorism, this book will be useful reading for anyone
interested in national security and public health, as well as
students who want to know what forms biological warfare may take
and what can be done to counteract it. Recommended. All levels.
*Choice*
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