The True Scope Of Biological Terror

Chemical or toxic weapons cause additional concerns beyond mass casualties. Non-governmental agencies in the likes of National Academy of Sciences along with professional societies have been actively involved in reducing bio-terrorism threats. It might severely contaminate the area in which these weapons are used. A prominent example of it is the catastrophic attack of September 11, 2001 where weapons of mass destruction were used.

‘Dirty’ games of terror  

Chemical weapons are primarily man-made and their treatment protocols vary. Some weapons have effective treatment while the others have no cure. Severe poisoning and fatal diseases are some of the symptoms of these toxic weapons.  ‘Dirty’ bombs have been considered as a potential threat for bio-terrorism. This is a bomb which is made of nuclear waste material. Small terrorists might resort to such weapons for tremendous public fear and vast outreach. Sometimes it has been found that public hysteria has become an outcome for mass dissemination.

 As lethal as it gets

Biological weapons involve pathogens that are enough to cause some of the deadliest diseases to mankind. These weapons are capacitated to lead to diseases such as Q fever and small pox. These are usually illness-inducing chemicals made from fungi, plants, bacteria and animals. Botulinum toxin is the most commonly used bacterial toxins which lead unimaginable casualties.

Notorious ventures:

• Sarin, which was a chemical nerve agent which was used in subway system of Tokyo in the year 1995, by Aum Shinrikyo cult.
• A biological agent named Anthrax bacteria was also used in the year 2001 causing infectious diseases in Connecticut, New York, Florida and also District Columbia.
• Rajneeshee cult used salmonella bacteria in the year 1984 in order to influence local election turnout.
• A toxin named Ricin, was mailed to White House in the year 2003 and Congress in the year 2004.

Unlimited risk

Well-organized terrorist groups might resort the help of North Korean and Iranian scientists for successful operation of nuclear attack or bio-terrorism. Chances of Korean scientists backing the structured and highly funded terrorist camps are high. Maeng-Ho Yang, a foreign policy researcher from Korea Atomic Research Institute in Daejeon said about the prospective collaboration of various projects in alliance with US. Talks on radioisotope production have also been discussed. Thus, if these terror organizations get even a minimum support from for further terror campaign, the impact will be much beyond quick fix.

Destructive ‘event’  

Just as in the television show, ‘The Event,’ where the powerful secret weapon Spanish flu was used which kills people at large, in reality if such weapon is used, it can pose as a genuine threat to the people of US. The impact of such weapons coupled with nuclear programs in assistance with terror camps can prove one of the deadliest combinations for mass destruction and mass killing.

Foreign governments can resort to such ideas and attack a country in the name of terror. Thus, in order to prevent disruptions of this stature, immediate actions need to be taken to curb such bio-terrorism and production of toxic weapons to make the world a better place.

Further Reading

http://www.fas.org/irp/crs/RL31669.pdf

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/311/5758/170.full

http://open.salon.com/blog/paul_levinson/2011/04/25/the_event_118_vp_president_spanish_flu