In a New York Times Magazine article 10 years after 9/11, titled “How Ready are We for Bioterrorism?”, our country’s readiness against a bioterrorism attack is carefully assessed. The article states that with the sophisticated laboratories and technologies we have today, “a person at a graduate-school level has all the tools and technologies to implement a sophisticated program to create a bioweapon”(Hylton p.2). This means that the number of potential perpetrator goes up exponentially and we are not ready for this reality. The article also puts emphasis on how simple the object of the biological attack can be: “a handshake, a breath can become a poison”(Hylton p.1). In the article, a simulation known as Dark Winter took place and the results were not close to satisfactory levels. In conclusion, United States is not prepared for a biological
First there were a doomsday cult that quickly turned into a terrorist organization followed by a Aum Shinrikyo is still on the United States Foreign Terrorist list even though it suffered a split in two thousand and now calls themselves Aleph. The group has also repented for the attacks of Aum Shinrikyo and has been able to organize compensation for those that were effected. Whether or not the group was successful at its goal is arguable because the end of the world has not happened yet, however they were successful in weaponing a biochemical agent. Scholars argue that “terrorist attack suing a specific weapon will be most likely when the industry corresponding to that weapon within the country of attack is relatively large” which brings into question the origins of the beliefs of Aum Shinrikyo. Their belief in war coupled with the availability of Sarin gas may be “evidence” to those that beielve that the end is nigh. Overall, the group has devolved out a terrorist organization but still acts a a threat to national
The Rajneeshee bioterrorism attack is the perfect example of terrorist or an extremist group taking matters in their own hands. It seems that the purpose and method of delivery was well thought out and was not irrational, Diseases have always been the enemy to man and animals, using viruses as weapons clearly presents a threat to the public and to national security.
One researcher determined that a hand full of biologists and $10,000 could be used to produce biological weapon agents. This stands in starch opposition to the amount of funding, expertise, and obstacles that terrorist would need to overcome to develop their own nuclear programs (Levi, 2007, p.1). Some states have attempted to create their own nuclear weapons; this takes years and hundreds of millions of dollars to accomplish. The materials needed are hard to acquire and special equipment is needed to make the process work. Biological agents on the other hand are, as demonstrated by the researchers assessment, are cheap and relatively easy.
This paper will explore research results done through the internet and through published books on the background of the cult group Aum Shinrikyo, now known as the group Aleph, and several other Sarin gas attacks, to include the terrorist attack on the Tokyo subway on 20 March 1995. There is a lot of speculation and questions surrounding this cult group, which will be discussed later, who started out as a peaceful yoga group by the founder and his wife, turn into a radical doomsday cult religion capable of not one but several chemical terrorists acts towards their own countrymen. According
The threat posed by Aum Shinrikyo has diminished due to the intense scrutiny they have been under since their 1995 attack in Japan (Alfred 2015, 1). The former threats that the organization posed to the public hold many lessons for antiterrorism officials and would be terrorist networks. The CBRN weapons used by the organization are still in use by others today and pose a continued threat to the U.S. and its allies.
In 1995 a group of terrorists used Sarin in several coordinated attacks in subway trains in Japan and as a result of this attack 12 people died, many more were severely injured (Alfred, 2015). This instance illustrates how such an attack could be carried out very easily. Subways in particular are susceptible to this type of attack based on the close proximity of a large number of people in a confined space. An agent such a Sarin, when released in a confined area could easily disperse filling the available volume rapidly. As the effects of Sarin can onset rapidly, this leads to another potent effect of the agent, panic. Even though people may not be immediately affected, they would see the symptoms of those who were. This would cause serious concern, and in a close area like a subway train or even the station there would be injuries or even fatalities from people trying to flee. Additionally hospitals would start to quickly become overwhelmed as people who are affected or even worry about being affected seek medical
As discussed earlier, many biological agents such as anthrax and Ebola have negatively affected populations in a way that has scarred the scene of bioterrorism forever. As shown throughout many different bioterrorism events, the use of biological agents has been effective in their cause while causing the fear that was attempted to be achieved. Although biological agents are effective, they are too harmful to use in regular warfare. Putting the entire human race in risk of extinction, or even possibly causing an apocalyptic society, is not worth the outcome of a bioterrorism attack. While the point may be made by the terrorist, the end result may throw the entire world into a mess socially and
The question on whether or not terrorist groups are likely to use CBRN weapons in the United States or anywhere else in the world remains an unconfirmed debate of opinions. Sinai’s (2007) article ,explaining certain characteristics about the terrorists threat, states that illicit supply networks exists in countries that promote proliferation of these types of weapons and reported the occurrence where Usama Bin Laden tried to acquire a cylinder of weapons-grade uranium (Sinai 2007, para 24). This inherently proves that groups such as al Qaeda possess at least the interest of acquiring these weapons but still remains unconfirmed about whether they intend to use them. This is also a statement that suggests that certain nations have more lenient or even complacent policies towards controlling these types of weapons.
Various arguments have been posed regarding the use of CBRN weapons by terrorist organizations. Both sides of the discussion have valid points and neither can be dismissed entirely. The argument that believes terrorist organizations have the capability and intention of using CBRN weapons employ historical evidence of attacks that have been carried out and plans that have been foiled. The opposing argument cites many limitations faced by terrorist organizations including a lack of expertise and funding. Because the implications of a CBRN attack are so potentially large the issue cannot be dismissed entirely. In contrast however the countermeasures required to deter or prevent such attacks are expensive and labor intensive so they must be applied
As the last great superpower, the United States has reason to fear escalating terroristic attacks. This is not to say that the rest of the world is not also at risk, it simply means that the United States of America is often demonized as an international bully and as such is the target of animosity from many cultures and terrorist cells, both organized and unorganized. September 11, 2001, made it abundantly clear that the weapons of choice are no longer conventional means of warfare, particularly among terrorists. Rather, terrorists are employing weapons which are readily attainable, and cause as much mayhem and destruction as possible while inciting crippling fear in the target group. For this reason, several reputable sources insist that terrorists will strike a target with either chemical or biological weapons, if they have not already done so (Gannon, J., 2000, p. 2). Interestingly, both types of weapons are readily accessible and cause mayhem and death. From a terrorist standpoint, they both have their pros and cons. However, for many reasons, including the insidiousness of the agents and the expense to appropriate them, it is most likely that the next weapons of mass destruction utilized by terrorists will be biological weapons.
Individuals, groups, and nations throughout history have employed different types of chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear and explosive weapons. Often times, which category depends on factors such as knowledge of the materials being utilized, funding and research capabilities, the ability of acquiring a weapon from an outside source or what the desired end state of the mission may be. In the case of the Rajneesh, that weapon was biological. In 1984, Rajneesh’s cult used a form of Salmonella to contaminate restaurants (Forest 2012).
The paper seeks to look at the legal pitfalls that exist in reference to the idea of bio terrorism and the difficulty that there are in addressing the idea at a global level. There are real legal obstacles or shortcomings to the war against terror and in particular to the idea of bioterrorism. It is quite unclear at the global level what agents constitute biological weapons, and for the few known or categorized agents, there is no definite quantity that has been given a global legal framework to be able to be referred to as biological weapon hence constituting the possibility of being used for bio terrorism.