"It's not for lack of capability that we have seen limited deployment of biological weapons," warned symposium speaker Joshua Lederberg, president emeritus of Rockefeller University. He adds that the limitations have more to do with the experience and motivations of terrorists, both of which have been evolving in recent years.
The next concern: Are we prepared to deal with a large-scale attack? Answer: certainly not. An attack affecting thousands would put a severe strain on the public health infrastructure as it currently stands. These grim prospects prompted President Bill Clinton earlier this year to ask Congress for $1.4 billion for safety measures meant to guard against chemical and biological attacks, part of the $10 billion he's proposing for antiterrorism efforts. The money would create new local emergency medical teams, buy and employ portable detection units for identifying hazards, join regional laboratories together, and accelerate research and development for new vaccines, ...
