Chemical and biological weapons Tactics of terrorism

bioterrorism deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs (agents) used cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants. biological agents typically found in nature, possible can changed increase ability cause disease, make them resident current medicines, or increase ability spread environment. biological agents in hands of terrorists pose serious threats states’ security because can spread through air, through water, , through food. biological agents can difficult detect , not cause illness several hours several days. prominent example of bioterrorist attack on united states september 2001 anthrax attacks. on september 18, 2001, several letters containing anthrax sent media outlets , u.s. congressional offices of senator thomas daschle , senator patrick leahy. 5 americans died anthrax inhalation result of contact contaminated mail. while 2001 anthrax attacks relatively small-scale, united states government has taken several steps since 2001 pass legislation , initiatives aimed @ better protecting united states against biological attacks, improving united states’ public health system, , improving united states ability respond biological attacks.

the use of chemical weapons includes aum shinrikyo, japanese new religious movement , in 1995 carried out sarin gas attack on tokyo subway. ian davison, british white supremacist, , neo-nazi arrested in 2009 planning terrorist attacks involving ricin poison. in 2011 united states government discovered information terrorist groups attempting obtain large amounts of castor beans weaponized ricin use.

agro-terrorism

a subset of bioterrorism, agroterrorism refers deliberate introduction of animal or plant disease purposes of generating fear, causing economic losses, or undermining social stability. ultimate goal of agroterrorism in killing livestock , plants , contaminating food cause economic crises in agricultural , food industries, social unrest, , loss of confidence in government. many experts believe united states’ agricultural sector , food supply among vulnerable , least protected of potential targets of attack, , believe terrorists have taken note of this. after american , allied forces overran al-qaeda’s refuges in caves in eastern afghanistan in 2002, found u.s. agricultural documents , al-qaeda training manuals on targeting agriculture among thousands of other documents.

analysts have identified number of characteristics of united states’ agricultural system make vulnerable agroterrorism. given agriculture demands large expanses of land, farms geographically dispersed in environments difficult secure. also, livestock concentrated in confined locations, allows diseases infect more animals quickly. although many experts believe united states susceptible agroterrorism, have never suffered large scale agroterrorism related attack. many political scientists have identified 1984 salmonella attack in dalles, oregon small-scale example of agroterrorism attack in united states. religious cult intentionally contaminated ten restaurant salad bars salmonella in attempt influence local election, sickening more 750 people. though united states has not experienced large-scale agroterrorism attack date, similar anti-bioterrorism initiatives, united states government has passed several pieces of legislation , started initiatives on past few decades better secure agricultural system , prepare potential attacks.