Lest We Forget: A Critical Analysis of Bioterrorist Incidents, National Exercises, and U.S. Prevention, Response and Recovery Strategies

Current U.S. deterrence and prevention strategies are incapable of completely negating the multiple means a terrorist has to obtain and disseminate biological agents to create a catastrophic U.S. incident. However, a thorough analysis of previous biological attacks and incidents and national bioterr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Pravecek, Tasha L
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ANTHRAX
ANTHRAX LETTERS 2001
ATTACK
AUM SHINRIKYO
BIOLOGICAL DETECTION
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE
BIOTERRORISM
BIOTERRORIST INCIDENTS
CASE STUDIES
Chemical, Biological and Radiological Warfare
Civil Defense
COUNTERTERRORISM
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DETERRENCE
EXERCISE DESCRIPTIONS
FORENSIC ANALYSIS
Government and Political Science
HOMELAND SECURITY
LARRY WAYNE HARRIS
LESSONS LEARNED
NATIONAL BIOTERRORISM EXERCISES
NATIONAL EXERCISE PROGRAMS
PLAGUES
POISONING
POLICIES
PREVENTION
RAJNEESH CULT
RECOVERY
RESPONSE
SALMONELLA
Unconventional Warfare
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
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Summary:Current U.S. deterrence and prevention strategies are incapable of completely negating the multiple means a terrorist has to obtain and disseminate biological agents to create a catastrophic U.S. incident. However, a thorough analysis of previous biological attacks and incidents and national bioterrorism exercises may provide insights into where the most effective deterrence and prevention strategies should be focused to prevent or mitigate a large-scale biological terrorist attack. The analysis also will provide insights into how we should respond and recover if an attack occurs. This paper reviews and analyzes biological incidents that have occurred over the past 30 years, including the Rajneesh Cult salmonella poisoning, Larry Wayne Harris's purchase of plague bacteria, the Aum Shinrikyo Cult anthrax dissemination, and the anthrax letter attacks of 2001. Additionally, National Exercises that involved simulated bioterrorist events are analyzed: TOPOFF 1, 2, and 3, and Dark Winter. Next, current U.S. strategies and policies aimed to prevent a biological weapons attack are examined to determine what focus will achieve the best effect in light of lessons learned from the biological incidents and exercises reviewed. Based on an examination of these real-world events and national exercises, the following are presented as key points of focus that U.S. policy makers should consider more carefully: (1) improve the detection of bio-attacks; and (2) prepare against biological contingencies, respond effectively, recover quickly and capably, and gather biological-weapon forensics information so that decision-makers can attribute the attack to the correct perpetrators. Counterproliferation Paper No. 50.