Another factor is the proliferation of both
biological and chemical weapons by rogue nations that have a history of
militant behavior. Libya, Iraq, Iran, North Korea are a few that come to
mind.
These countries maintain friendly ties with
terrorists (Bin Ladin has close ties with Sadam Hussein) and thus can be
considered possible sources of chemical and biological agents for
terrorists.
Along with the expected increase in terrorist
activity, we are likely to see terrorists using more diverse pathogenic
agents and perhaps even maybe genetically engineered ones as well. By
altering the protein coat on viruses, a clever terrorist might be able
to make viruses such as Ebola or Hanta airborne, increasing their
deadliness tenfold.
Furthermore, most of the
anti-terrorism initiative carried out have been focused on combating
more common events such as the odd high jacking or hostage situation
thus leaving the government unprepared to deal with a chemical or
biological attack.
Traditional terrorists wanted
political concessions, you know, ("Free our Great Leader who is in
prison for drunk driving") but now, their primary gcvoal is mass
casualties ("We want lots and lots of people dead"). That
makes using biological weapons extremely attractive.
Lastly, and perhaps most significantly of all,
there has been a breach in the invisible barrier that has kept
terrorists from using such weapons in the past. There has always been
fear and uncertainty in using such weapons ("Oh gee, what if I
spill the stuff and die") but now, ever since the Sarin gas attack
in the Tokyo Subway not too long ago, the threshold of restraint has
been significantly lowered.
One possible scenario is that if one terrorist
group realizes how simple, effective and easy it is to carry out such an
operation and conducts a series of biological attacks, other such groups
might be tempted to follow suit. Well, if you can’t beat them, join
them. Soon, we might get all sorts of crazed lunatics spraying
biological agents in the air.
Once these underground organizations realize
that it is well within their power to manufacture and develop these
weapons. There is very little that can be done to apprehend this menace.
