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Biosecurity News in Brief
WMD Commission Report Focuses on Biological and Nuclear ThreatsBy Kunal Rambhia, December 10, 2008 On December 2, 2008, the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Proliferation and Terrorism delivered its World at Risk report. Notably, the report predicts that a WMD will be used somewhere in the world by the end of 2013 and contends that terrorists are more likely to deploy a biological weapon than a nuclear weapon.1 Consequently, the Commission recommends that the U.S. place greater emphasis on preventing a bioweapons attack and redouble efforts to:
The Commission maintains that securing dangerous pathogens is important because acquiring disease-causing microbes is the major hurdle for terrorists who seek to use biological weapons. The Commission regards the recent increase in the number of biosafety level 3 & 4 labs and lab personnel in the U.S. as a potential threat that merits greater security and oversight of labs and biological agents to prevent terrorists from acquiring these pathogens. The Commission also calls for promoting a culture of laboratory security, including improved vetting of lab personnel and employment candidates. The Center for Biosecurity of UPMC’s Dr. Thomas Inglesby commented about the report on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered: “pathogens are in laboratories big and small around the world and given, as they say in the report, that it doesn't require any more than a few skilled individuals to make and use a biological weapon, our efforts to prevent biological attacks should be strengthened, but the country can't bank on prevention as its sole strategy.”2 For responding to an attack, the Commission recommends increased forensics capabilities to hasten tracking and attributing the source or perpetrator of a biological attack. The Commission also recommends development of an enhanced rapid response system that would support detection, initiation of response, and distribution of countermeasures within 48 hours of an attack. However, the Armchair Generalist noted on December 4 that “the [report’s] failure to assess current government WMD terrorism response programs is a significant challenge to understanding what is working and what is needed to address the alleged threat.”3 On the international front, the Commission recommends more vigorous support for Cooperative Threat Reduction programs to encourage lab security and legitimate bioscience in countries that have indigenous terrorist groups. Also recommended is strengthening of biosurveillance and a new plan for achieving universal adherence to and effective implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention. The remainder of the report discusses prevention of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism, as well as U.S. policy toward Pakistan, U.S. relations with Russia, organization and oversight of U.S. government work against WMDs, and the role of the American citizen. Specifically, the report calls for a position in the White House designated to coordinate the overlapping work currently performed by the Homeland Security Council and the National Security Council. The Commission requests better Congressional oversight of 21st century threats through more efficient committee organization. Finally, there is a call for the incoming administration to work openly and honestly to engage American citizens in efforts to prevent WMD terrorism. As previously reported by the Biosecurity Briefing, the Commission’s report was chaired by former Senator Bob Graham and was completed in accordance with the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-53). References
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