More Security Against the Rising Risk of Bioterrorism essays

More Security Against the Rising Risk of Bioterrorism essays One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter (Egendorf 12-13). These people, be them terrorist or freedom fighters, have, for many years, killed innocent men, women, and children for no reason. In recent years, biological weapons have taken terrorism to a whole new level. Not only can terrorists accomplish their deeds with even more stealth, but they can also kill thousands and even millions cheaply and painfully. Bioterrorism has been called a disease of modern society, a condition of life, an art, an unsurpassed weapon of psychological warfare, and an antithesis of democracy and the democratic spirit (Hyde Terrorists have relatively easy access to a range of sophisticated, off the shelf weapons technology that can be readily adapted to their operational needs (Hoffman). In September 1984, a non-state sponsored terrorist cult called the Rajneeshee from Oregon intentionally contaminated many salad bars in restaurants with salmonella bacteria. The incident resulted in 751 cases of enteritis, inflammation of the intestine (especially the small intestine), usually characterized by diarrhea, and 45 hospitalizations. This occurred just from a weak bacteria like salmonella. The threat of bioterrorism then died down for over a decade. Then in 1995, the radical Aum Shinrikyo cult of Japan attacked the subways of Japan by releasing a sarin gas that killed twelve and left thousands debilitated. This cult not only tried this, they had allegedly launched three unsuccessful biological attacks in Japan using Anthrax and botulin toxin, sendi...