DATE=
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-41563
TITLE=SUPER WEAPONS THREAT
BYLINE= ED WARNER
DATELINE= WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ARE A FEARSOME PROSPECT, BUT
NOT NECESSARILY AN IMMEDIATE THREAT. THAT SEEMED TO BE THE
CONSENSUS OF PARTICIPANTS AT A CONFERENCE ON BIOLOGICAL AND
CHEMICAL TERRORISM HOSTED BY JANE'S DEFENSE MAGAZINES, THE
BRITISH-BASED PUBLICATIONS DEALING WITH ALL ASPECTS OF MILITARY
WEAPONRY AND STRATEGY. VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS THE DISCUSSION AND
THE VIEWS OF A PROMINENT ISRAELI ANALYST.
TEXT: THE U-S GOVERNMENT IS TAKING NO CHANCES. THE FBI AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SAY THEY ARE READY TO MEET THE THREAT OF
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, WHICH NATION STATES AND
TERRORIST GROUPS ARE STRIVING TO OBTAIN AND POSSIBLY USE.
AT A RECENT WASHINGTON CONFERENCE ON WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION,
FBI COUNTER TERRORISM CHIEF ROBERT BLITZER SAID HIS AGENCY IN
COOPERATION WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAD PREVENTED TEN
TERRORIST ACTS IN THE UNITED STATES LAST YEAR. BUT THESE WERE
SMALL-SCALE, INVOLVING CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS.
MR. BLITZER NOTED A TYPICAL INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED A FEW MONTHS
AGO. A MAN UPSET OVER A DIVORCE ENTERED A COURTHOUSE IN A
SOUTHERN STATE AND THREATENED TO DESTROY IT:
// BLITZER ACT //
THAT PERSON WAS STRAPPED WITH AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE, AND
WITHIN THAT DEVICE HE HAD SOME BOTTLES WHICH HE SAID
WERE CHEMICALS. AND IF HE DETONATED THE DEVICE, HE WOULD
HAVE SOME KIND OF CHEMICAL RELEASE. AND SO THERE WAS A
CRISIS COMMAND POST SET UP AT THE SCENE, AND WE WERE
PLUGGED RIGHT INTO THAT CRISIS SITE.
// END ACT //
AFTER TALKING IT OVER, THE CRISIS TEAM DECIDED THE BOTTLES DID
NOT CONTAIN CHEMICALS, AND THAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE CASE - MUCH
TO THEIR RELIEF WHEN THE MAN FINALLY SURRENDERED. THE
ANTI-TERRORISM FORCES, SAID MR. BLITZER, HAVE BECOME A FAMILY
THAT WORKS TOGETHER.
THEY ALSO GET SIGNIFICANT HELP OVERSEAS, AS IN THE SUCCESSFUL
INVESTIGATION OF THE BOMBINGS OF THE U-S EMBASSIES IN AFRICA:
// BLITZER ACT //
I HAVE NEVER SEEN AS MUCH WILLINGNESS ON THE PART OF
FOREIGN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TO SOME DEGREE INTELLIGENCE
SERVICES TO WORK WITH US ON THESE MAJOR CASES BECAUSE
YOU KNOW, NEXT TIME IT COULD BE THEM. IT IS US THIS
TIME.
// END ACT //
MR. BLITZER SAID HE MUST ALSO CONTEND WITH MANY THREATS THAT TURN
OUT TO BE HOAXES OR WITH ECCENTRICS WHO WANT TO OBTAIN LETHAL
AGENTS APPARENTLY FOR THE FUN OF IT. BUT NONE OF THESE CAN BE
IGNORED, GIVEN THE DANGER THEY MAY POSE.
PUT YOURSELF IN THE MIND OF THE TERRORIST, SAID JEAN PASCAL
ZANDERS OF THE STOCKHOLM INTERNATIONAL PEACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
HE IS ON EDGE BECAUSE IT IS ILLEGAL TO OBTAIN WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION. ONE FALSE MOVE, AND HE COULD BE CAUGHT AND SEVERELY
PUNISHED.
SO HIS TENDENCY IS TO MOVE TOO FAST TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSE:
// ZANDERS ACT //
THERE ARE INTERNAL PRESSURES TO USE THESE AGENTS BEFORE
THEY HAVE COME TO FULL TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT. THE
CONSEQUENCE OF THAT, OF COURSE, IS OF LOW GRADE AGENTS
BEING USED, DISSEMINATION DEVICES WHICH ARE NOT REALLY
FULLY DEVELOPED. THEREFORE, WHAT WE MIGHT EXPECT ON THE
BASIS OF LABORATORY ANALYSIS WOULD NOT NECESSARILY
MATERIALIZE IN THE REAL WORLD.
// END ACT //
MR. ZANDERS SAID GIVEN THESE OBSTACLES, A BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL
ATTACK COULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT CASUALTIES BUT NOT A GREAT NUMBER
OF DEATHS. THE THREAT IS GENUINE IN HIS OPINION, BUT LIMITED.
WRITING IN "FOREIGN POLICY" QUARTERLY, EHUD SPRINZAK, PROFESSOR
OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM, SAYS THE
GREATER DANGER MAY BE PANIC CAUSED BY AN EXAGGERATED FEAR OF
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. AND THAT PLAYS INTO THE HANDS OF
TERRORISTS WHO DO NOT NECESSARILY WANT TO DESTROY A SOCIETY BUT
TO SCARE IT INTO SUPPORTING THEIR PARTICLAR CAUSE.
SINCE TERRORISTS ARE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED, WRITES MR. SPRINZAK,
THEY CAN BE IDENTIFIED AND APPREHENDED OFTEN BEFORE THEY ACT.
SOME QUITE OPENLY PUBLICIZE THEIR INTENTIONS, EVEN ON THE
INTERNET. HE BELIEVES THE TERRORIST SUPER WEAPONS THREAT IS A
FORM OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE AND SHOULD BE COMBATTED ON THAT
BASIS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
08-Oct-98 7:48 PM EDT (2348 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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