Index

Title: Proliferation Profile Assessment of Emerging Biological Weapons Threats

Subject: This project develops a first generation BW program system model, identifies key issues the U.S. military must address to assure its forces are prepared to fight in a BW environment, and developes a concise BW primer.

Author(s): Michael G. Archuleta; Michael S. Bland; Tsu-Pin Duann; Alan B. Tucker; Conrad A. Widman (Faculty Advisor)

DTIC Keywords: BIOLOGICAL AGENTS, BIOLOGICAL WARFARE, BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AGENTS, MASS DESTRUCTION WEAPONS

Abstract: The White House's National Security Strategy states "Weapons of mass destruction . . . pose a major threat to our security and that of our allies and other friendly nations. Thus, a key part of our strategy is to seek to stem the proliferation of such weapons. . . ." Because of the dual-use nature of the technology and materials associated with development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), they are attainable to virtually any organization or state desiring such a capability. Considered by many as the "poor man's" nuclear weapon, biological weapons offer a low cost alternative relative to other WMD programs.

This project develops a first generation biological warfare (BW) program system model for use in the DoD's counterproliferation workstation, identifies key issues the U.S. military must address to assure its forces are prepared to fight in a BW environment, and develops a concise BW primer for use by any DoD activity requiring such information. The greatest lesson to be learned from this study is that only through the collective analysis of all the sub-systems of a BW program will conclusive evidence of the program be found. Still, with current counterproliferation capabilities the U.S. may only be able to slow, not stop a motivated proliferant. For this reason, U.S. forces must be prepared to fight in a BW environment.



Last updated 1997 Oct 09