, this proliferation has created conditions that lead to mass destruction. The extent of the proliferation is evident in the wrenching details of every evening newscast. At present, there are approximately 200 million firearms in the United States, of which more than 60 million are handguns [1,2]. The precipitous rise

Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) are designed to kill large numbers of people at a single blow. Military usefulness is limited because their widespread destructiveness is likely to trigger extreme responses. They were once known as ‘NBC weapons ’- the letters refer to nuclear, biological

and governments around the world have used microorganisms as efficient and cost-effec tive weapons of mass destruction. Starting in a rather crude but effective way, the Greeks and Romans deposited dead animals into their en emies ’ drinking water. Later dead soldiers were added to this, and the technique was fur

is not possible when unbalanced dictators with weapons of mass destruction can deliver those weapons on missiles or secretly provide them to terrorist allies. We cannot defend America and our friends by hoping for the best. We cannot put our faith in the word of tyrants, who solemnly sign nonproliferation

explosive; hospital; pharmaceutical;

Bacillus thuringiensis

III. ASSESSING MASS DESTRUCTION CAPABILITIES AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN

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Until recently, research into the development of medical countermeasures to weapons of mass destruction was confined almost exclusively to the defence community. This had advantages, particularly insofar as access to the WMD agents was concerned, but there were disadvantages as well, notably