Disarmament Diplomacy

News Review

US Biodefence Anthrax Development Remains in Spotlight

In mid-December, the Washington Post reported that the US Army has been developing a new strain of weapons-grade anthrax as part of its biodefence programme. The anthrax, according to the paper, has been produced in unspecified amounts at the Dugway Proving Ground in Utah. In early September, the New York Times broke the story that the United States was conducting biodefence research which may, according to unnamed US officials quoted by the paper, "test the limits" of compliance with the BWC (see Disarmament Diplomacy No. 60, September 2001). The BWC does not prohibit the production of appropriate quantities and types of microbial or biological agent for "prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes". However, the development of virulent new strains of weapons-grade material is widely considered to be a probable violation. Although there is no suggestion the US Army is planning to weaponise the material, the danger of the material being diverted for malicious use is obvious. Indeed, speculation is now rife that source of the post-September 11 anthrax mailings may be illicitly procured material from US military laboratories. According to an analysis provided by Barbara Hatch Rosenberg of the Federation of American Scientists on December 10: "The anthrax in the letters was probably made and weaponised in a US government or contractor lab. It might have been made recently by the perpetrator on his own, or made as part of the US biodefence programme; or it may be a remnant of the US biological weapons programme before....[it was terminated] in 1969." There is also a broader fear that biodefence could be used by would-be proliferators or Convention violators as a cover for clandestine development.

Note: on January 13, the New York Times reported that the Bush administration was considering imposing tighter restrictions on the release of formerly classified US government publications which may contain information on developing biological weapons. Responding to the report the same day, John H. Marburger III, Director of the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy, told the Associated Press: "The administration is generally conscious of this issue. There are obviously people thinking about what to do about it."

Reports: Army working on weapons-grade anthrax, report says, Reuters, December 13; Army working on weapons-grade anthrax, Washington Post, December 13; Army's anthrax material surprises some experts, Washington Post, December 14; US selling papers showing how to make germ weapons, New York Times, January 13; Bush may limit germ weapons info, Associated Press, January 13.

© 2002 The Acronym Institute.