Yosi- Biological Attack on Israel would Devastate Teva
Article on Impact on Israel in Biological Attack
Of all the complex issues raised by Iraq's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, none
are so difficult for the international community to deal with as the possibility that
Baghdad has created biological weapons. Relatively easy to manufacture and easy to
hide, they are
nonetheless potentially as dangerous as nuclear arms.
Here's a glance at the realities of biological weaponry. Worry in the international
community centers on Iraq's capability for biological warfare. Here's a quick glance at
the nature and effects of biological weaponry:
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS
Biological weapons contain living bacterial or viral organisms, or the toxins produced
by them. The toxins are generally the most lethal and act the quickest, producing
incapacitation or death within minutes or hours. Bacterial and viral pathogens require
an incubation period of 24 hours to six weeks before the appearance of symptoms.
Bacterial agents include anthrax, meloidosis, pneumonic plague and glanders. Viral
agents include smallpox, yellow fever, equine encephalitis and influenza. Toxins include
botulinum toxin, ricin and mycotoxins.
EFFECTIVENESS
Biological weapons are hundreds to thousands of times more lethal than chemical
weapons. A few pounds of
biological agents can be as devastating as thousands of tons
of chemical agents. However, most biological agents must be inhaled or ingested in
order to be effective, making them easier to defend against than chemical agents. Most
biological agents degrade rapidly, but dry agents, such as anthrax, are persistent.
Anthrax spores can remain in the soil in deadly form for decades.
DELIVERY
Under ideal weather conditions, a Scud warhead filled with botulinum could
contaminate an area of 2,300 square miles. A similar warhead filled with the nerve
agent sarin could contaminate 140
square miles. According to the United Nations, Iraq may have retained as many as 16
ballistic missiles with biological-delivery capability. Iraq may also have a modified
aircraft drop tank (which could be attached to a fighter plane or remotely piloted
aircraft) designed to spray up to 500 gallons of biological agents.
TARGETS
The main potential targets of biological weapons include troop
concentrations, logistics centers, command and control posts, air bases, ports, key
infrastructure installations (such as oil and power facilities and desalination plants) and
civilian population centers.
SOURCE: Centre for Defence and International Security Studies |
