Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T10:30:58.487Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Need for a Defensive Biological Research Program1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2016

Thomas R. Dashiell
Thomas R. Dashiell*
Affiliation:
U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, Foreign Affairs, 320 21st. Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20451
Get access

Abstract

The biological defense research program maintained by the Department of Defense as a deterrent to the potential use of biological warfare against United States forces or national interests has been subjected to intense criticism. Concerns center on developments in the protective programs and the potential for new offensive developments through the application of biotechnology. The arms control activities intended to preclude any offensive developments are reviewed which point out the relative ineffectiveness of these control mechanisms. The nature, scope and direction of the biological defense research program and the openness of the program are noted. The proliferation of biological warfare capabilities adds to the urgency of an adequate defense program. The political nature of the problem and its relationship to control of biological warfare is examined and the interplay between the technical and the political roles leads to a potential solution. Key attributes of a control program should be enhanced efforts to develop the political framework to achieve effective control mechanisms while maintaining a complementary biological defense research program as the only effective deterrent at this time.

Type
Articles and Commentaries
Information
Politics and the Life Sciences , Volume 9 , Issue 1: Special Issue: Biotechnology and International Conflict , August 1990 , pp. 85 - 92
Copyright
Copyright © Association for Politics and the Life Sciences 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Dashiell, T. R. (1988). “Biological Warfare Issues Weighed.” ASM News, American Society for Microbiology 54(7): 346–347.Google Scholar
Defense Intelligence Agency (1986). “Soviet Biological Warfare Threat.” DST-1610F-057-86, pp. 4–7.Google Scholar
Department of Defense (1989). “Soviet Military Power, Prospects for Change.” Washington, D.C., pp. 67–68.Google Scholar
Douglass, J. D. Jr., and Livingston, N. C. (1987). America the Vulnerable. Lexington, Mass.: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
Douglass, J. D. Jr., and Livingston, N. C. (1989). “Biological Defense Research Program: Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.” Department of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD.Google Scholar
Gertz, B. (1989). “Biological Weapons Made in Soviet Union, Report Says.” Washington Times (January 19): 4.Google Scholar
Gertz, B. (1988). “Department of Defense Safety Programs for Chemical and Biological Warfare Research.” Hearing before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate. 100th Congress, 2nd Session, July 27,28. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Gertz, B. (1988). “Biological Warfare Testing.” Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, and the Committee on Armed Services. 100th Congress, 2nd Session, May 3. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Huxsoll, D. L., Parrott, C. D., and Patrick, W. C. III. (1989). “Medicine in Defense Against Biological Warfare.” Journal of the American Medical Association 262(5):677–679.Google Scholar
Huxsoll, D. L., Parrott, C. D., and Patrick, W. C. III. (1988). “Mailing of Biological Toxins.” Joint Hearing before the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service and the Committee on Armed Services, United States House of Representatives. 100th Congress, 2nd Session, July 23 and October 5. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Kennedy, T. (1990). “Iraqui Sattellite - Launch Rocket.” National Defense.” Journal of the American Defense Preparedness Association 74(455): 18.Google Scholar
Kucewicz, W. (1984). “Beyond ‘Yellow Rain,’ The Threat of Soviet Genetic Engineering.” Wall Street Journal (April 23): 30; (April 25): 30; (April 27): 28; (May 1): 34; (May 3): 28; (May 8): 34; (May 11): 34; (May 18): 26.Google Scholar
Lewis, F. (1987). “Staff Interview with Valentin Falin.” New York Times (December 11), p. 39.Google Scholar
Linthicum, K. J., Bailey, C. L., Davies, F. G., and Tucker, C. J. (1987). “Detection of Rift Valley Fever Viral Activity in Kenya by Satellite Remote Sensing Imagery.” Science 235 (March 27): 1656–1659.Google Scholar
Livingston, N. C., Douglass, J.D. Jr. (1984). “CBW: The Poor Man's Atomic Bomb.” National Security Paper 1, Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
National Security Memorandum 35. (1969). Excerpts published in FPEIS, BDRP. pp. A1-2.Google Scholar
Piller, C., and Yamamoto, K. R. (1988). Gene Wars. New York: Beech Tree Books.Google Scholar
Reagan, R. (1981). National Press Club Speech, November 18, 1981, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Smith, R. J. (1988). “Despite Soviet Account of Anthrax Outbreak, Questions Remain.” Washington Post (April 14): A26.Google Scholar
Smith, R. J. and Hilts, P. J. (1988). “Soviets Deny Lab Caused Anthrax Cases.” Washington Post (April 13): 1.Google Scholar
Thatcher, G. (1988). “Poison on the Wind, Part 3: Tailor-Made Toxins.” Christian Science Monitor 81 (December 15): 15.Google Scholar
U. S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. (1982). Arms Control and Disarmaments Agreements, Texts and Histories of Negotiations, United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Washington, D.C., 120–131.Google Scholar
U.S. Army Activity in the U.S. Biological Warfare Programs. (1977). Vol. 1 and 2. Published in U.S. Congress, Senate, Committee on Human Resources, Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research, Biomedical and Behavioral Research: Hearings, March 8 and May 23,1977.95th Congress, 1st Session. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
Walsh, J. (1988). “Rift Valley Fever Rears its Head.” Science 240 (10 June): 1397–1399.Google Scholar