By Rachel Muir
The United States today is more vulnerable to an attack by weapons of mass destruction than it was on Sept. 11, 2001—and that attack is more likely to come in the form of a biological weapon, cautioned former Sens. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and Jim Talent (R-Mo.) at GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs on Oct. 21.
The former senators, who chair the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation & Terrorism, presented the bipartisan commission's interim progress report in an event sponsored by GW’s Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) and Elliott School of International Affairs. The discussion was introduced by Douglas Shaw, Elliott School associate dean for planning, research and external relations, and moderated by Frank Cilluffo, GW associate vice president and HSPI director.
“We’ve made progress, but our adversaries have made more,” Sen. Graham said. Calling the commission’s findings “a shot across the bow,” he warned that an attack by the year 2013 is “more likely than not.” Without downplaying the nuclear threat, the senators emphasized that the availability of pathogens, ease of transporting biological weapons and lower risk of detection all make it more likely that biological weapons will be utilized in a mass attack.
Sens. Graham and Talent also stressed that the “lock-down” strategy of thwarting a nuclear attack is insufficient for combating a biological threat. Chief among the steps needed to prepare for a biological threat are better systems for early detection of biological weapons, effective communications strategies, and widely available vaccines and medical countermeasures.
An attack, which could be in the form of anthrax, ebola or plague, is “not only possible but probable within a five-year period,” said Sen. Talent. “We don’t have time for a learning curve.” He said that the commission, which was established by Congress, expects to make a final report in late January 2010.
"The Elliott School is grateful to Senators Graham and Talent and the Homeland Security Policy Institute for engaging our faculty and students as well as our nation and the world in this discussion of the mounting dangers of biological and nuclear proliferation and terrorism," said Associate Dean Shaw.
Mr. Cilluffo echoed the sentiment. “It was a privilege to host Senators Graham and Talent for the commission's interim report,” he said. "The WMD Commission is charged with the awesome responsibility of reducing a critical threat to our security -- a mission central to both HSPI and the Elliott School.”
Mr. Cilluffo called the senators’ emphasis on biological weapons “telling and appropriate.” “Smart thinking and investments in this arena will enhance our capacity to prevent as well as respond to bad bugs—from anthrax to H1N1—bad weather or bad guys,” he said.