Differentiating the threat of chemical and biological terrorism: Motivations and constraints.

Abstract

There is a heightened concern in the United States over the specter of a catastrophic domestic chemical or biological terrorist attack. Billions are being invested in training first responders for what is acknowledged to be a high consequence-low probability event. However, although substantial investment is being devoted to protecting our vulnerable society from such a devastating act, there is very little attention being devoted to who might do it, and why, and, as important, who might not do it, and why not? A number of factors have contributed to this heightened concern. The World Trade Center bombing in 1993 dented the wall of denial in the United States that it can't happen here. However, if the wall of denial was dented by the World Trade Center bombing, the illusion of invulnerability was surely shattered by the bombing of the Alfred P. Murah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995, which claimed 168 lives in a dramatic act of mass casualty terrorism. In addition, the tragic events of Septembe...