US Army plans to bulk-buy anthrax (and they won't say why)

[atommom]

The US military wants to buy large quantities of anthrax, in a controversial move that is likely to raise questions over its commitment to treaties designed to limit the spread of biological weapons.

A series of contracts have been uncovered that relate to the US army' Dugway Proving Ground in Utah. They ask companies to tender for the production of bulk quantities of a non-virulent strain of anthrax, and for equipment to produce significant volumes of other biological agents. Issued earlier this year, the contracts were discovered by Edward Hammond, director of the Sunshine Project, a US-German organisation that campaigns against the use of biological and chemical weapons.

One "biological services" contract specifies: "The company must have the ability and be willing to grow Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain at 1500-litre quantities." Other contracts are for fermentation equipment for producing 3000-litre batches of an unspecified biological agent, and sheep carcasses to test the efficiency of an incinerator for the disposal of infected livestock.

Although the Sterne strain is not thought to be harmful to humans and is used for vaccination, the contracts have caused major concern. "It raises a serious question over how the US is going to demonstrate its compliance with obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention if it brings these tanks online," says Alan Pearson, programme director for biological and chemical weapons at the Center for Arms Control and Non- Proliferation in Washington DC. "If one can grow the Sterne strain in these units, one could also grow the Ames strain, which is quite lethal." The US renounced biological weapons in 1969, but small quantities of lethal anthrax were still being produced at Dugway as recently as 1998.

It is not known what use the biological agents will be put to. They could be used to test procedures to decontaminate vehicles or buildings, or to test an "agent defeat" warhead designed to destroy stores of chemical and biological weapons. There are even fears that they could be used to determine how effectively anthrax is dispersed when released from bombs or crop-spraying aircraft. "I can definitely see them testing biological weapons delivery systems for threat assessment," says Hammond.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-09/ns-uap092105.php

[win_in_06]

1. Perhaps for vaccinations.

[atommom]

2. Possibly, but since they're also planning to buy equipment to mass-

produce other biological agents, other nations may well be skeptical about our intentions. Hell, I'm skeptical ...

[Roland99]

4. Yeah...right...they've had almost 15 years to do that. Read this ->>>

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ANTHRAX VACCINE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM:

UNPROVEN FORCE PROTECTION

Pages 1--120

February 17, 2000 (2: 27PM)

http://www.dallasnw.quik.com/cyberella/Anthrax/Anthrax_report_text.htm




That summary expresses much doubt as to the efficacy of a vaccination program.

Also, they should have been all set post-9/11/Anthrax attacks FOUR years ago. These contracts are from this year.

This administration hasn't been about defending this country, at least not within our own borders. They prefer taking the fight to the enemy. And, in situations where there is no clear enemy, they create one. That's why this program should be of concern to everyone.

And, here's another article on this story:
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8044

[atommom]

6. Exactly. And after seeing the things this administration is willing

to do in Iraq ... torture, napalm, rape ... I just don't trust them with this kind of technology.

[3waygeek]

3. They're going to hit

the National Enquirer again, for publishing the "Dubya's Drinking Again" story.:evilgrin:

[Roland99]

5. That was the Weekly World News that was hit before

[cassiepriam]

7. Time to scare the American public again? nt

[atommom]

8. Maybe, but their usual tactic is to make us afraid of OTHER

governments, not our own. :shrug: