WASHINGTON Ñ The Pentagon says Russia can no longer be solely blamed for the proliferation of biological weapons.
"Countries like Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Libya, Syria have consciously
over the last seven to 10 years gone ahead and been developing" biological
weapons," Deputy Defense Undersecretary Lisa Bronson said. "They
have it, and we can't turn a blind eye to the fact that they have it."
Ms. Bronson said Middle East countries now appear to have sufficient
expertise to export biological weapons.
"I don't think you can lay it all on the doorstep of the former Soviet
republics," she said. "Increasingly, our nonproliferation efforts have not
resulted in preventing them [Middle East states] from getting the
capability."
Pentagon officials have identified Iraq, Iran, Libya and Syria as having
launched intensive efforts to achieve biological weapons capability. They said the
effort began over the last decade, Middle East Newsline reported.
On Monday, the German daily Berliner Zeitung quoted a report by the
nation's BND intelligence service that said Iraq was continuing its
biological weapons program. The report said the program is based on mobile
units to escape Western detection.
Ms. Bronson, the Pentagon official responsible for technology security
policy and proliferation, told a briefing that Middle East states have
become the source of biological weapons agents. This includes efforts to
produce anthrax.
She said dual-use equipment required to dry anthrax spores is also used to make powdered milk.
Other equipment employed for drugs and cosmetics industries can help
weaponize anthrax.
The assertion by the Pentagon official was the latest in a series of
statements that Middle East states have invested heavily in biological
weapons. In January, a CIA report made a similar assertion, followed by
testimony to Congress by agency director George Tenet.
Ms. Bronson said anthrax is regarded as an ideal biological weapon
because it remains lethal for an indefinite period. She said the Al Qaida
movement was found to have tried to produce the nerve agent.
Russia and former Soviet republics have provided expertise and raw
material for biological weapons programs, Pentagon officials said. They said
Russia has been approached by several Middle East countries that seek
technology and training in nonconventional warfare.