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U.S.: Rogue states replace Russia as chief bio-weapons threat

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, February 26, 2002

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.

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