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Here are the horrible truths that I’ve learned thus far:
” Terrorists do have chemical and biological warfare materials available to them now.
” They have and will use them.
” Most chemicals are merely irritants that will make people sick and temporarily incapacitated.
” The deadliest of all biological germs is Anthrax.
” Most of these materials can only be spread through the air and must be breathed in.
” Some of these materials are contagious and can be transmitted by other people. This is the worst case scenario since it would mean that even those of us who were not at ground zero can be infected simply by making contact with someone who was infected.
” An attack will not be detected until weeks after its launching, only after a great number of people are stricken down and the medical community finally realizes what’s happened.
” The attackers will be long gone by the time we discover what’s happened.
” There are countless soviet scientists (among others as well) who are poverty stricken and vulnerable to the temptation of a large cash payment from terrorists.
” Most of the laboratories in other countries housing these deadly chemicals and germs have very weak security systems in place, if any at all!
Here are the positive bits of information that I’ve learned thus far:
” In order to infect the largest number of people, massive quantities of these elements would need to be acquired and distributed through a very visible means such as a crop duster. Even then, only a relatively small patch of land will be covered.
” Most of these elements can only be effective when air born and must be breathed in. This lessons the odds of being infected by the majority of people.
” Only a few germs are contagious, which means most materials that would be used in an attack cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
” The USA and the entire world is now fully aware of this most hideous threat to civilization. There is now a great movement towards finding solutions to this danger. We are now in the process of preparing for such an attack. We do not want to be caught off guard as we were on 9/11/2001.
What can we do to combat the threat of chemical and biological warfare?
” Immediately implement a worldwide computer network over the Internet that will link each and every medical institution and health organization. This will be like the control center at NASA with giant monitors with a grid of the entire world. All flu-like symptoms will be monitored closely and alarms will sounded whenever a greater than normal amount of cases are reported in any one area. This is critical since the earlier an attack is reported, the quicker we can respond to help those infected as well as prevent its spread.
” Our health organizations need to stockpile antidotes and serum. We do not have nearly enough antidotes to treat the severe number of people that will be infected after an attack. We need to stockpile as much as we can as quickly as we can.
” We need to contact our local congressman and urge them to address the issue of providing more funding to the cause of fighting chemical and biological warfare. This would go towards more research and stockpiling. We also need someone in charge of this threat. Perhaps it can rest on the shoulders of the new cabinet position created by the President for Homeland Security.
” The USA and the UN or some other organization needs to be in complete control of any laboratory that houses even one vile of lethal chemicals or germs. Each lab must be closely monitored and heavily secured. Every person involved with handling these items must also be closely monitored and scrutinized.
” Stockpile emergency food, drink and equipment. We should purchase gas masks, canned foods, bottled water, and other items that could sustain you and your family during an attack. It might seem like overkill or panicking, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
In conclusion, we all need to learn as much as possible about this subject matter and make as much noise as we can with our elected officials. Only when a critical mass is reached can real change take place. We need to be proactive and no longer reactive. If we are not aggressive, then we will become victims yet again, only this time the casualties will be even greater than what we’ve just experienced.
Let’s not panic or lose our heads. Let’s just get busy and make that change.