| Thursday 16 July 1998 Discovery heralds end to chemical warfare By PETER SPINKS Scientists in the United States have designed a revolutionary new carbon fibre they claim could have protected Iraqi Kurds from some of the lethal chemical weapons used during the Iraq-Iran war. The new and relatively inexpensive form of fibre - which has the potential to render chemical and germ warfare obsolete in future - is more efficient and tougher than the activated carbon granules widely used today in domestic and industrial air and water systems. |
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| One of the Faster Growing Government Efforts Over The Last Several Years: The National Defense Panel advised the Defense Department to focus on threats of possible terrorist strikes. As part of that, 120 cities are being trained in emergency response to such attacks. (AP Photo/Montage ABCNEWS.) |
| This webpage is provided to give viewers access to various information on Bio/Chemical Warfare ... AMERICA'S NEW WAR Americans unite to defeat evil. President Bush: "Americans must be diligent, strong and unwavering." Now is not the time to be timid, it is a time to be wise. The proliferation of biological warfare weapons offers less developed nations a capability as lethal and potentially devastating as a nuclear device. The ease and relative low cost of biological warfare production, coupled with spread of dual-use legitimate biotechnology, will facilitate and accelerate BW proliferation. |
| Emergency Response to Chemical/Biological Terrorist Incidents |
| Readiness for Bioterrorism |
| GOOD PREVAILS OVER EVIL LOVE PREVAILS OVER HATRED DEFEAT OR BE DEFEATED ... AND DEFEAT WE MUST! WE, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MUST MAKE SURE THE WORLD WILL BE FREE FROM THE UNGODLY, MERCILESS ACTS OF THE TERRORISTS AND THE TERROR OF BIO/CHEMICAL WARFARE. We MUST hold tight our faiths and our loyalties to our great country. We MUST remember freedom is not free. We MUST rid this great Nation, all nations, from the evil scourge of terrorists and their ungodly, evil acts toward our fellow men, women and children all over the world, or forever lose our freedom. Courage and dreams must flourish or forever live in the dark shadows of fear, terror and evil. Let not all the innocent victims of September 11, 2001 deaths be in vain, along with the masses of innocent victims of terrorism around the world. God bless all the departed souls of this tragedy, God bless our heroes ... God bless America. AS AMERICANS, WE STAND UNITED ... WE WILL RALLY BEHIND OUR PRESIDENT, OUR GOVERNMENT, OUR MILITARY, FULLY SUPPORTING AND TRUSTING THE EXPERTISE OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY'S LEADERS SO WE MAY FOREVER KEEP OUR FREEDOM. |
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| "I Pledge Allegiance..." We often say the Pledge of Allegiance, but how often do we just mouth the words and not think about what exactly we are saying. Our pledge is a single sentence. It is very simple in structure but very complex in meaning. Every person will have their own thoughts and interpretations -- this -- is what it means to me. It starts with, "I pledge allegiance..." -- but who am I? I am an individual; I am unique. I laugh, and I cry. I love, and I hate. I have hopes and dreams, but I also have my frustrations. Others may be just as tall, have the same color hair, or wear the same clothes -- but those are just external dressings. I am the soul inside. Others may listen to the same sounds I listen to -- but nobody hears what I hear. Others may look at the same pictures I look at -- but nobody sees what I see. Others may be touched by the same sensations and experiences that have touched my life - -but nobody feels what I feel. I am what I am! I am glad for what I am. I am proud of what I am. And "I pledge allegiance..." To pledge ... To vow, to promise. To pledge is not to mouth empty words. It is not to mindlessly follow the crowd. It is not to set sail only to be blown aimlessly about with every whimsical change in mood or breeze. To pledge is to search your soul for direction and then to make a personal commitment, to stand strong against the wind and steadfastly steer your chosen course. The course I choose is "allegiance to the flag." Allegiance: devotion, unfailing support, personal dedication to a cause or ideal. I pledge my allegiance "to the flag of the United States of America." What is the flag? It is a simple piece of cloth-hand stitched by courageous Americans who faithfully tended the home fires and prayed for the safe return of their loved ones from battle fields all over the world where they fought to make and then keep our country free. A simple piece of cloth -- bleached white by tears of hope and by the purity of our soldiers' honor. A simple piece of cloth -- striped red by the blood of those countless patriots who willingly and valiantly fought for their ideals and gave us our freedom. On that simple piece of cloth, the white stripes of honor and red stripes of courage lead to a blue sky of hope; a sky spangled with stars that burn brightly so that we may continuously see how far our country has come and how far we have yet to go. A simple piece of cloth? No-it is a legacy of courage and dedication to an ideal: "the United States of America." A state: a politically organized body of people occupying a definite territory. Each state has its own government and well-defined boundaries. Our states are autonomous, but they are also united -- they are joined together, not by barbed wire fences or brick walls, but rather by unity of purpose. But I do not pledge allegiance just to the flag and our proud heritage. I also pledge allegiance "to the republic for which it stands." A republic: a country governed by the citizens where government officials are elected by the citizens and responsible to them for the laws and policies they enact. As Abraham Lincoln said, it is a government "... of the people, by the people, for the people..." This republic is a country where my vote counts and where I have a voice. People have come from all over the world to make up this republic. They have brought different cultures and beliefs, but they all shared the same ideal--the pursuit of freedom. That ideal has unified this republic into "one nation." A nation "under God." One of the fundamental reasons for establishing this nation was to secure religious freedom: the freedom to worship God according to our individual beliefs. We hold steadfastly to our conviction to remain a nation under God. We end the final verse of our national anthem with the words, "... and this be our motto, in God is our trust." Our nation is "indivisible," one that cannot be divided. No matter how volatile or emotional the issue is, the will of the people will prevail and our national goal of freedom will become paramount. We will discuss and debate, but in the end, we will stand together. A nation "with liberty (freedom) and justice (equal and fair treatment) for all" - not just for those who are rich, for those of a particular race or culture, or for those who have certain beliefs, but for every citizen in this republic. I am proud of my country and my heritage, and am aware of my responsibilities. I - think about that every time I say this pledge: "I pledge allegiance to the flag Of the United States of America And to the republic For which it stands One nation under God Indivisible With liberty and justice for all." ~ by Michael R. McCrum Major, USAF Retired |
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| National Symbol The flag is the symbol of our national unity, our national endeavor, our national aspiration. The flag tells of the struggle for independence, of union preserved, of liberty and union one and inseparable, of the sacrifices of brave men and women to whom the ideals and honor of this nation have been dearer than life. It means America first; it means an undivided allegiance. It means America united, strong and efficient, equal to her tasks. It means that you cannot be saved by the valor and devotion of your ancestors, that to each generation comes its patriotic duty; and that upon your willingness to sacrifice and endure as those before you have sacrificed and endured rests the national hope. It speaks of equal rights, of the inspiration of free institutions exemplified and vindicated, of liberty under law intelligently conceived and impartially administrated. There is not a thread in it but scorns self-indulgence, weakness, and rapacity. It is eloquent of our community interests, outweighing all divergencies of opinion, and of our common destiny. ~ by Charles Evans Hughes |
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| AMERICA ON ALERT The Threat Of Germ Warfare Imagine a terrorist attack with weapons you can't see, hear or smell! Q. What is the most dangerous biological weapon? Q. How can I find out what my community is doing to guard against germ and chemical weapons? A. Contact your mayor's office or local health department. |
| SILENT KILLERS GERMS AND CHEMICALS ANTHRAX (Bacillus anthracis) Deadly bacteria found in farm animals such as goats and cows. HOW IT'S SPREAD: Anthrax is spread to humans through eating or handling contaminated meat. But it's most dangerous when inhaled. HOW IT WORKS: When inhaled, anthrax lodges in the lungs. The bacteria produces cold-like symptoms in three days to three weeks. If left untreated, anthrax is fatal. HOW IT'S TREATED: Anthrax is treatable if caught within the first two days of infection. High doses of antibiotics like penicillin prove effective. SMALLPOX (Orthopoxvirus variola) A contagious virus wiped out 20 years ago. But tiny amounts have been preserved in labs around the world. HOW IT'S SPREAD: Smallpox is an airborne virus passed from person to person by coughing or hand contact. HOW IT WORKS: It can take 10 to 12 days before smallpox symptoms become recognizable. High fever, headaches, and rashes are the first signs of a smallpox infection. HOW IT'S TREATED: No treatment for smallpox exists. A vaccine does exist but supply is limited. MUSTARD GAS (Yperite) Almost odorless. HOW IT'S SPREAD: So powerful that only small amounts had to be added to high explosive shells to be effective. HOW IT WORKS: When an individual comes in contact with mustard gas, the skin may blister and reddin; become sore, especially in areas with alot of sweat glands are located. The eyes will burn and could be damaged if exposed for too long. If a person inhales this chemical as a mist, the blisters will form in the lungs, causing a number long and short-term symptoms. In cases of extreme exposure, mustard gas is fatal. It has now been classified as a carcinogen. Symptoms usually begin to take effect 4-24 hours after initial contact. The long-term effects on an individual may include sensitization, chronic lung impairment, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, cancer of the mouth, throat, respiratory tract, and skin. It has been linked to causing leukemia and birth defects. HOW IT'S TREATED: Various protective measures now exist against the gas. Check the following link for info: http://www.nature.com/nsu/991028/991028-1.html PLAGUE (Yersinia pestis) A disease caused by the highly contagious bacteria Yersinia pestis, commonly found in rodents. HOW IT'S SPREAD: Plague is spread to humans through infected rodents like squirrels and rats. Plague can also be spread by airborne droplets from coughing. HOW IT WORKS: Plague attacks lymph nodes, organs that ward off infections. Symptoms include high fever and extreme weakness, and take from one to six days to appear after infection. HOW IT'S TREATED: If caught early, plague is treatable with common antibiotics like streptomycin. Otherwise, plague can kill within days of infection. BOTULISM (Clostridium botulinum) A rare but serious disease. Bacteria thrive in places with little oxygen, like soil or canned foods. HOW IT'S SPREAD: People get infected by contaminated canned foods. As a germ weapon, botulism can be used in food poisoning or dispersed in crop sprayers. HOW IT WORKS: Botulinum poisons the nervous system, causing symptoms such as blurred vision and extreme weakness. Symptoms can take up to two days to appear. HOW IT'S TREATED: If found early, botulism can be treated with antitoxin drugs that neutralize the poisoning. SARIN NERVE AGENT Sarin is a colorless gas. A single milligram (about the weight of a grain of salt) is enough to kill one person. HOW IT SPREADS: Sarin gas can be sprayed by canisters or crop sprayers, or loaded into bombs, artillery shells, and land mines. HOW IT WORKS: When inhaled, sarin gas attacks the central nervous system, paralyzing nerves that help control breathing. Symptoms can occur within minutes or hours. HOW IT'S TREATED: Sarin gas poisoning can be treated with an immediate injection of two chemicals called HI-6 and atropine. These react with your body to reverse the damage. VX NERVE AGENT Much more deadly than sarin gas, VX can cause death within minutes after contact with human skin. HOW IT'S SPREAD: Same as sarin gas. HOW IT WORKS: VX seeps into the body through the skin or by inhalation. It attacks the brain and spinal cord, causing heavy sweating, drooling, seizures, and finally, death. HOW IT'S TREATED: Gas masks and heavy, protective clothes are used to protect against VX poisoning. Treatment includes immediate injection with HI-6 and atropine. |
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| September 25, 2001 Posted: 4:50 PM EDT (2050 GMT) WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The World Health Organization is warning Western governments to be on the alert for attacks using chemical and biological weapons. |
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