CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News- September 15, 2006

[California] Governor Schwarzenegger Focuses on Emergency Preparedness, Public Health

“To better California's emergency preparedness and health services, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 162 Thursday which establishes a new California Department of Public Health within the Health and Human Services Agency, effective July 1, 2007. The governor will appoint a State Public Health Officer, who must be a licensed physician or surgeon to head the department. According to Schwarzenegger, this reorganization will increase accountability and will result in a tightly focused organizational structure. The Department of Public Health will be able to more effectively address the pressing public health concerns of bioterrorism; infectious diseases, such as avian flu; health challenges and chronic diseases such as AIDS; as well as responsiveness.” (Government Technology, 15Sep06, Gina M. Scott)
http://www.govtech.net
/localgovt/story.php?id=101021


UCLA [University of California at Los Angeles] awarded $9-million grant to fund state-of-the-art lab

“Amid construction of a UCLA science building, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger awarded a $9-million grant to the UCLA School of Public Health and signed a bill in an effort to improve public health. The money will fund a new laboratory dedicated to tracking and responding to disease outbreaks and will be located at the California NanoSystems Institute. ‘This lab will improve California's ability to diagnose and respond to disease outbreaks, bioterrorism and other threats – that is why both the state and Los Angeles are investing homeland security dollars into this project,’
Schwarzenegger said.” (Daily Bruin, 15Sep06, Alexa Vaughn)
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu
/news/articles.asp?id=37974


Widow of anthrax [Bacillus anthracis] victim still looking for answers

“It's been nearly five years since her husband became the first victim in a series of anthrax attacks, and Maureen Stevens is still praying for answers. She still gets emotional when she talks about her husband, Robert, but she says she could go on for hours about what a funny, interesting and engaging man he was. His loss is still acute, made all the more painful by the fact that no one has been arrested in his death. Or in the subsequent anthrax attacks that killed four others and sickened an additional 17 people, despite what the FBI has called the largest investigation in its history. …She has only met with FBI agents twice to discuss the case since the early days of the investigation. She said that agents met with her and her family in July 2003, and that she and a group of other anthrax victims and family members met with FBI officials in November in Washington. …Stevens was frustrated enough over the lack of information to file a $50 million wrongful death suit against the government in February 2003, alleging the anthrax was most likely taken from a U.S. Army laboratory at Fort Detrick in Maryland. So far, the lawsuit hasn't gone anywhere.” (HeraldToday.com; 15Sep06; Peter Franceschina, South Florida Sun-Sentinel) http://www.bradenton.com
/mld/bradenton/news/local/15521753.htm

[Washington] D.C. delinquent in EMS [emergency medical services] oversight, task force reveals

“The D.C. government has not provided necessary resources and adequate oversight of emergency medical services (EMS) for at least the past four years, according to a task force seeking to improve the delivery of pre-hospital care. …The disclosures about inadequate oversight of EMS were made at a task-force meeting Sept. 7 during a presentation by Beverly Pritchett, senior deputy director of the Department of Health's Emergency Health and Medical Services Administration. That division, created by Mayor Anthony A. Williams in 2002, is responsible for coordinating emergency preparedness and bioterrorism response, and for providing oversight of emergency medical providers and their equipment.” (The Washington Times, 15Sep06, Matthew Cella)
http://washingtontimes.com
/metro/20060914-112234-2761r.htm

New tool for biology students teaches biosecurity awareness by example

“Since the anthrax letter attacks in 2001, concern has grown over legitimate scientific work that could be misused to threaten public health and national security. This is particularly important since the U.S. has dramatically increased its biodefense research budget since 2001. To increase awareness of the pitfalls of research that could potentially be used for malevolent purposes the Federation of American Scientists launched an internet based tool to illustrate the experience of scientists who have dealt with ‘dual use’ scientific research. This online learning tool illustrates the implications of dual use biology research through case studies of three different researchers who have done dual use research and provides a historical background on bioterrorism, bioweapons and the current laws, regulations and treaties that apply to biodefense research. Biology graduate students and post-docs, technicians, and their principal investigators will be able to access the modules, as will undergraduate biology students and even advanced high school biology students.” (PhysOrg.com, 14Sep06, Federation of American Scientists)
http://www.physorg.com
/news77463654.html

Bioterrorism measure unnecessary, Canada says

“An American security measure that would make air fares more expensive and threatens backups at the border is unnecessary and could be removed, Canadian Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl says. Strahl, following a meeting with his American counterpart Mike Johanns, said Ottawa could satisfy Washington's fears about transborder bioterrorism without costing Canadian air travelers and adding another impediment to cross border traffic. …Strahl told Johanns the fees are particularly difficult to absorb for Canadians because it comes on top of new security measures that will require passports or other secure documents to cross the land border by Jan. 1, 2008.” (Toronto Star, 14Sep06, Tim Harper)
http://www.thestar.com
/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout
/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid
=1158184238457&call_pageid
=968332188854&col=968350060724

Biohazard detector invented in NZ [New Zealand]

“A New Zealand invention which can almost immediately identify bacterial spores such as anthrax could be used by emergency services all over the world. The product is being developed by the University of Canterbury, Ngai Tahu Equities, and a venture capital firm. The hand-held lightweight detector is about the size of a large coffee mug.” (NewstalkZB, 15Sep06)
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz
/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=103787

Bush: They’re going to attack us again

“U.S. President George Bush Friday warned terrorists are determined to attack the United States again. Bush said the questioning of Khalid Sheik Mohammed produced intelligence that allowed the United States to thwart planned attacks on U.S. targets in Africa and Pakistan and also revealed information on planned attacks on U.S. buildings and efforts to acquire biological weapons.” (The Washington Times, 15Sep06, UPI) http://washingtontimes.com
/upi/20060915-112559-9127r.htm

Digging nearly done for destruction plant

“The earthwork portion of site preparation for the chemical weapons destruction plant to be built at the Blue Grass Army Depot is 90 percent complete. Chris Haynes, project manager for Bechtel Parsons Bluegrass, the contractor that will build and operate the chemical weapons destruction facility, gave that update Tuesday to the Chemical Destruction Chemical Advisory Board (CDCAB). While security precautions will not allow a traditional on-site groundbreaking ceremony, the public will be invited to a ‘groundbreaking open house’ Oct. 28 in the Keen Johnson Building of Eastern Kentucky University.” (Richmond Register, 14Sep06, Bill Robinson)
http://www.richmondregister.com
/localnews/local_story_257082200.html


Chem demil chief says funding in place

“The head of the Army’s Chemical Materials Agency told Pueblo County residents Wednesday night that a five-year funding cycle of $150 million a year was in place for the destruction of chemical weapons. CMA Director Mike Parker also told the Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens Advisory Commission that on-site biotreatment of the residue from the water neutralization process, called hydrolysate, is in the plan but added that off-site treatment could free $150 million that could be used to get the weapons destruction program going early. Parker said that a decision would be made by the first of the year but the issue has become the latest controversy over the program.” (The Pueblo Chieftain, 14Sep06, John Norton)
http://www.chieftain.com
/metro/1158225309/1

DuPont may take on more weapons waste

“The DuPont Co.'s Chambers Works plant along the Delaware River near Wilmington is among sites the Defense Department is considering to send additional waste from chemical weapons for disposal. Sending the waste from stockpiles of mustard gas and VX and sarin nerve agents from Kentucky and Colorado chemical plants to off-site treatment facilities such as Chambers Works would save $200 million to $400 million over the life of the two- to three-year project, said Katherine DeWeese, a spokeswoman for the department. ‘DuPont is not the only facility that could do that, but DuPont certainly has a proven capability,’ said DeWeese, who represents the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program. Other sites that use incineration or other methods could face more opposition than DuPont's biological-treatment wastewater plant, she said.” (Delaware Online; 14Sep06; Jeff Montgomery, The News Journal) http://www.delawareonline.com
/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=
/20060914/NEWS/609140380/1006/NEWS

Saddam trial set for ‘more chilling accounts’

“The trial of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on charges of genocide resumed on Thursday with at least three witnesses expected to testify, a day after the prosecutor demanded the resignation of the chief judge. ‘We expect at least three witnesses to testify today (Thursday),’ said a US official close to the court trying Saddam and six other former regime officials for the brutal 1987-88 Anfal campaign that prosecutors say slaughtered 182000 Kurds. If found guilty the defendants face execution by hanging.” (Independent Online [South Africa], 14Sep06, Sabah Jerges)
http://www.int.iol.co.za
/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=
3&art_id=qw1158215942736B262

The United Nations Adopts Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy: OPCW [Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons] Encouraged to Continue its Efforts to Prevent Chemical Terror

“The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy was adopted by United Nations Member States at their General Assembly on 8 September 2006. The strategy is in the form of a Resolution and an annexed Plan of Action. The annexed Plan of Action details measures to prevent terrorism and to build States' capacity to prevent terrorism. The Plan of Action includes references to chemical terrorism and to the mission of the OPCW in preventing such illicit use of chemicals through the Organisation’s implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.” (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, 13Sep06)
http://www.opcw.org
/pressreleases/2006/PR58_2006.html

Police find truck with radioactive cargo

“A stolen pickup truck containing a camera with potentially dangerous radioactive material was found in Northeast Dallas Friday morning with its cargo intact. As first reported on News 8, The Ford F-350 went missing Thursday morning from the parking lot of a convenience store after the driver apparently left the keys in the ignition. The theft triggered an area-wide alert because of what was inside: an industrial gamma ray camera used to take X-rays of metal products. The IR-100 camera contained Iridium-192, which is a highly radioactive material that could be used to make a ‘dirty bomb.’”(WFAA.com, 15Sep06, Dan Ronan) http://www.wfaa.com
/sharedcontent/dws/news
/localnews/tv/stories/wfaa060915_wz_
radioactive.1035c55b.html

Shelling out radiation

“A substance found in~crab shells could be used to help remove radioactive materials from the human body in the event of a disaster such as the detonation of a dirty bomb. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientist Tatiana Levitskaia is investigating a unique approach based on a readily available biomaterial that might be used to reduce an individual’s radiation dose. Chitosan is a natural and safe material found to be an effective chelator, defined as a chemical that removes metal ions from solution, for a wide range of nuclides. Chitosan is obtained from chitin and found in the exoskeletons of many invertebrates such as crabs and prawns. It is one of the most abundant, readily available and renewable natural biopolymers, second only to cellulose.” (The Engineer Online, 15Sep06)
http://www.e4engineering.com
/Articles/296107/Shelling%
20out%20radiation.htm

Russia signs [sic; ratifies] treaty to prevent nuclear terrorism

“Russia's parliament on Friday ratified a global treaty aimed to prevent nuclear terrorism, a year after President Vladimir Putin became the first leader to sign the pact. ‘Ratification of this document answers to the interests of Russia and the entire international community,’ Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.” (The Jerusalem Post, 15Sep06, AP) http://www.jpost.com
/servlet/Satellite?cid=1157913634576
&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2
FShowFull

Senate OKs $7B for port security; Washington: Plan to require radiation scanning on all containers is rejected

“The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to pump nearly $7 billion into seaport security, even as it roundly rejected efforts to require every cargo container entering the country to undergo radiation scanning before setting sail for the United States. The 98-0 vote underscored the election-year importance of national security for Democrats and Republicans alike. In addition to shipping money to U.S. ports, the measure also incorporates funding for rail and mass-transit security. In addition to authorizing $6.7 billion over the next six years, the legislation gives $400 million in federal grants to individual ports. It calls for equipment to be installed at America's 22 busiest seaports by the end of next year to screen containers for radioactive material, and it requires DHS to come up with a plan for detecting chemical and biological weapons at ports.” (Long Beach Press-Telegram, 14Sep06, Lisa Friedman)
http://www.presstelegram.com
/news/ci_4340526

Chairman Linder conducts oversight hearing on biological and nuclear countermeasures

“…Congressman John Linder (R-GA), Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack, conducted a congressional oversight hearing entitled ‘The Science of Prevention.’ The hearing today was the first attempt by the Subcommittee to gauge the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) progress in developing nuclear and biological countermeasures in the four years since it was created. [The]…hearing probed all facets of DHS’ efforts regarding nuclear and biological countermeasures, including the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) and the Department of Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate. The Subcommittee paid special attention to the S&T Directorate and its shortcomings.” (The Weekly, 14Sep06)
http://www.theweekly.com
/news/2006/September/14
/Linder_hearing.html

Cuba denies developing biological or chemical weapons

“Cuban scientists at the Nonaligned Movement summit on Wednesday denied any effort to develop biological or chemical weapons, dismissing U.S. allegations that Cuba's biotechnology center doubles as an undercover weapons factory. ‘We have no ties to anything related to biological weapons, it has nothing to do with what we focus on,'’ said Luis Herrera Martinez, director of the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.” (The Star [Malaysia], 14Sep06)
http://thestar.com.my
/news/story.asp?file=/2006/9/14/
apworld/20060914113203&sec=apworld

Analysis: Israel ponders Iran options

“The conversation at the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem last weekend was largely focused on Iran's nuclear program. The guest of honor was British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who maintained that some European leaders were so keen on a dialogue with Teheran that they were missing the point: Teheran's program was not threatening only Israel. It is a danger to the entire free world, they argued. At the yearly conference organized by the International Policy Institute for Counter Terrorism in Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv, experts noted Iran was developing missiles that could reach Western Europe. With a nuclear umbrella, Iran or its proxy Hezbollah for example, could launch more daring attacks. It could use chemical or biological weapons, something it has avoided so far, warned Col. Shlomo Mofaz, a reserve officer, who recently retired from the military intelligence. Iran has sleeper cells in Europe that it could activate within a very short time, he noted.” (UPI, 14Sep06, Joshua Brilliant) http://www.upi.com
/InternationalIntelligence/vie
w.php?StoryID=20060914-030644-1377r

US accuses China on weapons

“The United States says it suspects China is developing ‘sophisticated’
biological and chemical weapons and has expressed concern over Beijing's commitment towards non proliferation. ‘We remain disappointed in the continuing proliferant behaviour of certain Chinese entities, and we remain deeply concerned about the Chinese government's commitment towards its nonproliferation obligations,’ said Paula DeSutter, the Assistant Secretary of State for Verification, Compliance and Implementation.
Testifying before the US-China Economic Security Review Commission yesterday, a Congress-sanctioned panel, Ms DeSutter said Chinese involvement in biological weapons went against international laws. China is a party to the Biological Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention. ‘We maintain reservations about China's current research activities and dual-use capabilities, which raise the possibility that sophisticated BW (biological weapons) and CW (chemical weapons) work could be under way,’ she said.” (Melbourne Herald Sun, 15Sep06, P. Parameswaran)
http://www.news.com.au
/heraldsun/story/0,21985,2
0416611-5005961,00.html