Synthesis Paper on Bioterrorism

Ryan Nolder
Ms. Chavez
AP Language and Composition
29 April 2013
The Use of Biological Warfare in the United States With the rise of tension between countries such as North Korea and the United States, not only is the nuclear threat higher than ever but also a biological warfare threat. With lethal bacteria such as Anthrax or Tularemia being used as a primary threat in today’s century, what shall the United States do to prepare for the possibility of a biological attack? In order for the United States to be prepared for a terrorists attack with biological usage, they shall take the necessary precautions in order to protect their country from a possible microorganism battle. By taking exclusive precautions such as testing the effects of certain bacteria, the United States can be well prepared and possible prevent a biological warfare. When observing the usage of biological weapons used in terrorism or against other countries, bacteria attacks first documented go back to the 600 BC era where “Solon uses the purgative herb hellebore during the siege of Krissa”. (Source E) Clearly even thousands of years ago humans were aware of the effects of diseases and came to conclusions that they can in fact be used as weapons. Since biotechnology and biochemistry have now evolved, scientists are able to create dangerous and more resistant bacteria that can be more deadly and difficult to fight. This can be a serious and deadly potential if used in a harmful way such as biological attacks which can devastate thousands of humans and animals. Anthrax in 20 km reach can potentially kill 95,000 and incapacitate 125,000 humans. (Source F) With such dangerous and infectious diseases being produced by scientists, the United States should in fact be taken certain precautions such as educating the public and testing new resistant medication that can possibly fight off an Anthrax attack. With the threat of biological attacks still increasing from terrorists, the United States want every citizen to be as safe as possible. “The threat of bioterrorism is real and significant; it is neither in the realm of science fiction nor confined to our nation.” (Source A) America is well aware of the threat of bioterrorism and takes serious precautions in all aspects in order to protect the citizens of their own country. Certain microorganisms have the capability of wiping out a whole city such as Tularemia which killed over 30,000 people and incapacitated 125,000. (Source F) With that many lives in danger due to certain bacteria, many terrorists are capable of spreading the infectious diseases around either airborne, contact or directly in order to efficiently spread the deadly disease from one human to another. Since there are many possible ways to transfer a disease, the United States needs to be aware of exactly how these diseases are contagious by testing or experimenting with the certain deadly bacteria used in bioterrorism. By experimenting with certain deadly diseases requires the use of human interaction with the bacteria in order to observe the effects and possible treatment for it. “In 1991 in Operation Dessert Storm, military personnel were forced to take antibiological warfare, experimental vaccines.” (Source D) Now even though this was not a voluntary action, this experiment involving vaccines which would build resistance against the dangerous diseases used in this battle. Ironically many soldiers became extremely sick but later concluded that the soldier’s symptoms and illnesses were caused from sand storms, contaminated water and biological weapons. This concludes that that vaccine in fact was successful, even though the soldiers were forced to receive the vaccine; it probably saved their lives from the use of extensive biological weaponry used. “Biological warfare agents may be more potent than conventional and chemical weapons.” (Source A) Knowing that biological attacks could potentially be more deadly than the hydrogen bomb or widely known as the atomic bomb is astonishing because this could possibly be the new and more efficient way to wipe out an enemy such as a country. In conclusion, the United States should in fact take the necessary precautions in order to protect their country from a possible microorganism battle. Taking necessary precautions such as testing infectious diseases and educating the public can easily protect the United States from any biological attack from bioterrorists. With new discoveries in pathology and the science world, the use of biological warfare can soon be put to an end with further testing and research.