Deterrence of biological and chemical warfare: a review of policy options.
The deployment of biological and chemical weapons by aggressor states is not a hypothetical scenario but a life-threatening contingency. Although Iraq was deterred from using its biological and chemical weapons during Operation Desert Storm, what forms of deterrence must be considered in preventing the use of these weapons of mass destruction in the future? Traditional deterrents against their use have ranged from the threat of a military response to the ratification of diplomatic treaties and agreements. An overall strategy to deter the use of these weapons includes an additional, less frequently discussed approach-force protection-which encompasses defensive biomedical countermeasures (e.g., antibiotics, drugs, vaccines, diagnostic tests) and nonmedical protective devices (e.g., masks, specialized clothing/shelters, detectors). A combined, integrated approach to deterrence is reviewed in this article with regard to current policies and the roles played by Department of Defense research and development programs for biological and chemical defense.
Lebeda
F J
FJ
Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702-5011, USA.
D001694:Biological Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002618:Chemical Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine; D011640:Public Policy; D014481:United States