Past Event
Biological Weapons and U.S. Security
The Brookings Institution and the American Society for Microbiology held a conference open to the media and the public on growing concerns over the threat posed to the American people and U.S. national security by biological weapons.
The panels surveyed the basic military and biological nature of the threat, ongoing efforts to limit the threat (including a strengthened biological weapons convention), and ways the United States might respond to any use of biological weapons against its military forces or civilian population. The panelists possess a wide array of relevant experience and expertise.
Agenda
Introduction and Background
Dr. Ronald Atlas
American Society for Microbiology Task Force on Biological Weapons — Medical/biological character of the threat Medical/Biological Nature of the Threat of Biological Weapons to U.S. Security, conference paper by Dr. Ronald Atlas.
Dr. Seth Carus
National Defense University — Global/international character of the threat.Biological Warfare Threats in Perspective, conference paper by Dr. Seth Carus.
Means to Address the Threat
Dr. Kay Goss
Associate Director for Preparedness, Training and Exercises Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency — U.S. civil defense capabilities and efforts against biological attack
Dr. Gary Samore
National Security Council — Prospects and potential of a strengthened biological weapons convention
U.S. Army Colonel David Franz
United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland — U.S. military preparations to cope with a biological weapons attack
Moderator
Michael E. O’Hanlon
Director of Research - Foreign Policy
Director - Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology
Co-Director - Africa Security Initiative
Senior Fellow - Foreign Policy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology
Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy
More Information
Contact
(202) 797-6105
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