ABSTRACT
The intent and the capability technically and operationally, including funding and delivery mechanism, probably do not come together in one place at this time. The US laws concerning biological weapons and terrorist attack basically have three purposes: inflict criminal penalties, allow the federal government to seize biological agents or delivery means, and install regulatory regime to control transfer of biological agents and possible delivery means. One of big headaches is the detection of the weapons. They do not have a signature that the people can pick up as they could with many other types of weapons, and that is where cooperation is necessary. Cooperation among countries and among shipping companies, airlines, etc. But there are advancements in coordination, advancements in equipment, and advancements in getting people ready. These sorts of actions are major step forward for first responder confronted with the requirement to respond to a home-land security mission, but still unaware of all the requirements of such a mission.
