In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and the subsequent anthrax attacks on U.S. government officials, media representatives, and citizens, the development of measures to protect against biological terrorism became an urgent and contentious issue of public debate. Although the desire to increase readiness and response capabilities to possible nuclear, chemical, and biological attacks is widespread, consensus on which preventative measures to undertake remains elusive.

Post-World War II political developments and the events of 2001 suggest that biological weapons will soon become a greater threat to the world's citizens than nuclear and chemical weapons. Although a range of protective options exists--from the stockpiling of antibiotics to the full-scale resumption of biological weapons development programs--no single solution provides comprehensive protection to the complex array of potential biological agents that might be used as terrorist weapons. Many scientists argue, therefore, that...