By Army Spc. Evan D. Marcy
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 27, 2008 - Whether it involves time with their families, their personal comforts or even their lives, the duty of soldiers eventually requires sacrifice. Certain soldiers, though, go beyond that call of duty and give more. Army Spc. Timothy Roy of 5th Signal Command's C Company, 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, has made it his personal endeavor to provide his time and money for those in need.
During his two-week rest and recuperation leave while serving a 15-month deployment in Iraq, Roy and his parents volunteered their time preparing and serving meals at a soup kitchen and shelter near their home in New Hampshire. He also donated $1,000 to the soup kitchen and convinced a large corporation to match his contribution.
"My parents always taught me to put others before myself," Roy said.
He also became involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation by donating $3,000 to grant a wish that was tied to his own interests in computers. His donation was matched with a 17-year-old girl afflicted with lupus, a life-threatening, inflammatory disease. She used the money to buy computer equipment, allowing her to continue her education from home.
"What Specialist Roy did was really remarkable, and shows how much of a good guy he really is," Army 1st Sgt. John Willis, C Company, 44th ESB, said. "Soldiers usually take deployment money and spend it on themselves. I was surprised by how much money came out of his pocket."
Roy said he hoped to set an example. "I figured if people saw me giving back, it would encourage them to do the same," he said. "When they see a soldier trying to give back, when they are already selflessly serving their country, they want to be a part of it as well."
The specialist said it simply feels good to give. "To know that you can make a profound difference in someone's life is a wonderful feeling," said Roy. "I got a letter of thanks from the first child and her mother that I sponsored [through Make-A-Wish], and she said she was moved to tears by my kindness. There's no feeling like that; it's hard to put in words how that made me feel."
This year, Roy is sponsoring another wish through the foundation, and he persuaded the Macy's department store chain to contribute as well. Together, they are providing a small haven for a girl who needs weekly medical treatments.
"We're giving her the room makeover of her dreams," Roy said. "She's always shared a bedroom, and her older sister just moved out, so were making her a place she can call her own."
Roy found another way to give back to the community through a classmate from high school who now teaches at an elementary school in Connecticut. During his deployment, the 5th Signal specialist and students are sharing letters, which provides "an educational experience for them; they are learning about Iraq and what the soldiers are doing here to make things better," Roy explained. "They ask the most innocent questions."
Because the children had never met a soldier, Roy made a three-hour drive to visit them while on R&R leave from Iraq.
"I spent the day with them, answering questions and playing at recesses," he recalled. "It was a great experience. It only takes a few minutes every couple of weeks to write a small letter ... to let them know how things are going. They looked at me with such awe. I was really touched to be a part of their lives."
Roy's first deployment was in 1999 while assigned to the 110th Military Intelligence Battalion, which went into Bosnia as part of a NATO peacekeeping force.
"There were bullet holes everywhere, and I saw a lot of burned-down houses," Roy remembered. "The kids would come up and ask for money. I talked a lot to our translator about the country. Everyone liked us being there; it felt good. We were down there for a good cause. I've spoken to Bosnian forces serving with us here; they said it's gotten a lot better."
While deployed to Iraq, Roy, an information technology specialist, is assigned to the Technical Control Facility help desk on Camp Echo, near Diwaniyah. His role is to manage and troubleshoot Internet, phones and switches, while also providing configuration changes throughout the camp.
Also located at his installation is a provincial reconstruction team, which he said "does a great job of helping poverty in Iraq."
"They go out, meet people personally and give back in a real way to these local communities," he said. "The PRT at Camp Echo has a program to rebuild schools [and] the local infrastructure, while also giving school children brand new laptops."
To the many folks he has touched, Roy could be considered a one-man PRT. For him, it's simply a personal duty to help out the needy.
(Army Spc. Evan D. Marcy serves with the 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion.)
Showing posts with label new hampshire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new hampshire. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News- August 22, 2008
North Carolina wants out, but [San Antonio] still pushing for bio-defense lab
“[…] while elected officials in North Carolina recently notified federal officials of their opposition to having the facility built in Butner (one of the finalist sites) due to unanswered environmental concerns, Texas political officials continue to push hard for their entry — a Texas Research Park site located just west of San Antonio. Local leaders contend that the Alamo City, which already is home to a high-risk bio lab, has the expertise and experience to safely support the proposed DHS facility.” (San Antonio Business Journal; 22Aug08; W. Scott Bailey and Catherine
Dominguez)
http://washington.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2008/08/25/story1.html
Universal Detection Technology [UDT] Comments on Reports of ‘White Powder’ Scare at McCain's Denver Headquarters [Manchester, New Hampshire]
“John McCain's headquarters in suburban Denver were evacuated on Thursday after a worker opened a threatening letter and discovered white powder inside. A McCain spokesman told the Associated Press that a similar letter was sent to a McCain office in Manchester, N.H. He did not know if it also contained a powder. Linda Watson, a spokeswoman for Sky Ridge Medical Center in suburban Centennial, Co., said four workers from the office drove themselves to the hospital. She said they underwent decontamination procedures, but showed no signs or symptoms of exposure to a toxic substance.” (Market Watch; 22Aug08; UDT) http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/universal-detection-Technology -comments-reports/story.aspx?guid=%7BBFBE8C5F-924D-490D-B883-69F51D3855FC%7D&dist=hppr
New hazardous materials notification in place [Granite City, Illinois]
“The Emergency Management Agency has added new software to relay information about incidents to the 40-member Hazardous Response Team scattered across Madison County. Agency Coordinator Larry Ringering said the new system allows the county to send specifics in e-mail messages and cell phones to members, who then respond whether they can head to the scene. That real-time response feature, Ringering said, allows the county to figure out how many team members are en route to a scene.” (Granite City Press Record; 22Aug08; Chris Coates) http://granitecitypress-record.stltoday.com/articles/2008/08/22/news/sj2tn20080822-0820cvj-hazmat0000.ii1.txt
Colorado State: Animal Diseases and Traceability
“One possible way to combat spread of contagious diseases is through animal traceability. Ability to rapidly identify locations where an animal has been affects the ability to isolate, trace, and arrest spread of the disease. Animal traceability systems are rapidly developing throughout the world, and the U.S. is behind many other countries in this development. Efforts to develop animal ID systems in the U.S. were launched prior to the initial BSE [bovine spongiform encephalopathy] discovery, but they gained considerable momentum afterwards. […] The objective of this study was to determine the economic implications of improvements in animal ID systems on a hypothetical FMD [Foot & Mouth Disorder] outbreak in southwest Kansas. Specifically, a disease spread model was used to determine the probable spread of a hypothetical FMD outbreak. Results from the disease spread model were integrated into an economic framework to determine the economic impacts. […] In general, as traceability levels were increased, consumer and producer losses associated with a FMD outbreak become smaller.” (Cattle Network; 22Aug08; Dustin Pendell, Colorado State University)
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=246957
U.S. Military Suspending Activities at Labs
“The U.S. Military has suspended some activities at bio-research labs following the suicide of a Fort Detrick scientist. Officials say the measure is part of an effort to review safety rules for handling some of the world's most deadly germs and toxins. Investigators say doctor Bruce Ivins worked with anthrax during his employment at Fort Detrick.” (Your 4 State; 22Aug08; Angelique Gonzalez)
http://your4state.com/content/fulltext/?cid=27101
Critics say monitors sniffing Denver air don't make us safe
“Every night and day, monitors placed on rooftops across Denver are sniffing the air for biological weapons, including anthrax, the plague and smallpox. […] The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will not say how many monitors have been placed in Denver or where they are located. Filters are collected at least once a day from the monitors and the samples are analyzed at the state lab in Lowry. The samples are tested for six dangerous pathogens that could pose a health threat if aerosolized and released to the environment. […]Denver is one of 30 cities participating in the pilot program since it began in 2003. […] The BioWatch program was largely criticized this summer by some of the participating states and in a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Among other things, critics say it takes too long, up to 36 hours, for labs to get test results. In an actual bio-attack, that would be too late for some people.” (9 News Colorado; 22Aug08; Deborah Sherman)
http://www.9news.com/seenon9news/article.aspx?storyid=98120&catid=509
FDA Unleashes Mass Irradiation of Spinach, Lettuce and Other Vegetables
“The FDA has announced that beginning today, spinach and lettuce sold across the United States may now be secretly irradiated before it reaches grocery store shelves. What's ‘secret’ about it? The FDA previously decided that irradiation warning stickers would not be required on any food items because it would be ‘too confusing to consumers.’ […] Radiation, of course, destroys delicate phytochemicals in plants -- the very phytochemicals protecting consumers against cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol, inflammation and other diseases. Microwaving broccoli, for example, destroys up to 98% of its anti-cancer nutrients.” (Natural News; 22Aug08; Mike Adams) http://www.naturalnews.com/023945.html
Rapid Test for Pathogens Developed By K-State [Kansas] Researchers Could Be Used to Detect Diseases Used By Bioterrorists
“Traditionally, it takes days and multiple lab workers to screen a sample of soil, water or feces for just one pathogen. Additional time is then needed to look for resistance to antibiotics. The new test developed at K-State simultaneously looks for multiple diseases and antibiotic resistance, reducing the time it takes from sampling to diagnosis to about
24 hours. […] So far they can detect as many as 557 genes, making it possible for them to screen for 40 different species of bacteria, 1,200 serotypes of Salmonella, five common serotypes of E. coli, and resistance to the 45 most common antibiotics used to treat human and animal illnesses caused by these pathogens.” (eMedia World; 21Aug08; Kansas State University)
http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=141296
Army research on invisibility not science fiction
“Dr. Richard Hammond, a theoretical physicist who works in Optical Physics and Imaging Science at the U.S. Army's Research Office, participated in a blogger's roundtable to discuss the developments in the field of negative index materials research and meta materials. Developing research in these areas is making light reflect in ways it never has before - with extraordinary effect. […] ‘If you're out on the battlefield and you see a cloud coming, or you suspect there might be an aerosol chemical or biological warfare being used against you, it's very difficult to quickly detect what the material is,’ said Hammond. With the new meta materials being developed, however, the ability exists to see things smaller than the wavelength of light - something that has never been done before, according to Hammond. Utilizing meta materials in the creation of a new lens may allow Soldiers to be able to see pathogens and viruses that are currently impossible to detect with any visual device.” (US Army News; 21Aug08; Lindy Kyzer) http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/08/21/11813-army-research-on-invisibility-not-science-fiction/
Chilling E-Mail Details 'Dangerous' Triple Murder Case [Riverside County, California]
“The Riverside County Sheriff's department is looking into possible connections between a triple murder in 1981 and murder-suicide in 2005 that claimed six lives. […] Three people were murdered execution style in a Rancho Mirage home on July 1st, 1981. There were never any arrests. The victims included Cabazon Indian Vice Chairman Fred Alvarez. Family members say he was going to blow the whistle on a business partnership between defense contractor Wackenhut Services and the Cabazon Indians to build machine guns and biological weapons for Central American countries.”
(KESQ; 20Aug08; Nathan Baca)
http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=8874668&nav=9qs0GRhY
India getting ready to face biological war from terrorists
“India Friday released its biological disaster management guidelines with a focus on preparing for biological warfare from terrorists using bacteria and viruses. The guidelines also emphasise developing a medical network to handle critical situations. […] The guidelines also speak of establishing an early warning system and coordination between public health medical care and intelligence agencies to prevent bio-terrorism. NDMA Vice-chairman N.C. Vij, a retired Army chief, said besides bio-terrorism, the guidelines also focus on several problems like bird flu, plague and other such pandemics.” (Bombay News; 22Aug08)
http://www.bombaynews.net/story/397738
McConnell and Chandler visit Army Depot
“The destruction of the chemical weapons at the Blue Grass Army Depot has loomed over the heads of Sen. Mitch McConnell and Congressman Ben Chandler since both men entered office. Now well into their political careers, the Kentucky lawmakers said Thursday they are pleased with the progress of the construction of a facility that will destroy the chemical weapons. McConnell, R-Ky., and Chandler, D-Ky., who last year successfully pushed for a 2017 deadline of the weapons disposal, addressed the public after a tour of the depot’s Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant.”
(Lexington Herald-Leader; 22Aug08; Ashlee Clark) http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/497763.html
Army reports small sodium hydroxide spills on depot roadway [Umatilla Chemical Depot, Oregon]
“A tanker truck delivering sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (UMCDF) accidentally spilled a small amount of the caustic solution on a paved depot roadway. Sodium hydroxide or ‘lye’ is a common industrial chemical used in soap, laundering, and oven and drain cleaners. At the UMCDF, it’s used to neutralize acid gases in the UMCDF Pollution Abatement System (PAS) and to decontaminate demilitarization machines. Depot personnel trained in dealing with hazardous materials spills responded promptly. They remediated two small spills, each about two feet in diameter and less than a gallon each.” (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency; 21Aug08; Bruce Hendrickson)
http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?docid=003678681
Depot detects trace of mustard chemical agent vapor during routine storage area monitoring [Umatilla Chemical Depot, Oregon]
“A depot chemical operations monitoring crew detected trace amounts of HD mustard chemical agent vapor today inside a depot storage structure that houses bulk containers. The trace of mustard chemical agent vapor was detected during routine monitoring. The vapor is likely due to a leaking bulk container or ‘ton container.’ There is no danger to the public or environment. The storage structure, commonly called an ‘igloo,’ has a passive filtration system that prevents chemical agent vapor from escaping outside the structure.” (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency; 21Aug08)
http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?docid=003678683
VIASPACE Subsidiary's $750,000 Army Contract for Robotic Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents and Explosives Featured in Defense News
“VIASPACE Inc. […] subsidiary Ionfinity has been awarded a $750,000 Phase II contract for its proposal entitled ‘Advanced Robotic Detection of Chemical Agents, Toxic Industrial Gases, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)s for Force Health Protection’ submitted to the Army Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. […] Ionfinity's goal is to complete the process -- sampling, ionizing, analyzing -- in about six seconds. Ionfinity expects to have completed field demonstrations and be ready to begin production in about two years.” (Your Defense News; 21Aug08; PRnewswire)
http://www.yourdefencenews.com/news_item.php?newsID=9236
Residents demand execution of Chemical Ali
“Residents in northern Sulaimaniya province sent a letter to the Iraqi government calling for the execution of ‘Chemical Ali’ and others for war crimes. […]Residents also called on the Iraqi government to compensate family members of the Anfal victims. Iraqi authorities in February said Majid would hang ‘in a matter of days.’ He allegedly suffered a heart attack in April due to a hunger strike and was returned to a U.S.
detention facility.” (Middle East Times; 22Aug08; United Press
International)
http://www.metimes.com/Security/2008/08/21/residents_demand_execution_of_chemical_ali/ffbd/
British court backs claim by Guantanamo detainee
“A British court yesterday said that a terror suspect being held at Guantanamo Bay had a credible argument that the United States had illegally spirited him away to Morocco and that he was tortured there. […] Because the American government would not turn over the information, the British government had an obligation to turn over potentially exculpatory material in its files, the court ruled. […] Mohamed, 30, a British resident before his arrest, told British intelligent agents in April 2002, that he had seen instructions on a website on how to make a bomb. ‘Part of the instructions included adding bleach to uranium 238 in a bucket and rotating it around one's head for 45 minutes,’ Mohamed told the agents, according to the court's judgment. Mohamed said he had concluded that the instructions were a ‘joke.’ […] Mohamed faces a trial by an American Military commission on several charges of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, including the detonation of a ‘dirty bomb.’” (Boston Globe; 22Aug08; Raymond Bonner, NYT) http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2008/08/22/british_court_backs_claim_by_guantanamo_detainee/
Press ‘one’ for nuclear attack
“According to China Radio International the Academy of Military Medical Sciences in Beijing has opened a 24 hour hotline ‘providing advice and technical support in the event of attacks by nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.’” (Shanghai ist; 23Aug08) http://shanghaiist.com/2008/08/23/press_one_for_nuclear_attack.php
Proposed FBI guidelines allow investigation sans suspicion
“Attorney General Michael Mukasey has agreed to postpone implementation of new FBI guidelines, after four Democratic senators raised concerns in a letter Wednesday about proposed changes that they say could permit the FBI to launch investigations of American citizens without any individualized basis for suspicion. The letter, signed by Sens. Russ Feingold (D-WI), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), concerned a draft of the Attorney General's Guidelines governing criminal and intelligence inquiries by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The draft itself has not been made public, though The New York Times reports that the guidelines could be released next month.” (Ars Technica; 22Aug08; Julian Sanchez) http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080822-proposed-fbi-guidelines-allow-investigation-sans-suspicion.html
Gains with Russia feared as casualty
“Washington officials shouldn’t let anger over Russia’s occupation of Georgia spoil nearly a generation of cooperation on programs to destroy Cold War-era stockpiles of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons scattered across Russia and its former republics, experts cautioned. ‘The temptation has certainly been in the past – especially from Congress – to lash out at these kind of cooperative programs under the mistaken perception that these are favors to Russia,’ said Laura Holgate, senior vice president for Russia-new independent states programs at the Nuclear Threat Initiative. The main program was created by Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and then-Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., 16 years ago and has deactivated, destroyed or locked up thousands of warheads and hundreds of bombers, vials of anthrax and other germs that can be used in warfare, and facilities that made chemical weapons.” (Jouranl Gazette; 21Aug08; Sylvia A. Smith) http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080821/NEWS03/808210429/1002/LOCAL
CNS ChemBio-WMD terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.
“[…] while elected officials in North Carolina recently notified federal officials of their opposition to having the facility built in Butner (one of the finalist sites) due to unanswered environmental concerns, Texas political officials continue to push hard for their entry — a Texas Research Park site located just west of San Antonio. Local leaders contend that the Alamo City, which already is home to a high-risk bio lab, has the expertise and experience to safely support the proposed DHS facility.” (San Antonio Business Journal; 22Aug08; W. Scott Bailey and Catherine
Dominguez)
http://washington.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2008/08/25/story1.html
Universal Detection Technology [UDT] Comments on Reports of ‘White Powder’ Scare at McCain's Denver Headquarters [Manchester, New Hampshire]
“John McCain's headquarters in suburban Denver were evacuated on Thursday after a worker opened a threatening letter and discovered white powder inside. A McCain spokesman told the Associated Press that a similar letter was sent to a McCain office in Manchester, N.H. He did not know if it also contained a powder. Linda Watson, a spokeswoman for Sky Ridge Medical Center in suburban Centennial, Co., said four workers from the office drove themselves to the hospital. She said they underwent decontamination procedures, but showed no signs or symptoms of exposure to a toxic substance.” (Market Watch; 22Aug08; UDT) http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/universal-detection-Technology -comments-reports/story.aspx?guid=%7BBFBE8C5F-924D-490D-B883-69F51D3855FC%7D&dist=hppr
New hazardous materials notification in place [Granite City, Illinois]
“The Emergency Management Agency has added new software to relay information about incidents to the 40-member Hazardous Response Team scattered across Madison County. Agency Coordinator Larry Ringering said the new system allows the county to send specifics in e-mail messages and cell phones to members, who then respond whether they can head to the scene. That real-time response feature, Ringering said, allows the county to figure out how many team members are en route to a scene.” (Granite City Press Record; 22Aug08; Chris Coates) http://granitecitypress-record.stltoday.com/articles/2008/08/22/news/sj2tn20080822-0820cvj-hazmat0000.ii1.txt
Colorado State: Animal Diseases and Traceability
“One possible way to combat spread of contagious diseases is through animal traceability. Ability to rapidly identify locations where an animal has been affects the ability to isolate, trace, and arrest spread of the disease. Animal traceability systems are rapidly developing throughout the world, and the U.S. is behind many other countries in this development. Efforts to develop animal ID systems in the U.S. were launched prior to the initial BSE [bovine spongiform encephalopathy] discovery, but they gained considerable momentum afterwards. […] The objective of this study was to determine the economic implications of improvements in animal ID systems on a hypothetical FMD [Foot & Mouth Disorder] outbreak in southwest Kansas. Specifically, a disease spread model was used to determine the probable spread of a hypothetical FMD outbreak. Results from the disease spread model were integrated into an economic framework to determine the economic impacts. […] In general, as traceability levels were increased, consumer and producer losses associated with a FMD outbreak become smaller.” (Cattle Network; 22Aug08; Dustin Pendell, Colorado State University)
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=246957
U.S. Military Suspending Activities at Labs
“The U.S. Military has suspended some activities at bio-research labs following the suicide of a Fort Detrick scientist. Officials say the measure is part of an effort to review safety rules for handling some of the world's most deadly germs and toxins. Investigators say doctor Bruce Ivins worked with anthrax during his employment at Fort Detrick.” (Your 4 State; 22Aug08; Angelique Gonzalez)
http://your4state.com/content/fulltext/?cid=27101
Critics say monitors sniffing Denver air don't make us safe
“Every night and day, monitors placed on rooftops across Denver are sniffing the air for biological weapons, including anthrax, the plague and smallpox. […] The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will not say how many monitors have been placed in Denver or where they are located. Filters are collected at least once a day from the monitors and the samples are analyzed at the state lab in Lowry. The samples are tested for six dangerous pathogens that could pose a health threat if aerosolized and released to the environment. […]Denver is one of 30 cities participating in the pilot program since it began in 2003. […] The BioWatch program was largely criticized this summer by some of the participating states and in a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Among other things, critics say it takes too long, up to 36 hours, for labs to get test results. In an actual bio-attack, that would be too late for some people.” (9 News Colorado; 22Aug08; Deborah Sherman)
http://www.9news.com/seenon9news/article.aspx?storyid=98120&catid=509
FDA Unleashes Mass Irradiation of Spinach, Lettuce and Other Vegetables
“The FDA has announced that beginning today, spinach and lettuce sold across the United States may now be secretly irradiated before it reaches grocery store shelves. What's ‘secret’ about it? The FDA previously decided that irradiation warning stickers would not be required on any food items because it would be ‘too confusing to consumers.’ […] Radiation, of course, destroys delicate phytochemicals in plants -- the very phytochemicals protecting consumers against cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol, inflammation and other diseases. Microwaving broccoli, for example, destroys up to 98% of its anti-cancer nutrients.” (Natural News; 22Aug08; Mike Adams) http://www.naturalnews.com/023945.html
Rapid Test for Pathogens Developed By K-State [Kansas] Researchers Could Be Used to Detect Diseases Used By Bioterrorists
“Traditionally, it takes days and multiple lab workers to screen a sample of soil, water or feces for just one pathogen. Additional time is then needed to look for resistance to antibiotics. The new test developed at K-State simultaneously looks for multiple diseases and antibiotic resistance, reducing the time it takes from sampling to diagnosis to about
24 hours. […] So far they can detect as many as 557 genes, making it possible for them to screen for 40 different species of bacteria, 1,200 serotypes of Salmonella, five common serotypes of E. coli, and resistance to the 45 most common antibiotics used to treat human and animal illnesses caused by these pathogens.” (eMedia World; 21Aug08; Kansas State University)
http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=141296
Army research on invisibility not science fiction
“Dr. Richard Hammond, a theoretical physicist who works in Optical Physics and Imaging Science at the U.S. Army's Research Office, participated in a blogger's roundtable to discuss the developments in the field of negative index materials research and meta materials. Developing research in these areas is making light reflect in ways it never has before - with extraordinary effect. […] ‘If you're out on the battlefield and you see a cloud coming, or you suspect there might be an aerosol chemical or biological warfare being used against you, it's very difficult to quickly detect what the material is,’ said Hammond. With the new meta materials being developed, however, the ability exists to see things smaller than the wavelength of light - something that has never been done before, according to Hammond. Utilizing meta materials in the creation of a new lens may allow Soldiers to be able to see pathogens and viruses that are currently impossible to detect with any visual device.” (US Army News; 21Aug08; Lindy Kyzer) http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/08/21/11813-army-research-on-invisibility-not-science-fiction/
Chilling E-Mail Details 'Dangerous' Triple Murder Case [Riverside County, California]
“The Riverside County Sheriff's department is looking into possible connections between a triple murder in 1981 and murder-suicide in 2005 that claimed six lives. […] Three people were murdered execution style in a Rancho Mirage home on July 1st, 1981. There were never any arrests. The victims included Cabazon Indian Vice Chairman Fred Alvarez. Family members say he was going to blow the whistle on a business partnership between defense contractor Wackenhut Services and the Cabazon Indians to build machine guns and biological weapons for Central American countries.”
(KESQ; 20Aug08; Nathan Baca)
http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=8874668&nav=9qs0GRhY
India getting ready to face biological war from terrorists
“India Friday released its biological disaster management guidelines with a focus on preparing for biological warfare from terrorists using bacteria and viruses. The guidelines also emphasise developing a medical network to handle critical situations. […] The guidelines also speak of establishing an early warning system and coordination between public health medical care and intelligence agencies to prevent bio-terrorism. NDMA Vice-chairman N.C. Vij, a retired Army chief, said besides bio-terrorism, the guidelines also focus on several problems like bird flu, plague and other such pandemics.” (Bombay News; 22Aug08)
http://www.bombaynews.net/story/397738
McConnell and Chandler visit Army Depot
“The destruction of the chemical weapons at the Blue Grass Army Depot has loomed over the heads of Sen. Mitch McConnell and Congressman Ben Chandler since both men entered office. Now well into their political careers, the Kentucky lawmakers said Thursday they are pleased with the progress of the construction of a facility that will destroy the chemical weapons. McConnell, R-Ky., and Chandler, D-Ky., who last year successfully pushed for a 2017 deadline of the weapons disposal, addressed the public after a tour of the depot’s Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant.”
(Lexington Herald-Leader; 22Aug08; Ashlee Clark) http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/497763.html
Army reports small sodium hydroxide spills on depot roadway [Umatilla Chemical Depot, Oregon]
“A tanker truck delivering sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (UMCDF) accidentally spilled a small amount of the caustic solution on a paved depot roadway. Sodium hydroxide or ‘lye’ is a common industrial chemical used in soap, laundering, and oven and drain cleaners. At the UMCDF, it’s used to neutralize acid gases in the UMCDF Pollution Abatement System (PAS) and to decontaminate demilitarization machines. Depot personnel trained in dealing with hazardous materials spills responded promptly. They remediated two small spills, each about two feet in diameter and less than a gallon each.” (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency; 21Aug08; Bruce Hendrickson)
http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?docid=003678681
Depot detects trace of mustard chemical agent vapor during routine storage area monitoring [Umatilla Chemical Depot, Oregon]
“A depot chemical operations monitoring crew detected trace amounts of HD mustard chemical agent vapor today inside a depot storage structure that houses bulk containers. The trace of mustard chemical agent vapor was detected during routine monitoring. The vapor is likely due to a leaking bulk container or ‘ton container.’ There is no danger to the public or environment. The storage structure, commonly called an ‘igloo,’ has a passive filtration system that prevents chemical agent vapor from escaping outside the structure.” (U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency; 21Aug08)
http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?docid=003678683
VIASPACE Subsidiary's $750,000 Army Contract for Robotic Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents and Explosives Featured in Defense News
“VIASPACE Inc. […] subsidiary Ionfinity has been awarded a $750,000 Phase II contract for its proposal entitled ‘Advanced Robotic Detection of Chemical Agents, Toxic Industrial Gases, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)s for Force Health Protection’ submitted to the Army Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. […] Ionfinity's goal is to complete the process -- sampling, ionizing, analyzing -- in about six seconds. Ionfinity expects to have completed field demonstrations and be ready to begin production in about two years.” (Your Defense News; 21Aug08; PRnewswire)
http://www.yourdefencenews.com/news_item.php?newsID=9236
Residents demand execution of Chemical Ali
“Residents in northern Sulaimaniya province sent a letter to the Iraqi government calling for the execution of ‘Chemical Ali’ and others for war crimes. […]Residents also called on the Iraqi government to compensate family members of the Anfal victims. Iraqi authorities in February said Majid would hang ‘in a matter of days.’ He allegedly suffered a heart attack in April due to a hunger strike and was returned to a U.S.
detention facility.” (Middle East Times; 22Aug08; United Press
International)
http://www.metimes.com/Security/2008/08/21/residents_demand_execution_of_chemical_ali/ffbd/
British court backs claim by Guantanamo detainee
“A British court yesterday said that a terror suspect being held at Guantanamo Bay had a credible argument that the United States had illegally spirited him away to Morocco and that he was tortured there. […] Because the American government would not turn over the information, the British government had an obligation to turn over potentially exculpatory material in its files, the court ruled. […] Mohamed, 30, a British resident before his arrest, told British intelligent agents in April 2002, that he had seen instructions on a website on how to make a bomb. ‘Part of the instructions included adding bleach to uranium 238 in a bucket and rotating it around one's head for 45 minutes,’ Mohamed told the agents, according to the court's judgment. Mohamed said he had concluded that the instructions were a ‘joke.’ […] Mohamed faces a trial by an American Military commission on several charges of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, including the detonation of a ‘dirty bomb.’” (Boston Globe; 22Aug08; Raymond Bonner, NYT) http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2008/08/22/british_court_backs_claim_by_guantanamo_detainee/
Press ‘one’ for nuclear attack
“According to China Radio International the Academy of Military Medical Sciences in Beijing has opened a 24 hour hotline ‘providing advice and technical support in the event of attacks by nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.’” (Shanghai ist; 23Aug08) http://shanghaiist.com/2008/08/23/press_one_for_nuclear_attack.php
Proposed FBI guidelines allow investigation sans suspicion
“Attorney General Michael Mukasey has agreed to postpone implementation of new FBI guidelines, after four Democratic senators raised concerns in a letter Wednesday about proposed changes that they say could permit the FBI to launch investigations of American citizens without any individualized basis for suspicion. The letter, signed by Sens. Russ Feingold (D-WI), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), concerned a draft of the Attorney General's Guidelines governing criminal and intelligence inquiries by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The draft itself has not been made public, though The New York Times reports that the guidelines could be released next month.” (Ars Technica; 22Aug08; Julian Sanchez) http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080822-proposed-fbi-guidelines-allow-investigation-sans-suspicion.html
Gains with Russia feared as casualty
“Washington officials shouldn’t let anger over Russia’s occupation of Georgia spoil nearly a generation of cooperation on programs to destroy Cold War-era stockpiles of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons scattered across Russia and its former republics, experts cautioned. ‘The temptation has certainly been in the past – especially from Congress – to lash out at these kind of cooperative programs under the mistaken perception that these are favors to Russia,’ said Laura Holgate, senior vice president for Russia-new independent states programs at the Nuclear Threat Initiative. The main program was created by Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and then-Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., 16 years ago and has deactivated, destroyed or locked up thousands of warheads and hundreds of bombers, vials of anthrax and other germs that can be used in warfare, and facilities that made chemical weapons.” (Jouranl Gazette; 21Aug08; Sylvia A. Smith) http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080821/NEWS03/808210429/1002/LOCAL
CNS ChemBio-WMD terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.
Monday, May 12, 2008
CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News- May 12, 2008
Homeland security: The week ahead
“The national biodefense center, which will open shortly, provides a Level
4 laboratory in which research on the most dangerous and contagious diseases can be carried out. The center is likely to be one of the most controversial components of the U.S. biodefense effort, given how secret many of its activities are likely to be. Defensive research is legal under the international treaties that ban biological weapons, but secrecy can make it tough to reassure observers that research is really defensive. […] [On May 14th] the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee holds a confirmation hearing for Paul Schneider, President Bush's pick to replace the long-departed Michael Jackson as deputy secretary of homeland security.” (United Press International; 12May08; Shaun Waterman) http://www.upi.com/International_Security/Emerging_Threats/Analysis/2008/05/12/homeland_security_the_week_ahead/9815/
La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology Receives $7.1 Million Grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
“The La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI) has received a $7.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund safety and effectiveness testing of an antibody treatment that quickly fights the smallpox virus. The treatment could be the nation’s first line of defense in protecting against a terrorist-originated smallpox outbreak and may eventually be stockpiled nationwide alongside the smallpox vaccine. […] LIAI scientist Shane Crotty, Ph.D., who developed the antibody treatment, said the NIH grant will fund pre-clinical testing of the work he and his research team started three years ago. In 2005, the researchers, studying blood samples from people who had received the smallpox vaccine, were able to isolate the anti-H3 antibody as an extremely potent fighter against smallpox.” (Life Science Online; 08May08) http://www.lifescience-online.com/La_Jolla_Institute_for_Allergy_and_Immunology_Rece,9550.html?portalPage=Lifescience%20Today.News
[U.S. Air force] Men who refused vaccine may get clear records
“A federal judge’s decision could lead to clearing the records of military personnel who refused to take mandatory anthrax shots between 1999 and 2004. Judge James Robertson of the district court for the District of Columbia admonished the Air Force Board for the Correction of Military Records, which had rejected a petition by two former Connecticut Air National Guard officers for compensatory relief for back pay and lost promotions after they claim they were forced to resign for refusing the vaccine. The plaintiffs, Thomas Rempfer and the estate of the late Russell Dingle, based their appeal on a separate anthrax vaccine lawsuit.” (Air Force Times; 11May08; William H. McMichael) http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/05/airforce_anthrax_051008w/
Indian student in US jail to walk free
“A student from Andhra Pradesh, languishing in the Phelps County jail in United States for over 14 months after he walked into the University of Missouri-Rolla on February 27 last year, waiving a bag and shouting that he had a bomb and anthrax, could soon be a free man. [...] The Indian consulate at Chicago informed the state government that Sujith would be released in June as charges like felony, assault and criminal action against him has been dropped.” (Hindustan Times; 12May08; Ashok Das) http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=157e11cb-34af-43a0-8e07-72d44364f2cf&&Headline=Indian+student+in+US+jail+to+walk+free
US Country Reports on Terrorism-Belgium
“Belgium continued to strengthen its response to the threat of terrorism, fashioning new institutions in its security services, improving internal coordination among antiterrorism offices, promulgating new laws to deal with terrorism and money laundering more aggressively, and strengthening agencies that confront terrorist financing. […] Belgian emergency action plans have been reviewed and updated to prepare for and respond to potential attacks, including bioterrorism. On a local level, authorities have instituted drills of rapid alert systems, and reviewed critical infrastructure support and civil protection and medical assistance procedures.” (Journal of Turkish Weekly; 12May08) http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=55250
China launches 5-day chemical weapons training course [Beijing]
“A protection and assistance training course jointly sponsored by the Chinese government and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was inaugurated here on Monday. A Foreign Ministry press release said 25 students from 18 countries in the Asia-Pacific region were participating in the five days of training at the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Institute of Chemical Defense. […] The training course will conclude on Friday, the press release announced.” (Window of China; 12May08; Sun Yunlong) http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/12/content_8153418.htm
Amendments to chemical weapons laws approved [United Arab Emirates]
“The Cabinet Legislation Committee discussed and approved amendments to three federal laws at a meeting held here yesterday. […] Headed by Dr Hadif bin Juaan Al Dhahiri, Minister of Justice, the committee has approved to amend federal law 13 for the year 2007, regarding the import and export regulations of commodities, federal law 40 for the year 2006 regarding banning the production, storage and usage of chemical weapons […].” (Khaleej Times; 12May08) http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2008/May/theuae_May418.xml§ion=theuae
Recycled NASA [National Aeronautics & Space Administration] telescope to be used for bomb detection
“An astrophysicist has recycled parts from one of NASA's Compton Gamma Ray Observatory's old instruments for bomb detection. […] James Ryan, an astrophysicist at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, recycled one of them to detect gamma rays emitted by radioactive substances, such as plutonium, uranium and caesium, which could be used in dirty bombs combining conventional explosives with radioactive material. The Compton device detects light emitted by electron scattering, caused by gamma rays hitting two layers in the instrument. These two detections allow a user to track the direction of the incoming rays. […] According to Ryan, using the device from a distance of 10 metres, he can pinpoint a source like caesium to within a third of a metre from side-to-side. ‘It'll work, but it's not optimal, given the fact it's so dated,’ said Nick Mascarenhas, a physicist at Sandia National Laboratory in Livermore, California, who is building his own directional radiation detector. ‘It's probably going to have limitations,’ he added.” (Malaysia Sun; 10May08) http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/89d96798a39564bd/id/357826/cs/1/
Antidote to lethal germ 'closer'
“With funding from the US government, researchers at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York, and the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Maryland, have broken through a barrier towards developing an effective antidote against the most potent form of the toxin. The researchers have developed a protein that blocks the effects of the toxin by tricking it into not attacking cells in the body. Biologist Subramanyam Swaminathan, who led the research, told BBC News: ‘We anticipate at least four to five years before this can be turned into an approved drug.’” (BBC; 12May08; Angela Saini) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7395731.stm
Army Post Stages Mock Drill [Fort Campbell, Kentucky]
“Fort Campbell~staged a mock terrorist attack Thursday morning to give fire and emergency crews training for such an event. In the scenario, a car bomb containing weapons of mass destruction exploded. Dozens of people injured. […] They also had to be on the lookout for chemical and biological weapons. […] Outside law enforcement and fire departments were invited to participate in the exercise. Fort Campbell emergency crews try to conduct anti-terrorism exercises at least once a year.” (News Channel 5; 08May08)
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=8292859
French navy forms new special troop
“French President Nicolas Sarkozy Thursday announced the creation of a special navy troop to take part in a number of overseas missions, according to local media. The troop will only have about 30 members to begin with. They will be experts on reconnaissance, mine clearance, electronic warfare, nuclear warfare and biological and chemical warfare.” (China View; 09May08; Du Guodong)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/09/content_8135023.htm
Country Reports on Terrorism 2007: South and Central Asia Overview-III
“DOD held four Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) sessions with Tajikistani security forces to improve their capacity to conduct counterterrorism operations. The U.S. Embassy administered training which included chemical weapons response and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) detection training. These programs will help Tajikistan stop potential terrorists who may attempt to cross the Tajikistani border, and will enable Tajikistan to better control its borders. […] Tajikistan endorsed the joint U.S.-Russia co-chaired Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. In November, it hosted a regional conference to discuss with its neighbors more effective cooperation to counter WMD proliferation.” (Journal of Turkish Weekly; 09May08)
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=55199
US Country Reports on Terrorism-Macedonia
“Macedonia passed legislation on nuclear security and terrorism, chemical weapons, and entered into bilateral law enforcement, security, and extradition agreements. […] The Government of Macedonia continued its close coordination with the United States on counterterrorism matters, which included intelligence sharing on potential terrorist groups operating in or transiting the country.” (Journal of Turkish Weekly;
12May08)
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=55253
CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.
“The national biodefense center, which will open shortly, provides a Level
4 laboratory in which research on the most dangerous and contagious diseases can be carried out. The center is likely to be one of the most controversial components of the U.S. biodefense effort, given how secret many of its activities are likely to be. Defensive research is legal under the international treaties that ban biological weapons, but secrecy can make it tough to reassure observers that research is really defensive. […] [On May 14th] the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee holds a confirmation hearing for Paul Schneider, President Bush's pick to replace the long-departed Michael Jackson as deputy secretary of homeland security.” (United Press International; 12May08; Shaun Waterman) http://www.upi.com/International_Security/Emerging_Threats/Analysis/2008/05/12/homeland_security_the_week_ahead/9815/
La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology Receives $7.1 Million Grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
“The La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI) has received a $7.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund safety and effectiveness testing of an antibody treatment that quickly fights the smallpox virus. The treatment could be the nation’s first line of defense in protecting against a terrorist-originated smallpox outbreak and may eventually be stockpiled nationwide alongside the smallpox vaccine. […] LIAI scientist Shane Crotty, Ph.D., who developed the antibody treatment, said the NIH grant will fund pre-clinical testing of the work he and his research team started three years ago. In 2005, the researchers, studying blood samples from people who had received the smallpox vaccine, were able to isolate the anti-H3 antibody as an extremely potent fighter against smallpox.” (Life Science Online; 08May08) http://www.lifescience-online.com/La_Jolla_Institute_for_Allergy_and_Immunology_Rece,9550.html?portalPage=Lifescience%20Today.News
[U.S. Air force] Men who refused vaccine may get clear records
“A federal judge’s decision could lead to clearing the records of military personnel who refused to take mandatory anthrax shots between 1999 and 2004. Judge James Robertson of the district court for the District of Columbia admonished the Air Force Board for the Correction of Military Records, which had rejected a petition by two former Connecticut Air National Guard officers for compensatory relief for back pay and lost promotions after they claim they were forced to resign for refusing the vaccine. The plaintiffs, Thomas Rempfer and the estate of the late Russell Dingle, based their appeal on a separate anthrax vaccine lawsuit.” (Air Force Times; 11May08; William H. McMichael) http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/05/airforce_anthrax_051008w/
Indian student in US jail to walk free
“A student from Andhra Pradesh, languishing in the Phelps County jail in United States for over 14 months after he walked into the University of Missouri-Rolla on February 27 last year, waiving a bag and shouting that he had a bomb and anthrax, could soon be a free man. [...] The Indian consulate at Chicago informed the state government that Sujith would be released in June as charges like felony, assault and criminal action against him has been dropped.” (Hindustan Times; 12May08; Ashok Das) http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=157e11cb-34af-43a0-8e07-72d44364f2cf&&Headline=Indian+student+in+US+jail+to+walk+free
US Country Reports on Terrorism-Belgium
“Belgium continued to strengthen its response to the threat of terrorism, fashioning new institutions in its security services, improving internal coordination among antiterrorism offices, promulgating new laws to deal with terrorism and money laundering more aggressively, and strengthening agencies that confront terrorist financing. […] Belgian emergency action plans have been reviewed and updated to prepare for and respond to potential attacks, including bioterrorism. On a local level, authorities have instituted drills of rapid alert systems, and reviewed critical infrastructure support and civil protection and medical assistance procedures.” (Journal of Turkish Weekly; 12May08) http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=55250
China launches 5-day chemical weapons training course [Beijing]
“A protection and assistance training course jointly sponsored by the Chinese government and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was inaugurated here on Monday. A Foreign Ministry press release said 25 students from 18 countries in the Asia-Pacific region were participating in the five days of training at the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Institute of Chemical Defense. […] The training course will conclude on Friday, the press release announced.” (Window of China; 12May08; Sun Yunlong) http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/12/content_8153418.htm
Amendments to chemical weapons laws approved [United Arab Emirates]
“The Cabinet Legislation Committee discussed and approved amendments to three federal laws at a meeting held here yesterday. […] Headed by Dr Hadif bin Juaan Al Dhahiri, Minister of Justice, the committee has approved to amend federal law 13 for the year 2007, regarding the import and export regulations of commodities, federal law 40 for the year 2006 regarding banning the production, storage and usage of chemical weapons […].” (Khaleej Times; 12May08) http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2008/May/theuae_May418.xml§ion=theuae
Recycled NASA [National Aeronautics & Space Administration] telescope to be used for bomb detection
“An astrophysicist has recycled parts from one of NASA's Compton Gamma Ray Observatory's old instruments for bomb detection. […] James Ryan, an astrophysicist at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, recycled one of them to detect gamma rays emitted by radioactive substances, such as plutonium, uranium and caesium, which could be used in dirty bombs combining conventional explosives with radioactive material. The Compton device detects light emitted by electron scattering, caused by gamma rays hitting two layers in the instrument. These two detections allow a user to track the direction of the incoming rays. […] According to Ryan, using the device from a distance of 10 metres, he can pinpoint a source like caesium to within a third of a metre from side-to-side. ‘It'll work, but it's not optimal, given the fact it's so dated,’ said Nick Mascarenhas, a physicist at Sandia National Laboratory in Livermore, California, who is building his own directional radiation detector. ‘It's probably going to have limitations,’ he added.” (Malaysia Sun; 10May08) http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/89d96798a39564bd/id/357826/cs/1/
Antidote to lethal germ 'closer'
“With funding from the US government, researchers at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York, and the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Maryland, have broken through a barrier towards developing an effective antidote against the most potent form of the toxin. The researchers have developed a protein that blocks the effects of the toxin by tricking it into not attacking cells in the body. Biologist Subramanyam Swaminathan, who led the research, told BBC News: ‘We anticipate at least four to five years before this can be turned into an approved drug.’” (BBC; 12May08; Angela Saini) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7395731.stm
Army Post Stages Mock Drill [Fort Campbell, Kentucky]
“Fort Campbell~staged a mock terrorist attack Thursday morning to give fire and emergency crews training for such an event. In the scenario, a car bomb containing weapons of mass destruction exploded. Dozens of people injured. […] They also had to be on the lookout for chemical and biological weapons. […] Outside law enforcement and fire departments were invited to participate in the exercise. Fort Campbell emergency crews try to conduct anti-terrorism exercises at least once a year.” (News Channel 5; 08May08)
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=8292859
French navy forms new special troop
“French President Nicolas Sarkozy Thursday announced the creation of a special navy troop to take part in a number of overseas missions, according to local media. The troop will only have about 30 members to begin with. They will be experts on reconnaissance, mine clearance, electronic warfare, nuclear warfare and biological and chemical warfare.” (China View; 09May08; Du Guodong)
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/09/content_8135023.htm
Country Reports on Terrorism 2007: South and Central Asia Overview-III
“DOD held four Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) sessions with Tajikistani security forces to improve their capacity to conduct counterterrorism operations. The U.S. Embassy administered training which included chemical weapons response and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) detection training. These programs will help Tajikistan stop potential terrorists who may attempt to cross the Tajikistani border, and will enable Tajikistan to better control its borders. […] Tajikistan endorsed the joint U.S.-Russia co-chaired Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. In November, it hosted a regional conference to discuss with its neighbors more effective cooperation to counter WMD proliferation.” (Journal of Turkish Weekly; 09May08)
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=55199
US Country Reports on Terrorism-Macedonia
“Macedonia passed legislation on nuclear security and terrorism, chemical weapons, and entered into bilateral law enforcement, security, and extradition agreements. […] The Government of Macedonia continued its close coordination with the United States on counterterrorism matters, which included intelligence sharing on potential terrorist groups operating in or transiting the country.” (Journal of Turkish Weekly;
12May08)
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=55253
CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.
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