Introduction
Weapon of mass destruction (WMD) incidents can pose a significant threat to the population of the country in which they were used. National security institutions should try to eliminate the potentially dangerous and lethal consequences in such cases. WMD can vary depending on the type of impact it has on the environment and people.
Thus, biological, chemical, or explosive weapons are isolated that can affect people in different ways, causing damage on different scales. Moreover, such means of destruction can be used both by individual terrorist groups and in wars, such as during the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, this study will consider the use of WMD in the United States for a comprehensive assessment of the damage caused and the protective measures taken.
Tactical Effectiveness
The tactical effectiveness of the attacking side can be assessed, taking into account several vital details. First, it is essential to consider that the terrorist carried out detailed covert planning, which increased the chances of success. The mail system was chosen to spread the disease, indicating that the perpetrator worked out the plan’s details (Gostin & Nuzzo, 2021). In the selected case, the vector of the spread of the disease was wide enough to cover a large number of people. This, in turn, maximized the effectiveness of the attack and increased the number of casualties.
Another critical aspect to consider is the specific choice of weapon used. Anthrax spores are not a common material, and the fact that the terrorist chose this method indicates that this person was identified in microbiology and managed to get spore samples (Pichtel, 2016). This pathogen was recycled and used as a weapon, which, combined with the distribution method, played a prominent role in causing damage.
The tactical effectiveness of an attacker can also be judged by how they have evaded capture for a long time by removing all possible traces of their activities. In addition, the thoughtfulness of the plan made it possible for the incident to go unnoticed for a long time. Subsequently, many suspects appeared in this case, who were later acquitted.
The tactical effectiveness of the defending side can be judged based on how successful the countermeasures against the terrorist attack were. First, evaluating the speed of response and incident detection is crucial. This stage is relevant for incidents that do not have clearly expressed manifestations (Pichtel, 2016). In the context of, for example, a terrorist attack using explosives, detection occurs at the exact moment.
However, despite the danger of terrorist acts, it was pretty problematic to detect them in this situation since anthrax spores were sent out in envelopes. Some of them contained harmless materials to confuse the investigation. Thus, despite the delay in identifying and detecting the first infection cases, law enforcement agencies began to take action immediately after contacting health facilities. All the necessary resources were mobilized to prevent the disease’s further spread.
To contain the consequences and eliminate the root cause, the police officers worked closely with the public, providing all the necessary information regarding the incident through the news. This is the right strategy for this case since the infection spreads unnoticed and, accordingly, the more people who learn about the danger, the more likely they are to avoid infection. To do this, the police carried out a series of activities to educate the population of all nearby areas about what happened and how people could protect themselves. Preventive measures and treatments for the disease have been communicated to the public so that people can be concerned about their safety if spores of the disease are found.
In addition to the police, medical services were included in the tactical work to prevent infection. It was their responsibility to provide adequate countermeasures to the current situation. They analyzed the infection situation, and based on this, a countermeasure strategy was selected, which included prescribing antibiotics as one of the few drugs that could cope with anthrax. In addition, a campaign was launched to vaccinate the affected areas’ population to avoid a second attack.
Incident Background
In some cases, weapons of mass destruction can be highly contagious diseases that, if ingested, are fatal. One of these is anthrax, which was released in 2001 in a densely populated area of the United States. This disease is transmitted by anthrax bacilli, upon contact with which an instant infection occurs.
Thus, many people can become infected from one focus. Since the disease is transmitted through animals, its spread is relatively easy and fast, leading to the defeat of a large area. In 2001, an attacker distributed disease spores through the US mail system for an unknown purpose (Gostin & Nuzzo, 2021). In this regard, the danger of this incident was great since such a disease leads to fatal consequences and can be used as a biological weapon.
The danger of this situation can be assessed as high since weapons of mass destruction deeply affect society and could harm many people. First, the danger of the current situation can be assessed by analyzing the lethality of the weapons used. Anthrax spores are highly contagious and have therefore been able to affect many people. Moreover, the mortality rate in those infected reached up to 80% if treatment was not provided on time.
Another consequence of the current dangerous situation is the spread of rumors, which may cause panic. In this situation, this risk was prevented by the timely action of the police, who announced all available information about the incident through the media. However, another consequence was economic, as many people needed treatment, and the anthrax spread took many resources.
The Incident Command System Application
The Application of Incident Command System (ICS) is used when situations arise that could get out of hand and become dangerous to the public. The anthrax case is an appropriate situation for implementing this system’s standards. Its meaning lies in a set of commands used in emergencies to properly coordinate the work of all structures and protect the population from the negative, tragic consequences of an accident. Thus, how well the ICS was applied makes it possible to assess how effectively all departments and services coped with overcoming the emergency (Pichtel, 2016).
The basis of ICS is a specific management structure that represents a chain of commands with the distribution of roles and functions of all substations. This allows them to use their capabilities more effectively and distribute powers to ensure that the emergency situation is overcome. In the context of the anthrax case, the coordination of the chain of command made it possible to react in time and create another comprehensive plan to eliminate the problem.
Another important aspect to consider in the context of the use and application of ICS is communication and coordination. Reacting agents in the case of the spread of anthrax had to act as smoothly and as organized as possible. This was important because letters with spores of the infection spread incredibly quickly. Because of this, people had to take measures to prevent themselves from getting infected.
Police authorities, medical teams, and laboratory assistants specializing in studying infectious diseases coordinated their actions (Zacchia & Schmitt, 2019). Implementing the ICS principles ensured better follow-up of the complex process (Pichtel, 2016). The effective exchange of information in this situation allowed all organizations to take important and necessary steps promptly.
ICS leaves a significant place for aspects of resource management. The spread of anthrax spores could lead to catastrophic consequences that could impact not only the area where the disease spreads but also nearby cities and states. Therefore, resource management was indispensable in planning how and in what ways the services will regulate the resolution of an emergency. Mobilizing all medical personnel was the right decision, ensuring maximum coverage of all infected areas. Public health officials were also called upon to carry out all necessary interventions, down to going around to people with the police to find out if they had received anthrax letters.
Another critical component of the ICS system is creating a public information system that is essential for all groups to share data and communicate more effectively. During the spread of anthrax, it became necessary to create and disseminate information about this infection to avoid panic among the population and inform everyone of the measures that must be taken (Zacchia & Schmitt, 2019). This was important to minimize panic. In addition, the information base among the investigation team was also necessary so that all its members could correctly interpret the study results and take appropriate action. Applying ICS principles in a critical situation allowed specialists to maintain high trust and confidence among citizens, contributing to cooperation with services.
Using the Incident Command System to prevent the spread of anthrax spores was vital to prevent the consequences in time. An operational framework was applied to better coordinate the actions of all departments and organizational leaders. Thus, emergency services could work out pre-designed plans to stop the spread of the disease. All the implemented measures proved effective as they contributed to the rapid localization of the disease and the preventive cessation of its spread.
Current Government Programs
Government policies and programs play an essential role in preventing possible WMD-related incidents. Thus, the state must take all necessary protective measures to ensure its citizens’ safety. Biological threats such as anthrax can become a hazard and cause many deaths if a response program is not prepared (Hillyer, 2021). Evaluating the effectiveness of programs helps to understand how they can resist the threats of mass destruction.
In state programs, planning to counter attacks and preparedness to respond to emergencies are important. Modern programs to counter WMD include epidemiological surveillance, laboratory facilities, and diagnostic and response centers (Pichtel, 2016). Today, the Department of Defense must cooperate with epidemiological services in the event of a biological threat to respond to biological threats and incidents. In addition to the military, medical teams take necessary operational countermeasures and programs in the event of a threat of weapons of mass destruction. Medical countermeasures to counter biological weapons of mass destruction are strict and complex measures that are potentially difficult to implement due to the large and rapid spread (Zacchia & Schmitt, 2019).
First of all, politicians prescribe the distribution of antibiotics to the population, which can take quite a long time. Such a move would minimize human casualties and gain time for a more detailed attack assessment (Mauroni, 2021). At the same time, the number of deaths in a large-scale attack could be pretty significant. The impact of the spread of anthrax could extend far beyond the original state. In this case, the overload of the counteraction system will occur due to the impact of biological agents of different strengths.
The main task of the government in the event of a threat of biological weapons in the United States is to calm the civilian population to prevent panic. This is necessary to stop the spread’s consequences, which can start due to the sudden flight of people from the scene (Mauroni, 2021). For such cases, a necessary control measure prescribed by government policies is to isolate the area and place its inhabitants under quarantine conditions (Hillyer, 2021).
In some cases, people may be unaware of an attack that has begun due to the gradual action of biological weapons. In this case, many citizens will continue to lead their everyday lives and, for example, send their children to school. This, in turn, will contribute to the further spread of infection.
In this regard, the state’s policy to inform the population should be implemented. It requires timely disclosure of the degree of risk and threats that people may face, as well as data on what countermeasures the government plans to introduce. This measure aims to avoid public panic or potentially dangerous behavior by people ignorant of the attack. Under the protection programs, the federal authorities will have to take several actions that can help restore public confidence in all structures. Thus, implementing a wide-scale action can help prevent further attacks directed at civilian, military, and government sectors (Mauroni, 2021).
Responding to a bioterrorist attack will require significant efforts that must be undertaken at all levels, from the federal to the district and city (Hillyer, 2021). In this way, WMD policies demonstrate a significant focus on coordination and communication between responsible departments. In this way, the maximum effectiveness of the protective mechanism measures can be achieved.
An important part determined by state policies is measures to detain and interrogate criminals who facilitated or carried out the attack. Efforts to find terrorists and counter a second attack can significantly affect the privacy of ordinary citizens, as law enforcement may override individual rights to find those responsible for the attack (Hillyer, 2021). In addition, implementing policies for a specific area can lead to negative economic consequences since some locations must be isolated. Moreover, the effects of a biological attack will be long-term since a long period of cleanup of the territory and the incapacity of many people will affect the future economic situation.
Improvements in Addressing the Threat
The unique parameters of biological weapons determine the special status of defense programs and how they should be applied. First, it is important to develop intelligence systems for early warning of potential terrorist attacks. This can contribute to better visibility of the country’s security forces, which will be able to prepare a set of protective measures to repel attacks and counter their consequences (Scales et al., 2021).
Strengthening inter-agency cooperation and interactions in the context of information exchange should be set at the maximum level so that information can quickly flow to the proper authorities. At the same time, the country should develop research on biological hazards that can be used to cause mass damage. Medical countermeasures may prove useful in overcoming the consequences as quickly as possible (Mauroni, 2021). Disinfection technologies are of great importance in this area, allowing the authorities to maintain a high level of readiness to create vaccines for new strains of infections and viruses.
Regarding the structures and personnel of the military, it is also necessary to take measures aimed at training and interaction with objects that may constitute a potential threat. Weapons of mass destruction of any category can be deactivated with the help of timely, comprehensive measures. To ensure the success of such measures, it is necessary to regularly conduct military exercises to develop methods of protection measures against terrorist attacks aimed at killing the civilian population (Scales et al., 2021).
The government should ensure that the various troops and their units interact in such exercises to improve communication methods and, as a result, efficiency (Alkış, 2022). Such exercises can simulate various situations that repeat terrorist attacks of varying degrees of scale. Strengthening international cooperation is also an important aspect of improvement, as it can prevent a major international attack by biological weapons. In this case, complex measures will be needed in partnership with other countries, which means that different services must know how to act when they come into contact with a danger that transcends the state’s borders (Scales et al., 2021). For this, it is essential to establish the exchange of information and joint exercises that can make it possible to eliminate the likelihood of the grave consequences of a terrorist attack of mass destruction.
Conclusion
It must be said that weapons of mass destruction can be used both in wartime and in peacetime by various terrorist organizations or individuals. Such an incident occurred in the United States in 2001, which led to a large spread of anthrax spores. The tactical effectiveness of the measures taken played an important role in ensuring the protection of the population and eliminating the consequences. They aimed to provide a safe environment to which people could return.
Police and medical teams carried out many activities to reduce the effects of the disease’s high rates of contagiousness. ICS was also effectively applied to the incident to keep people safe and restore social peace. Current government programs to deal with potential threats can be improved to have the most effective impact and prevent possible terrorist attacks.
References
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