Should building owners and operators be concerned about the threat from chemical weapons?
The Center for Biosecurity focuses its efforts on reducing the threat posed by biological weapons, which in our view are the only weapons capable of presenting a strategic threat to the United States on par with nuclear weapons. That said, the threat from chemical weapons should not be overlooked. Several states potentially hostile to the United States are suspected of having chemical weapons programs, and there are groups, such as al-Qa’ida, that are committed to attacking the U.S. and are also pursuing chemical weapons capabilities.2,47 Available information suggests that the threat of chemical terrorism—particularly small-scale attacks—is increasing.47 According to the July 2007 U.S. National Intelligence Estimate regarding the terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland, al-Qa’ida “would not hesitate” to use chemical weapons “if it develops what it deems is sufficient capability.
