News topics include the Blue Ribbon Panel on Biodefense; North Korea missile launch; ECBC saftey during Syrian chemical weapons destruction.
In This Article
Yes, We Were Warned About Ebola
The conventional wisdom among public health authorities is that the Ebola virus, which killed at least 10,000 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, was a new phenomenon, not seen in West Africa. Reports dating back to the 1980s recommended inclusion of Liberia in the endemic zones of concern. NY Times >>
North Korea Can Miniaturize a Nuclear Weapon, U.S. Says
North Korea has deployed its new road-mobile KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missile and is capable of mounting a miniaturized nuclear warhead on it, the U.S.’s top homeland security commander said. Gortney’s remarks are the strongest to date by a U.S. military official about the status of the KN-O8 missile and North Korea’s progress in making a nuclear weapon small enough to put on it, although they reflected the customary caution about what’s going on in the insular country. Bloomberg >>
DARPA BAA – Technologies for Host Resilience (THoR)
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has announced a new Technologies for Host Resilience (THoR) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to catalyze the development of breakthrough interventions that would increase the ability of patients’ own bodies to tolerate a broad range of pathogens. Global Biodefense >>
Canada’s Delay of National Terrorism Intervention Strategy Prompts Local Upstarts
Canada’s national anti-terrorism intervention strategy has been delayed another year, with the government saying Tuesday it expects a rollout in late 2015. Since the program’s 2013 announcement, communities across Canada — including Calgary, Hamilton, Toronto and Winnipeg — have launched their own programs. Calgary Herald >>
Assessing the War on Terror
Reports from The Heritage Foundation suggest there have been 64 Islamist-inspired terror attempts on U.S. soil since 9/11. Of those, only four were carried out, with nearly all of the remaining 60 foiled by law enforcement and a handful thwarted by less intelligent means. Pandora Report >>
Blast Rips Through Chinese Chemical Plant for Second Time in Two Years
Six people were hurt after an explosion at a controversial chemical plant in China’s southeastern Fujian province sparked a huge fire, provincial authorities told state media. The plant, located in Zhangzhou city, produces paraxylene (PX), a reportedly carcinogenic chemical used in the production of polyester films and fabrics. CNN >>
Iran’s Supreme Leader Voices Pessimism on Nuclear Deal
Iran’s supreme leader expressed pessimism Thursday about a deal reached last week with six world powers to restrict the country’s nuclear program, saying he neither supports nor opposes the accord and demanding that all economic sanctions be lifted immediately upon any final agreement. Washington Post >>
Blue Ribbon Panel Hears How to Respond to Biological and Chemical Threats
If America were to be beset by a biological or chemical weapons attack, who would be in charge of responding? According to the consensus of the post-9/11 Commission Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense arrived at during its fourth and final meeting last week, “The federal government doesn’t have a good answer to that question.” HS Today >>
Counterterrorism Experts Say Holistic Strategy Needed to Target Both Islamic State, Al-Qaeda
The biggest game changed for al-Qaeda has been the creation of franchises, meaning the dozen-and-a-half or so groups that have allied themselves with the group responsible for the 9/11 attacks. And that has led to al-Qaeda’s longevity, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary later this year. Fierce Homeland Security >>
Security and the Illusion of Control
Over the past several days, we have seen a series of events that should remind us all that no matter what we poor humans may do to the contrary, there is no such thing as 100 percent security. And to think we have total control over any situation is but an illusion. Security Insights >>
The Iranian Nuclear Program and its Bureaucrat-in-Chief
During negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, President Obama repeatedly pressed the intelligence community to make a determinative judgment on the real intentions of Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader. The intelligence community remained divided, however, and failed to come to a consensus on Khamenei’s policy goals. War on the Rocks >>
Tories Commit to 4-Boat Trident Missile Fleet
Britain’s Conservative Party will commit to building four Trident missile-armed submarines to replace the Vanguard-class boats currently providing the UK’s nuclear deterrence. Defense News >>
Reading Chinese Nuclear Deterrence
Now, after the Soviet Union devolved into a weakened Russian Republic, the rise of Chinese power has caused the United States to “rebalance” to the Asia Pacific region and toward China in particular. Ignored the first time around, understanding and responding to Chinese nuclear strategy are vital aspects of the “Asia pivot.” Cicero Magazine >>
Naval Nuclear Propulsion: Assessing Benefits and Risks
The United States and other countries with nuclear navies have benefited from having nuclear-powered warships. But do the continued benefits depend on indefinite use of highly enriched uranium (HEU)—which can be made into nuclear weapons—as naval nuclear fuel? Federation of American Scientists >>
Missile Launch Underscores N. Korean Threat, U.S. Defense Secretary Says
Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter on Thursday condemned the North Korean government’s decision to conduct a missile launch ahead of his inaugural visit to South Korea, calling it a sign of the threat that nuclear-armed North Korea continues to pose to the region. Washington Post >>
Dangerous Chemicals Stolen In Northamptonshire Raid
Dangerous chemicals including cyanide and sulphuric acid have been stolen during a raid carried out by “organised criminals”, police said. The burglary took place at a chemical processing plant in Great Central Way, Woodford Halse in Northamptonshire. BBC >>
Edgewood Chemical Biological Center Receives Army Safety Award
The U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) was awarded the Director of Army Safety Risk Management Award on March 19 for their contribution to the vital mission of protecting the Warfighter and the nation against the global threat of chemical and biological warfare. Global Biodefense >>