Study: WMD Attack In U.S. Likely By 2013

Commission Report Says A Nuclear Or Biological Attack Should Be Expected Within Five Years

(CBS/AP)  The United States can expect a terror attack using nuclear or more likely biological weapons before 2013, reports a bipartisan commission in a study briefed Tuesday to Vice President-elect Joe Biden.

It suggests that the Obama administration bolster efforts to counter and prepare for germ warfare by terrorists.

"Our margin of safety is shrinking, not growing," states the report, obtained by The Associated Press. It is scheduled to be publicly released Wednesday.

The commission also is encouraging the new White House to appoint one official on the National Security Council to coordinate exclusively U.S. intelligence and foreign policy on combating the spread of nuclear and biological weapons.

The report of the Commission on the Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism, led by former Sens. Bob Graham of Florida and Jim Talent of Missouri, acknowledges that terrorist groups still lack the needed scientific and technical ability to make weapons out of pathogens or nuclear bombs. It warns that gap can be overcome easily if terrorists should find scientists willing to share or sell their expertise.

"The United States should be less concerned that terrorists will become biologists and far more concerned that biologists will become terrorists," the report states.

The commission believes biological weapons are more likely to be obtained and used before nuclear or radioactive weapons because nuclear facilities are more carefully guarded. Civilian laboratories with potentially dangerous pathogens abound, however, and could easily be compromised.

"The biological threat is greater than the nuclear; the acquisition of deadly pathogens, and their weaponization and dissemination in aerosol form, would entail fewer technical hurdles than the theft or production of weapons-grade uranium or plutonium and its assembly into an improvised nuclear device," the report says.

It notes that the U.S. government's counterproliferation activities have been geared toward preventing nuclear terror. The commission recommends the prevention of biological terror be made a higher priority.

Study chairman Graham said anthrax remains the most likely biological weapon. However, he told the AP that contagious diseases, such as the influenza strain that killed 40 million early in the 20th century, are looming threats. That virus has been recreated in scientific labs, and there remains no inoculation to protect against it should it be stolen and released.

Graham said the threat of a terror attack using nuclear or biological weapons is growing "not because we have not done positive things but because adversaries are moving at an even faster pace to increase their access" to those materials.

He noted last week's rampage by a small group of gunmen in Mumbai.

"If those people had had access to a biological or nuclear weapon, they would have multiplied by orders of magnitude the deaths they could have inflicted," he said.

A three-day terror siege In India last week served as a grim reminder that the global war on terror is far from over.

The 60-hour attack apparently carried out by only 10 gunmen, armed with conventional weapons, exposed glaring weakness in India's security forces and police, and reminded Americans around the globe that terrorism is not going away.

At President George W. Bush's direction, Secretary Of State Condoleezza Rice is cutting short a European trip to visit India later this week. Six Americans were among those killed in the Mumbai attacks, which ended Saturday with 172 dead and 239 wounded.

When newspaper photographer Sebastien D'Souza heard explosions at Mumbai's main train station, he grabbed his camera and tracked the militants for 45 minutes, reports CBS News' Celia Hatton.

"They know what they're doing. I think they wanted maximum damage because they killed randomly, anybody," D'Souza told Hatton.

Rice said that "ultimately, the terrorists have to be stopped because they will keep trying to bring down" civilized nations and institutions.

Al Qaeda remains the only terror group judged to be actively intent on conducting a nuclear attack against the United States, the report notes. It is not yet capable of building such a weapon and has yet to obtain one. But that could change if a nuclear weapons engineer or scientist were recruited to al Qaeda's cause, the report warns.

The report says the potential nexus of terrorism, nuclear and biological weapons is especially acute in Pakistan.

"Were one to map terrorism and weapons of mass destruction today, all roads would intersect in Pakistan," the report states.

In fact, commission members were forced to cancel their trip to Pakistan this fall. The Islamabad Marriott Hotel that commission members were to stay in was blown up by terrorist bombs just hours before they were to have checked in.

"We think time is not our ally. The (United States) needs to move with a sense of urgency," Graham said.

[earache4]

"WMD Attack In U.S. Likely By 2013"

How can they be so sure? We haven''t even found them in Iraq yet.....

[slim1h2o]

And I thought this country(the u.s.a.) couldn''t attack us more, then they come up with this.

Germany don''t have nothing on this country...

[slim1h2o]

"WMD Attack In U.S. Likely By 2013"

They nave been attacking the middle class now for 30 to 40 yrs now, is this the final knock-out punch?

[wingnutsblow]

Your tax dollars at work. The US has already experienced a biological terror attack with the anthrax mailings six years ago. The government needs to do report on frivolous reports.

[arrestbush1]

This is why they cancelled the tv show JERICHO and never advertised it because it wakes people up.

[bracemic]

This is an odd thing to assume. What is the government not telling us?

[whoopdeedoo6]

Im beginning to think our government is the terrorist cell we need to worry about! Im wondering where those wmd''s are located? Inside donald trumps arse? brittany spears crotch?? Plaxico burress''s helmet??? Where pray tell are those *** wmd''s??? Maybe they''re hidden in rush limbaughs sandwich??? Ann coulter''s mouth?????

[deathofusa]

Makes sense to me. By 2013, the Democraps would have been running the show for 4 years and they will sink our military and intelligence gathering capabilities to nothing.

[soldat44]

Someone needs to do a study on these ''studies''. It''s just like when the weatherman warns all of an impending massive snowfall. Everyone runs to the grocery store and ''stocks up''. Then we get flurries.

They better be careful or they(govt)are going to create a ''Chicken Little'' syndrome...then nobody will listen.

[McHineguy]

Makes sense to me. By 2013, the Democraps would have been running the show for 4 years and they will sink our military and intelligence gathering capabilities to nothing.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by deathofusa at 07:37 PM : Dec 01, 2008

Thats how it happened last time.

[lovegetpeace]

Let me see, I will write a good eye catching report saying basically "we are almost 100% certain there will be an attack before the year 3000"

The military industry is now very happy when everyone starts spending now for it.

[lovegetpeace]

This report is useless because nobody watches the ''Fear Factor'' game show on TV since it was cancelled 2 years ago.

[lovegetpeace]

I think the State of Israel in cooperation with the U.S. Military industry have done their work.

[incog-nito]

In other news, researchers predict that within 50 years we will have a close encounter of the third kind with an alien civilization.

[mikezembill]

If this happens the country this comes will face total destruction end of story.

[slim1h2o]

third kind with an alien civilization.

Posted by incog-nito at 07:59 PM : Dec 01, 2008

from central america, south america...don''t get more alien than that..

[toolmangler-2009]

Since the entire world hates us, there should be no problem finding someone to attack us with a dirty bomb. where do you want it to explode? Pick a City, any City.

[evian_ycnan]

Just some rooster crowing... but then, it would be a case of chickens coming home to roost.

Genetic tests will reveal the strain from bioweapons were from Ft. Detrick, chemicals will have come from DuPont or Olin.

If you build it, they will use it on you.

[slim1h2o]

Pick a City, any City.

Posted by ToolMangler at 08:05 PM : Dec 01, 2008

It won''t be L.A.,,,that city is safely in the hands of people that our government wants to succeed power to...any one that''s not American

[drjec20002]

So. Just what if this is a valid warning. Like the one that was ignored by Bush and Co. before 9-11. The premise is not beyond possible. But, what can individual citizens do??? Maybe make some emergency plans if you survive and can evacuate. Certainly, I want the new administration to be paying attention. Oviously, where you are at the moment of such an attack will determine if you survive it or not. To make an attack have mass success (from a terroists view point) it would have to be done in a major metropolitan area. Releasing a virus or other biological "weapon" in a desolate area may kill some birds and a cow or two, but not accomplish what the terrorists want to accomplish. So, those in major cities need to think a bit about what they could try to do, although that plan would probably not work.

Bottom line: It is not worthless to release such a forecast. But, it probably will not help the average citizen. Warning Obama and his staff will (hopefully) help save lives.

Other than that, it''s ok to be cynical.

[pensacola98]

Well, if they are going to attack us...at least pick a RED STATE. They want less government, less taxes, and less social benefit. No one makes a better victim of an attack better than the one who didn''t want government around to stop him from cheating his own brother.

[slim1h2o]

Posted by cause_a at 08:17 PM : Dec 01, 2008

Soo,,I take it you''re a government operative then?
Commie...

[eddom949]

It''s unlikely that anyone is going to invest in a nuclear attack, especially the raw materials. A biological attack on the other hand is not very likely because we have a well-stewarded ecosystem and take pride in our environment. These terrorists, most likely, are going to be compromised by their curiosity, wanting fame and glory on the Internet. Not bad in itself, but they''re not too hard to find (and trace).

[pensacola98]

I know what you mean cause_a, sometimes I think the greatest WMD is ignorance, and it seems one was dropped here a long time ago. The whiner''s rights to the idea are for sale, but so far, there aren''t any takers.

[toolmangler-2009]

Did they calculate the odds of a hydrogen bomb going off about 1000 meters above Mecca?
Posted by jbrown88881 at 08:21 PM : Dec 01, 2008



Considering that there are probably 25 thousand thermo nooks in the world, I would say that the odds were very high of that scenario, even higher in Israel. Just try to be in the center of the blast, then you won''t feel a thing.

[bobgee_1999]

WMD Attack In U.S. Likely By 2013

Always assuming that there is a U.S. in 2013, which are pretty long odds at this point. Does the country that allowed (I won''t say elected) Bush 8 years in the White House deserve to endure anyway?

[raider72124]

Posted by pensacola98 at 08:17 PM : Dec 01, 2008"

Yeah - but those white southerners are already mutated so how would you notice the difference - which sort of defeats the purpose of attacking there.....though I do agree with the idea

What''s funny about this is that all of you intelligent folks in the north will be looking south for someone to hold your tiny hand to teach you how to make it without a wet nurse tending to your every need. Think about it, who could manage in a disaster like this?

What also strikes me from more of you intelligent people in this article is what is written. Good Lord! How about giving them a handbook of instructions on how best to hurt us....DUH!

[byeneocons]

Let''s hope our next president doesn''t view this warning as "an historical document" like Bush and Condy did.

"Quick! Where''s my copy of ''My Pet Goat''?"

[mainedoggie]

"Were one to map terrorism and weapons of mass destruction today, all roads would intersect in Pakistan," the report states.
=========================

Right, meanwhile all our resources are in Iraq. Are you sure all of these roads don''t also intersect the country that attacked us in the first place, i.e. Saudi Arabia?

[dnamj]

Enough of the freak-out scare tactics. stuff like this is pure propaganda.

[dzemog1]

And I could get hit by a bus tomorrow. What''s the point of telling us this? It''s not like there aren''t a thousand other ways we could get hurt or killed in this country that have nothing to do with terrorism. Tell me something I can do something about. This just feeds fear, which is what I suspect was the only point anyway.

[cdfoxtrot5]

Here we go again. I bet they were trying to get this report out in time for the election but managed to screw it up. Too bad for McBush. This kind of nonsense will be laughed at in years to come.

[dakotaclark]

Hmmm...

Yes. We should be planning for any event caused by any terrorist group.

However, it really is becoming a war of them versus us. Meaning, that followers of Islam, or Muslims, are against all other religions.

Islam views all other religions as infidels. The conservative Muslims believe infidels should have the chance to convert, or be put to death.

All Islamic nations should receive notice, that IF or WHEN the U.S. or any allied country suffers an attack, there will be an immediate atomic response against at least one dozen Islamic high population cities, plus at least 12 holy sites, including Mecca.

Here is a link for information about Islamic populations. http://islam.about.com/library/weekly/aa120298.htm

It is well past the time for Muslims to control their fanatics. By not doing so, Muslims should run the risk of very heavy reprisal.

Eventually, there might not be enough Muslims left to cause any worry.

[cdfoxtrot5]

I suspect that if Al Queda or any of the other over hyped threats had the capability of using nukes or bioterror capability, they would have done it by now. So, Einsteins who wrote this report, what are they holding back for? What are they waiting for??? Huh??

[tonyb-d-bing]

It is regrettable that reports of our being attacked with WMD''s indicate real threats DO INDEED exist.

We must do all we can to PREVENT such attacks.

Start working together.

We have no other choice.

[donevis-2009]

William is right people. Fear is the one thing we do need to fear the most. It causes us to do stupid things like reliquish our rights and sanity. We must insist clear transparent reporting before we allow ourselves to be caught up by a wave of propaganda controled by those you profit from war. Demand what is rightfully ours. THE TRUTH!!

[pensacola98]

It''s true what you say Raider...in the south, we get lot''s of action here...hurricanes, floods, adult illiteracy, loud-mouthed televangelists, abortion clinic murders, and bombers...and all that happens on the slow years....

A little WMD attack would just be another episode of our dramatic Southern Life. Sounds too good to be true.

It was pretty impressive that they attacked is in 2001. It was good to hit ''em back. ''not sure ''bout takin'' down there dictator...''cause they may wanna take down ours....

Anyway, it was nice to follow Gomer Pyle into Islamland. ''m glad we get to see we ain''t the only place loaded with inbreeds. ''kinda explains the real problem a little bit. ''just passin'' time ''n letting the drama make me stronger, since it doesn''t kill me!

[rational_1]

I suspect that if Al Queda or any of the other over hyped threats had the capability of using nukes or bioterror capability, they would have done it by now. So, Einsteins who wrote this report, what are they holding back for? What are they waiting for??? Huh??
Posted by cdfoxtrot5 at 08:52 PM : Dec 01, 2008

You''re probably correct that they don''t yet have the capability, but the point of the article is the likelihood that terrorists will be able to acquire these weapons within the next 5 years.

[walt1944-2009]

Neocon Fascist Socialist Nazis throughout the country are bellowing that we should all prepare to meet our doom because a government report indicates that in 5 years the USSA will be attacked by "terrrrrrorists" carrying either a nuclear bomb or biological agents.

Anyone who remembers back to those frightening days after 9/11 will remember such policies pushed thru by the Great Emperor Bush II such as torture, suspending habeas corpus, listening in on domestic phone calls, reading both foreign mail and e-mail, and of course, the "Patriot Act"!

All this giving away of our liberties was supposed to "protect" us and make us "safer" according to the Great Emperor Bush II and VP Darth Vader Cheney. Invading Iraq was suppOsed to make the world safer, even though the Great Emperor was handing out nuclear technology to anyone with cash enough to buy it!

And so we hear that in 5 years, maybe, we all might be history.

Thank you very much Great Emperor Bush II and all you maniac neocon Fascist Nazi Republicans everywhere for making the world "safer" and helping us all have nightmares at night!!!

SIG HEIL, I JUST DON''T THINK ABOUT BIN LADEN ANYMORE!!! BUSH!!!

[lila356]

We are already being attacked via Chemtrails right now in the US and all over the world. WAKE UP and LOOK UP. Research them and weep. Who are the real terrorists?

[nojoy01]

And I could get hit by a bus tomorrow. What''''s the point of telling us this? It''''s not like there aren''''t a thousand other ways we could get hurt or killed in this country that have nothing to do with terrorism. Tell me something I can do something about. This just feeds fear, which is what I suspect was the only point anyway.

Posted by dzemog1 at 08:48 PM : Dec 01, 2008

No No, dzemog1. The point of releasing this is pure & simply CYA. If and/or when such a terrorist attack occurs then a zillion morons will be screaming ''why didn''t you warn us?''. And they can point to this report and say ''but we did'', and you ignored/made fun of it.

[nybras]

Great just when I had thought things were getting better......

[horse3farm]

Hey CBS, Terror Commission, why don''t you just give the terrorists a date to attack us? This commission report is so laughable. This from a group of greedy idiots from a country that is one of the largest illegal arms dealers in the world.

[lila356]

If it''s anything like the 9/11 Commission you can forget about believing it. Is anyone else out there tired of being lied to?

[sincity_q]

WMD Attack In U.S. Likely By 2013?

Hey, they managed to make a Boeing 757 completely disappear at the Pentagon in 2001... who are we to doubt them now?

[wl7bzh]

The US has set a time line-GREAT!-now the terrorists know when we won''t be expecting an attack.

[promaclaura]

What''s funny is that a report like this "before" the election would have been pooh-poohed and said to be a propaganda tool by the Bush Administration. So here we are, with President Elect Barack Obama and all of the sudden it''s o.k. to print these "terror" reports to inform the public. What is laughable is some of the posters here, who simply do not care about muslim extremism because they relate it to Bush. Sorry CBS, it''s too late, the public thinks "terror" is a made-up game and are not listening. Great job, the real enemy is still planning attacks and the general public thinks Bush made it up.

[swingset4u]

We are already being attacked via Chemtrails right now in the US and all over the world. WAKE UP and LOOK UP. Research them and weep. Who are the real terrorists?

Posted by fila32

Chemtrails???? When I look up all I see is "One flew over the cuckoos nest"!

[lila356]

If our own CIA and DOD,etc. would stop training and hiring the terrorists then maybe we could prevent it.

[firehose12]

Commission Report Says A Nuclear Or Biological Attack Should Be Expected Within Five Years

** that must be assuming Obie Obama is re-elected.

I say 4 years & he is ousted, or impeached before his 1st term expires.

It will happen on Mr "World peace"''s watch....you shall see. All you head in the sand Libs will change your tune about then.