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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, NOVEMBER 4,
1986
PAGE 15
Potential genetic weapons included cloned variants of deadly
·substances from snake venom to rare tropical diseases, as well
as entirely new lab-built viruses and bacteria. So d"Iieiie'i
could be created with symptoms virtually identical to those of
natural illnesses, the report said. The victim country would
be hard-pressed to determine whether it was under biological
warfare attack or a victim of a natural epidemic, making
retaliation less likely and pre-e�ptive attack more so••••
Biological warfare weapons raise other frightening prospects,
such as creation of bacteria to attack specific human organs-
for instance, the eye i of e c emy soldiers--or to kill members of
one
race whilespar n f t ose of another'; according to tne
Stocklioli Internationa
Peace Research Institute CSIPRI> •
Genetically-engineered diseases could be adapted to climatic
conditions, Peith said.
A virus causing dehydration could
devastate troops fighting in a desert••••
o.s. strategists long had discounted germ agents in the
superpower confrontation because nuclear missiles were a much
more effective strategic weapon.
But new gene-spliced
biological warfare agents are likely to be controllable and
effective enough for use even in special operations and pitched
battles, Peith said. Bis report accused Moscow of breaching
the
1972
Biological Weapons Convention with a major biological
warfare program, using genetic engineering and other methods.
Be said Moscow was working on new biological weapons at seven
irt�n the Sov-rit Onion, including a virtual city where many
scientiits"'!ived and worked under heavy guard••••
Pentagon research on genetic engineering has jumped 800 percent
from $5 million in
1981
to $40 million this year. The Pentagon
says the work--including projects for cloning malaria, snake
venom, anthrax, the deadly and rare Rift Valley fever--1s
strictly for defensive purposei':'7••---niiitrrilth conceded in his
report that a defense would be extremely difficult.
• CBW)
favors offense·over defense•••• No field equipment has yet been
developed that can detect BW agents, let alone identify them;
there are no known antidotes now available against many
possible agents; and it is not certain that our troops'
protective gear would be effective,• he said•••• ·This is•••a
problem with no apparent solution,• he concluded.
Soatb Africa:
Senate Votes its •Good conscience•
The United States
Senate, rejecting a presidential veto, voted stiff economic sanctions
against South Africa into law Oct. 2. It catapulted the u.s. into the
forefront of a global confrontation against Pretoria. Senators voted
78-
21, well over the two-thirds needed to override the veto and end a
yearlong battle between the White Bouse and Congress over U.S. policy
toward South Africa. The Bouse voted to override the veto earlier the
same week. The sanctions, among the toughest worldwide, prohibit all new
o.s. investment in South Africa and add uranium, coal, textiles and
agricultural products to the existing list of embargoed trade commodities.
Effective in 90 days, they would also cancel landing rights for South
African Airways.