While high traffic sites, shopping malls, night clubs, etc. or targets
of particular emotional meaning, school buses, schools, etc. (just
look at the targets in Israel ) would provide terrorist the biggest
bang for the buck all soft targets need to provided some protection.
The food supply is such a soft target. The good news is biological
weapons while having a dooms day connotation are fairly difficult to
"waponize," difficult to deploy and don't do all that much damage
compared to say a dirty nuclear device in downtown NYC.
The anthrax attacks of a couple of years ago - while scary did very
little damage. In case of a terrorist attack on the live stock, the
ability to rapidly identify the infected animals and the animals (and
humans) they had contact with would go a long way in defeating the
attack and would be a good deterrent to such an attack. The best way to
keep a potential target from becoming a target is to make it more
difficult to attack and if attacked - less effective as a target.
Truman
Lydia Cassilly wrote:
Distinct
possibility is too mild a term in regards to livestock being
a terrorist target. I believe that it is merely a matter of time.
Identification won't prevent such a disaster, but may slow the spread
when it happens, and also identify animals to be
destroyed/quarantined. However, I think the job is simply too large.
(Not to mention the problems with compliance if people think they'll
be taxed on every animal they keep.)These matters need to be taken
very seriously indeed in this time of war. Don't think that horses are
not a target. My school days were a very long time ago, but I still
remember stories of Glanders being used as a bioweapon. Sorry Angie,
but your horse could infect you and your dog (and
maybe your cat too). It is a very real concern now for every sale
barn, race meet, and national show. At least if we are aware of the
(depressing) possibilities, we too can keep watch to protect ourselves
and our critters. Panic? No. Vigilant without vigilante-ism. I believe
every state is now working on their disaster plans for this, and
preparedness is a good thing.
