Book Review: Terrorism, War or Disease? Unraveling the Use of Biological Weapons Edited by Anne L Clunan, Peter R Lavoy and Susan B Martin. Published by Stanford Security Studies, 2008. Paperback 368pp. Price £18.95. ISBN 978-0-8047-5977-9

Abstract

9. . This book was not written by microbiologists but it does give many interesting insights into current thinking around biological warfare. It is divided into two sections. The first section contains case studies of the use or alleged use of chemical/ biological weapons (CBW). These case studies include, among others, the US anthrax letters, the Yellow Rain affair and Japanese germ warfare, as well as an overview. The second section covers policy and scholarly implications from both a US and UK perspective and a conclusion on possible future biosecurity policies.The book is well referenced and has been carefully written and edited. A good example of this is the conclusion to Chapter 4: The Yellow Rain Affair by Matthew S Meselson and Julian Perry Robinson:"The lessons to learn from the Yellow Rain episode are straightforward: reliable procedures must be used to acquire and evaluate interview evidence, including the use of corroborative crosschecks and double-checks and careful avoidance of leading questions. Chemical identification of trace components must adhere to appropriate standards for forensic analysis, and results must be corroborated by an independent laboratory. Hypothesis must be subjected to wide consultation and objective criticism. Failure to apply these lessons, whether through incompetence or because of political exigencies and pressures, imperils the credibility of subsequent investigations of situations in which CBW weapons may actually have been used."This conclusion is a good reason for reading this book.