Twentieth-Century Legacy: The Challenge of Biological Threats to Twenty-First Century Bio-Medical Science and Society

摘要

Let me begin by stating that the phrase "Weapons of Mass Destruction" (WMD) is a misconception and in many ways quite confusing. It is said to have been a Soviet invention in the 1960s, coined for political purposes and to cause confusion. We are unfortunately saddled with it-unfortunately, because by no means can all chemical and biological weapons be classified as weapons of mass destruction. In fact, the entire purpose, especially of biological weapons, is to obtain an advantage without destroying anything but people (and animals of plants), however unpleasant that concept may be.