by anonymous » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:56 am
<!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/dn8044">www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/dn8044</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br><br>US army plans to bulk-buy anthrax<br><br> * 10:00 24 September 2005<br> * NewScientist.com news service<br> * David Hambling<br><br>THE US military wants to buy large quantities of anthrax, in a controversial move that is likely to raise questions over its commitment to treaties designed to limit the spread of biological weapons.<br><br>A series of contracts have been uncovered that relate to the US army's Dugway Proving Ground in Utah. They ask companies to tender for the production of bulk quantities of a non-virulent strain of anthrax, and for equipment to produce significant volumes of other biological agents.<br><br>Issued earlier this year, the contracts were discovered by Edward Hammond, director of the Sunshine Project, a US-German organisation that campaigns against the use of biological and chemical weapons.<br><br>One "biological services" contract specifies: "The company must have the ability and be willing to grow Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain at 1500-litre quantities." Other contracts are for fermentation equipment for producing 3000-litre batches of an unspecified biological agent, and sheep carcasses to test the efficiency of an incinerator for the disposal of infected livestock.<br><br>snip <p></p><i></i>
