Antianimal Biological Weapons Programs - Deadly Cultures: Biological Weapons Since 1945 - page 224

CHAPTER 11
Antianimal Biological
Weapons Programs
PIERS MILLETT
This chapter discusses offensive antianimal biological
weapons (BW) programs from 1945 until the entry into force of the Bio-
logical Weapons Convention (BWC) in 1975, and then from 1975 to the
present. This history assesses the nature of these programs, including
how such projects fitted in with broader BW programs, the duality of this
form of warfare, and some motivations for targeting animals in this man-
ner. It concludes with a brief examination of recent developments that
may influence this form of warfare in the future.
1945-1975
From 1945 to 1975 there were at least three offensive antianimal BW
programs. These were run by the UK, the US, and Canada. All three had
conducted antianimal BW development during World War II, so their
postwar programs built on these early foundations. 1
The US Program
The US antianimal BW program featured at least one dedicated facility
and the development of four agents and a number of delivery systems.
Antianimal BW were viewed as strategic instruments to be used to reduce
enemy food supplies or to cause economic damage (see Chapter 2).
The US was bound by federal statute banning research with certain
highly infectious animal diseases within the continental United States.
This limitation was initially overcome by carrying out work offshore at
224