Antianimal Biological Weapons Programs - Deadly Cultures: Biological Weapons Since 1945 - page 234

ologies. There are two recognizably distinct forms of antianimal biological
warfare. The first relates to developing a military capability that resem-
bles other traditional forms of biological warfare: resource-intensive R&D
facilities; large-scale production plants; tactical or strategic delivery de-
vices such as spray tanks, bombs, and other munitions; and inclusion in
military doctrine. The second form, sabotage, utilizes the innate charac-
teristics of the agents (such as infectivity) to initiate outbreaks of disease
from limited-point sources of dissemination, using the most rudimentary
of technology. This form of antianimal BW development appears to have
received a much higher profile than similar efforts in antipersonnel and
antiplant weaponry. Such an approach does not require the dedication
of resources associated with the military approach and appears to be
within the capabilities of every country in the world. The history of such
an approach can be traced back to the origins of modern biological war-
fare and the German antianimal program of World War I. 26 Although few
details of similar programs carried out after 1945 have survived, there are
numerous connections between references to antianimal activities and
those concerning sabotage operations in the archives of the Tripartite
countries.
Motivations to Pursue Antianimal Activities
It is unclear what factors influenced the routes that individual nations
opted to pursue, but the history does provide some indications of the mo-
tivations that prompted them to pursue this form of warfare. Irrespective
of the type of antianimal program employed, three envisioned effects ap-
pear to have prompted nations to pursue this form of warfare.
The early programs of World War I utilized animal diseases for tactical
purposes: they attempted to initiate disease outbreaks among animals
destined for military use (mainly transport and logistics). Although much
of the military capability of the developed world is now mechanized, the
same cannot be said of the developing world. As recently as the closing
years of the 20th century, horses and mules were used to transport mili-
tary hardware in the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan. In
many areas of the world, antianimal biological warfare retains a tactical
utility.
There are indications, such as those from Project Vegetarian, that anti-