But even if Saddam Hussein wants to take over the world by raining anthrax spores down on invading armies or nearby nations, he's going to have a tough time of it. It has to be in tiny droplets in order to float for miles, and you have to make sure the wind currents are right and all that. Iraq Could Kill the World Inspection teams had already discovered that Iraq produced 8,000 liters of anthrax spores in the 1980s, an amount believed capable of killing every man, woman and child in the world. Anthrax, an infectious disease that normally afflicts animals, especially cattle and sheep, is considered the most lethal biological agent by the U.S. government. The incubation period may take up to seven days, but ordinarily the disease sets in after 48 hours.
Anthrax spores are stable and remain viable in water and soil for years.
Of greater importance to the Pentagon, anthrax easily can be made into a dry powder form and then stored as a weapon for long periods. Inhaling even microscopic amounts can be fatal. The inoculation provides effective protection. An estimated two dozen countries are believed to have the capability to use anthrax in weapons. While inoculations for people in uniform are mandatory, there will be exemptions for some, such as pregnant women, for whom the anthrax inoculation could be dangerous.