At least 66 people died in this, the worst confirmed germ warfare incident. This virulent strain, Alibek notes, was itself a genetic mutant derived from sewer rats that contracted anthrax from a spill. Friedlander and others in the military have no convincing counter-argument, however, to the suggestion that U.S. enemies could easily use another germ agent. Not a hugely reassuring statement. In the current constellation of global power, it is hard to imagine any state that would be foolish enough to fire germ-filled shells against American soldiers, since retaliation would certainly be massive.
Terrorist attacks seem more likely, against troops or civilians.
The FBI, one well-placed source told me, already knows of at least 12 terrorist groups that have tried to procure killer germs. But you can't inoculate the entire population against all of these organisms. But while growing knowledge of the immune system makes the future of such compounds more plausible, they don't exist now. Vaccines are not the answer. Arthur Allen writes on health, science and other issues for the Washington Post Magazine, the New Republic and Redbook.