Living Weapons: Biological Warfare and International Security (Cornell Studies in Security Affairs)
"Koblentz provides an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of biological weapons as a strategic problem that should become the standard text in the field. . . . The book draws lessons about intelligence, verification, and oversight, and also about what strategic value the offending countries sought to extract by pursuing such weapons. . . . Through a careful examination of actual cases, Koblentz has done his best to get the true measure of the bioterrorist threat."—Foreign Affairs(January/February 2010)"Living Weaponsis a succinct, highly readable analysis of the unique challenges presented by biological weapons. Koblentz provides an excellent summary of the historic utilities and disutilities posed by biological weapons to international actors and the potential erosion of constraints on their future use. Highly recommended."—Choice"Koblentz thoroughly addresses the wide range of challenges that biological weapons pose to countries in the 21st century. . . . He explores these issues by weaving together historical information on Iraqi, Russian, South African, and Soviet biological weapons programs with analysis of the scientific and security challenges biological weapons present . . . [and] he recommends several possible ways for countries to decrease, unilaterally and multilaterally, the threat posed by biological weapons."—Arms Control Today(November 2009)"A readable, succinct, yet through review of the myriad issues surrounding biodefense from a policy perspective. . . . More importantly,Living Weaponsprovides a disturbing yet refreshing look at the myriad obstacles confronting those who would play a role—whether political, diplomatic, or scientific—in attempting to rein in the use of biology in war and terror."—Emerging Infectious Diseases(October 2010)"Living Weaponspromises to stimulate attention and provoke thought on a very important topic. Gregory D. Koblentz writes clearly about the problems posed by biological weapons and provides particularly good summary accounts of the Soviet, Iraqi, and South African offensive programs."—John D. Steinbruner, University of Maryland, author ofThe Cybernetic Theory of Decision"Gregory D. Koblentz's comprehensive and insightful study explores the unique dilemmas that biological weapons pose for defense, intelligence, arms control, and global governance. Filled with information and analysis, the book is a valuable resource for both scholars and policymakers."—Jonathan B. Tucker, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies"Living Weaponspresents a careful, authoritative analysis of a national security problem of great consequence that is often distorted by apocalyptic scenarios and ignorance of scientific complexities. With great clarity, Gregory D. Koblentz has moved the political discussion forward in an important and substantive direction that deserves a wide audience."—Jeanne Guillemin, author ofBiological Weapons: From State-sponsored Programs to Contemporary Bioterrorism