Worldwide, there is an evident danger for the use of biological hazardous agents as weapons of mass destruction. The potential spectrum of bioterrorism ranges from hoaxes to classic biological warfare agents, which can produce mass casualties. Therefore, the reliable and fast identification of bacteria and spores as well as “white powders” is a challenging task. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry fing...

The use of export controls to regulate the supply of major conventional arms systems and materials associated with weapons of mass destruction (WMD) has long been a central component of nonproliferation efforts. But how well are US and multilateral efforts to control the export of advanced weaponry and sensitive dual-use technologies working? Iraq’s ability to purchase key components for its WM...

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Louis Freeh has called the terrorist acquisition of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) “perhaps the most serious potential threat facing the United States today.” The US government has spent billions of dollars in an effort to counter the perceived danger. Public interest in, and fear of, the phenomenon have led to extensive discussion within the me...

T terrorist attacks of September 11 2001 concentrated minds on the potential of terrorism with weapons of mass destruction (WMD), combining a timeless tactic with the most destructive weaponry. Th e margins of international tolerance of non-compliance with the WMD nonproliferation and disarmament norms and obligations narrowed dramatically after that date. Affi rming WMD proliferation as a thre...

regime? What about the Iran-Iraq nuclear entanglement? Can both issues be dealt with under a regional arrangement? Can new global approaches be reconciled with a regional approach in the Middle East? This article attempts to identify and explore some of these issues, examining the Middle Eastern nuclear situation in light of the experience of Iraq, North Korea, South Africa, and Latin America. ...

There is almost no international scientific, expert, political or economical meeting in which new threats of world and national security are not discussed. For all that, the threat posed by terrorism is of special concern and receives special attention, particularly when we talk about terrorism with radiological, chemical and biological warfare agents and weapons. After 11 September 2001, when ...