Dealing With the Possibility of Bioterror

In “Terrorists’ Use of Hazardous Materials Seen” (Sept. 25) John Conley of National Tank Truck Carriers states, “Security measures in the industry have focused much more on keeping hazardous material inside the trucks, rather than keeping terrorists out.”

We now know that these terrorists have been in this country for several years as moles. They are ready to strike our schools, shopping centers, commercial buildings, entertainment centers. If terrorists are in position, then they are “in the trucks” already.

While the potential weapons should be scrutinized, we must start looking to find the individuals who are planning for future attacks on us. This has been Israel’s policy for years; we should learn from it.

Jean and Truls Ovrum

Santa Monica

Re “Getting Ahead of Bioterror,” editorial, Sept. 24: With each passing day we discover something new. Technology is always changing, becoming more advanced. Sadly, this technology can now be used against us in the form of biochemical warfare. Is it real? Can it really happen? Or is it just a crazy rumor, causing us to frantically spend thousands of dollars on masks and suits? Whatever the case may be, like it or not, this is now a factor that our government--and we the people choose our government--must deal with.

Juan Rodriguez

Los Angeles

Your editorial could leave the impression that the Japanese used infectious agents to kill a handful of prisoners during World War II. In fact, the Japanese slaughtered between 10,000 and 12,000 prisoners while conducting biowarfare experiments in their death factories in China and other occupied territories. They killed at least 250,000 men, women and children in field tests during the war. The plague germs they unleashed at the time still haunt China today. Periodic epidemics of plague erupt in those parts of China once subjected to plague field tests.

As for Sverdlovsk, the low-ball figure of 100 people killed by the anthrax disaster is a cover-up number issued by the then-Soviet government. The true figure was much higher.

Sheldon H. Harris

History Professor Emeritus

Cal State Northridge