Terrorism Against Environmental Targets, Essay Example

In Peter Chalk’s testimony, it is stated that much has been done around the world, specifically in the United States, to assess, protect and counter against potential terrorist threats against infrastructure. However, as Chalk addresses, environmental and aggroterrorism areas has received very little attention (2001, p. 2). He says that threats of disease to food chain and livestock should be examined further and assessed in order to provide adequate protection, as an attack at this scale will have critical effect on the “social, economic and political stability of the US” (2001, p. 2). Because of these threats, it is essential that vulnerable targets be assessed and determined how to effectively combat and prevent if any issues were to arise. In the following, the major threats to environmental and agricultural resources will be discussed. Also, these specific items will examined—the most vulnerable environmental target, the means and methods in which attacks might be possible on this target, and how those vulnerabilities and attacks can be mitigated.

As Chalk discusses, the most vulnerable threats in the US and around the world are aimed at our food sources. It is evident that if a large scale attack on food sources were to take place, significant losses would take place in all aspects of how we live our lives. The targets that pose the largest threat are farm animal and potential of livestock to catch widespread infectious disease, the lax and insufficient safety measures for food processing and the increased production of genetically modified commodities (Chalk, 2001, pp. 3-5). All of these, as Chalk says, leave the US food industry open for easy target in case of a terrorist threat (p. 5).

Out of these major targets, the possibility of widespread disease in livestock pose a particularly high level threat to the US population, as it would not only contaminate a large portion of our food source, but also spread disease to the population. Agriculture and farms pose particular threats due to their unsecured locations and large land holds (Monke, 2007). Livestock are also held in concentrated areas where they are easily able to pass long disease to one another, and they are often transported with other animals therefore co-mingling will further spread disease (Monke., 2007).  Chalk provides further details on this by listing the major economic factors that would arise out of an attack on this scale. He says that the major losses would not only be the reduction of complete loss of livestock, but also the effect of compensation to farmers and businesses that are directly effected, and the international costs of trade embargos that would be placed on US products as a result (2001, p. 6).

Attacks on livestock and farms, as Chalk suggests, can be implemented due to several weaknesses that exist in the agricultural industry in the US. These include a lack of resources in the actual response and mitigation if an attack were to occur, insufficient personnel with the training and ability to deal with an attack at this scale, insufficient pool of professionals in the veterinary sciences, an ineffective emergency management programs, inadequate cross-over and coordination from agricultural and domestic forensics, insufficient food surveillance and inspections, and inadequate ability to deal with food-borne illness and disease (Chalk, 2001, pp. 9-10). Out of these factors that lead to security weaknesses in the agricultural infrastructure, attacks on livestock are especially vulnerable to the lack of professionals in the veterinary sciences, lack of trained professionals to deal with such a large scale attack, and the inability to deal with widespread food-borne illness. These factors would directly contribute to the economic and social upheaval if an attack such as this were to occur.

As for measures to take in order to mitigate an attack on livestock resources, farms and agricultural businesses, Chalk suggests more investment should be made in the infrastructure, which include diagnostician training, response and emergency preparedness and facilities capable of supporting proper and high-level research into animal diseases (2001, p. 10). Along with this, he suggests the veterinary science curriculum should have a greater emphasis on animal husbandry and exotic disease treatment and the local and state veterinarian accreditation process should be included in the USDA’s emergency management system (2001, p. 10). Also suggested is an insurance program meant to compensate losses for farmers and business owners in case of attack, in which will also motivate farm owners to report and investigate abnormalities or indicators of disease (Chalk, 2001, p. 10). These are all essential in the protection and preparedness for farmers and livestock health.

Because of the immediate and major effects brought about by biological agroterrorism, it is essential to assess and mitigate the factors that could lead to devastating acts of terrorism. These effects include economic loss and destabilization, social upheaval and widespread panic, and eventual lack of confidence and faith in the government (Chalk, 2001, pp. 6-7).  In order to maintain a stable and protected society, these factors must be considered and measures must be implemented.

References

Chalk, P. (2001, October 10). Terrorism, Infrastructure Protection, and the U.S. Food and Agricultural Sector. Retrieved September 20, 2015, from http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a399957.pdf

Monke, J. (2007, March 12). Agroterrorism: Threats and Preparedness. Retrieved September 20, 2015, from http://www.congressionalresearch.com/RL32521/document.php? study=Agroterrorism Threats and Preparedness