Terrorism and the use of bioweapons in the US and elsewhere

In 2001, two-thirds of the way into the first draft of Chimera, I had just finished revising the chapter on the psychopathology of terrorists and events surrounding Oklahoma when I decided to take a break for the evening to watch West Wing.  Then a friend, who at that time worked in the FBI in Washington DC, called me with some references to research papers on serial killers. He abruptly cut the conversation short. When I asked what was wrong, he told me to turn on CNN. Like the rest of the world, I stood in shock as the second aircraft hit the twin towers.

I was unable to continue writing Chimera until some years later. For those of you who eventually read it, I believe the reasons will become self evident. I have made few changes to the original story.

Chimera organisms and BW

Major Broadwater's initial briefing is largely true, including the tests undertaken on the unwitting American public. The test on San Francisco - and the deaths that followed - the Russian general's sale of BW material to Iraq, and the successful insertion of Ebola genes into smallpox are all fact. The only inaccuracy in this entire briefing is the date the chimera virus was created. To the best of my knowledge it was not successful until 1997.

Much of this information comes directly from the ex-head of Russia's BW program, Kan Alibekov (Ken Alibek) via his many interviews and publications. Other material elsewhere in the novel has come from Richard Butler, again, through multiple publications. A Google search on both men, or trip to the library will reveal a surprising amount. Also refer to books and publications by Laurie Garret (including The Coming Plague and Betrayal of Trust). The manner of dispersal used in Chimera was exactly as used in several US tests. Indeed, the only fictional content in the book is the overall plot.

Other References:

• Classified 1995 Wargame 'Global '95'
• Toxic Terror: Assessing Terrorist Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons. Jonathan B. Tucker, Editor. MIT Press. Appendix: Psychological and Motivational Factors in Terrorist Decision Making
• Plague Wars: Tom Mangold. Note, the entire book can be downloaded from the publisher in PDF format. Excellent bedtime reading -- if you're not prone to nightmares.
• Zimbabwe - what really happened with anthrax -- fact is uglier than fiction http://www.anthraxvaccine.org/zimbabwe.html

Terrorism 1995-2001

In 1998, after Osama bin Laden bombed US embassies, Washington declared a 'war against terror'. Bin Laden has long declared his intended use of weapons of mass destruction against the US, and he was connected to first bombing of the WTC. 9-11 came as no surprise to anyone in the Intelligence community. Indeed, the Hart-Rudman Commission, (formally The U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century), was created by President Clinton in 1998 to evaluate post Cold War changes in national security threats and organization. The co-chairmen, former senators Gary Hart (D. Colorado) and Warren Rudman (R. New Hampshire) submitted the final copy, titled, "Road Map for National Security: Imperative for Change."(US$30. It was available from most US government web sites; no longer) to George W. Bush on March 15, 2001. The report predicted a 9-11 scenario within twenty five years. Bush promptly dismissed it as fantasy.