Global Spread of Weapons
Terrorism Remains a Very Real Fear 
 
Country:
Chemical
threat:
Biological
threat:
Source: U.S. Dept. of Defense. Compiled by Eric Pelz, ABCNEWS.com
ABCNEWS.com
Despite world treaties against chemical and biological weapons, nations around the world continue to develop and produce them. And even though the number of terrorist attacks have declined in recent years, the number of people murdered in them has increased.
President
Under the rule of Saddam Hussein, Iraq may now have more than enough biochemical agents to kill every human several times over, according to UN inspectors. (AP Photo) 

     These two trends lead authorities to believe that terrorists will be more inclined to use biochemical weapons in the future. Not only are weapons more accessible than ever before, they say, but they also suit the needs of a new breed of terrorist seeking greater mass destruction.
     “The front lines are no longer overseas,” warned Defense Secretary William Cohen recently when he released a report, Proliferation: Threat and Response 1997, which chronicles the spread of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons among rogue nations. “It can just as well be in any American city.” 

In October 1997, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright designated 30 foreign organizations as terrorist groups.
    Select an organization from the list below for details:

Source: U.S. State Dept. Compiled by Eric Pelz, ABCNEWS.com

Terrorist Groups Banned in U.S.
     Secretary of State Madeleine Albright designated 30 foreign organizations as terrorist groups. In doing this, Albright froze all financial assets in the United States for these groups, denied U.S. visas for their members, and served notice that Americans who give these groups money or weapons could face a 10-year prison term.
     “Terrorism is not a self-sustaining enterprise,” said Albright in announcing the initiative in October 1997. “It needs money and supplies to succeed.”
     This list consists of 12 organizations from a 1995 list made up exclusively of organizations accused of trying to derail the Arab-Israeli peace process, and 18 organizations involved in terrorism in other areas of the world. 
     Noticeably left off the list is the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Although the IRA has a well-documented history of terrorism, the State Department said the organization was left off the list because it declared a cease-fire on July 19, 1997. 

IN THIS SERIES

Terrorists Find New Tools of Fear
Anti-Terrorism Budget
Willing to Kill for the Sake of Killing
Many Nations Developing Bioweapons
Types of Chemical Weapons
Mass Destruction Through Biology
Recent Domestic Terrorist Events
Simulation of Terrorist Acts