a
•
..
<I
•
I
•
I
Preparing for possibilities by Michael A Kazanjian
are now, for the first time, full of suspicions re- If your filter blocks anthrax but we're hit with garding their safety. From that day on, the na- plague, the mask means nothing," Farrell said. tion has been collectively asking, "What will Some of the chemicals can also be absorbed The threat of chemical and biological war- happen next?" through skin and eyes. fare has been hanging over the nation's head The fear, however, that is consuming people Historically, the United States has never had since tragedy struck on Sept. 11. The attack on is unknown. Is chemical or biological warfare a to deal with bio-terrorism. Terrorists have been the World Trade Center and Pentagon has realistic threat and if so, are we prepared? In the and are, experimenting with both chemical and heightened America's sense of fear. Americans days following the attack army/navy stores biological warfare. Outside of bin Laden's weren't able to keep gas training grounds in Jalalabad, several small anmasks on the shelves. imals have been found dead due to lethal poiThe sales of the antibiot- soning as reported in the Oct. 8 issue of ic Cipro, a drug that can Newsweek. Internationally in 1995, sarin, a be used to help reverse nerve gas developed during World War II, was the effects of anthrax, released in a Tokyo subway station. The attack, have skyrocketed. The lead by cult leader Aum Shinrikyo, killed 12 gas masks, however, will people. prove to be "Practically But the threat of biological or chemical waruseless in the event of a fare is unclear. Dr. Jolyon Girard, professor of chemical or biological history and political science, said, "If one has attack," according to De- access to the materials then it is a conceivable tective Thomas Farrell, approach." If terrorists like bin Laden decided Suffolk County, Long Is- to go forth with these types of attacks they must land Arson Investigator. be aware of the consequences. 'The reprisal of "Every known chemical the United States could be nuclear," Girard said. photo by Justine DiFilippo fil Unlike biological elements, chemical elements are much easier to ob- needs a separate ter to "It's a very dangerous way to engage in war." tain. be placed in the gasmask. -continued on page 3 editor in chief
by Beth Conahan news editor
After weeks of silence, America strikes back
On Sunday, Oct. 7, America fought back. The initial strike began on Sunday afternoon. While Tomahawk cruise missiles and bombs found targets in Afghanistan, Bush addressed the country. "We will not waver, we will not tire," the president said. "We will not falter and we will not fail." Bush approved the strike on Saturday, less than four weeks after the terrorist attacks that dropped hijacked planes from the skies over U.S. soil on Sept. 11. Two to three dozen sites were targeted in Sunday's attack, including terrorist training camps, military airfields, military
aircraft, air defense radars and surface-to-air missile sites. Although the Taliban claims he survived the attack. smoke could be seen billowing from the Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar's compound. Afghan sources in Pakistan also told the Associated Press that the attack successfully damaged the Taliban military headquarters and destroyed a radar installation and control tower at the airport in Kandahar, a city in southern Afghan. Almost immediately after the first of the blasts, the city of Kabul lost power and was sent into darkness.
\\'hat's up on Campus?
tbut---
11
-l•, .
I
t
•Semester Midpoint -Comedian Tommy Blaze, 8 p.m., Grace Hall Atrium
,,,,-,,-.theloquitur.com !Tl l) n
•I •'
12
-continued on page 3
13
14 •Mass, 7 p.m., Brockmann Chapel of St. Joseph
15
16 •Career Connections Workshop, 12:15-1:15 p.m., Grace Hall, Room 160
17 •Scary movie night, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Leeturc Hall