Determining the Threat: Biological Weapons and National Security Interests
Jeanne Guillemin, Boston College
October 2, 2008 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm, LBJ Library Brown Room, 10th Floor
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Dr. Eugene Gholz introduced Jeanne Guillemin, MIT Security Studies Program, an accomplished academic in the field of biological weaponry, as part of this fall’s International Security Speaker Series. Guillemin discussed the history of various nations’ perceptions of biological weapons programs. After describing U.S. policy towards the use of bio-weapons throughout the mid-twentieth century, Guillemin provided visual depictions of biological weapons facilities in the United States and Japan. She introduced evidence relating to Japan’s use of biological warfare against the Chinese during World War II, suggesting that the Japanese had used air-drops of wheat, rice, and fleas to infect the Chinese population with various diseases.
Turning next to her work investigating Soviet experimentation with anthrax, Guillemin described how, in 1992, she and Russian scientists conducted extensive research and interviews to pinpoint the cause of the mysterious deaths of several people in Russia in 1979. Tracing wind patterns and relying on information supplied by Russian farmers, Guillemin was able to definitively establish that the Soviet Union had indeed been experimenting with anthrax.
Addressing recent uses of biological weapons in Iraq, Japan, and the United States, Guillemin discussed the role of policy regarding the use of biological weapons and the role of biological weapons in determining policy. Guillemin then provided some options regarding our current and future bio-defense policies, suggesting that a larger measure of transparency and oversight would help to establish a more responsible bio-defense policy.
Guillemin then fielded questions from the audience, discussing some of the possible dangers that could result from an over-anxious response to the threat of a biological attack. She concluded the lecture by discussing the current state of bio-defense policy.
Strauss Center Senior Fellow Dr. Eugene Gholz introduced Guillemin, citing her extensive experience
researching biological weapons and bioterrorism.
Guillemin presented statistics on biological weapons usage.
Jeanne Guillemin.
After her presentation, Guillemin took questions from the audience.
An attentive audience in the LBJ Library Brown Room.
In addition to her post at Boston College, Professor Guillemin is a Senior Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Security Studies Program. She has spoken and written extensively on biological weapons controversies and bioterrorism. Her latest book is Biological Weapons: From the Invention of State-Sponsored Programs to Contemporary Bioterrorism (Columbia University Press, 2004). Professor Guillemin’s research was recently featured in the PBS American Experience documentary, “The Living Weapon.”
This presentation was part of the Strauss Center’s International Security Speaker Series, which features leading scholars and policy practitioners discussing challenges and solutions for meeting the security demands of the modern world.
The Strauss Center is nonpartisan and takes no institutional position on any issue. All statements of fact and all expressions of opinion at Center events are the sole responsibility of the speaker.
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