Description: The armaments of chemical and biological warfare (CBW) are now widely held not just by nation-states, but by terrorist and criminal enterprises. The weapons themselves are relatively inexpensive and very easy to hide, and organizations of just a few dozen people are capable of deploying potentially devastating attacks with them. CBW will require just as much attention in the twenty-first century as was paid to nuclear weapons in the twentieth. This Primer reviews the history of CBW, describes defenses against currently known biological and chemical agents, considers the incentives and disincentives facing nations that either develop CBW armaments or tolerate their development, and reflects on the prospects for control and disarmament. For the reader who wants solid and level-headed information on the current state of CBW affairs and the likelihood of uncontrolled proliferation, this book is required reading.

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