Washington, Oct 08: The US Defence Department is selling at bargain price via the internet surplus equipment that could be used to manufacture biological weapons, the investigative arm of the US Congress said in a report.
Moreover, the general accounting office warned in the report released yesterday that some of these materials could have been exported to countries barred by Washington from obtaining such products.
"Although production of biological warfare agents
requires a high degree of expertise, public sales of these
DoD (Department of Defence) excess items increase the risk
that terrorists could obtain and use them to produce and
deliver biological agents within the US," the report said.
Gao also urged the federal government to evaluate
the risk posed to national security by sales of surplus
laboratory equipment and biological protective suits.
It insisted Pentagon officials had not always
followed the department policy restricting use of biological
protective suits and other gear to defence personnel only.
During its investigation, the Gao used a front
company to acquire 4,100 dollars worth of new and used
biological materials, including driers, centrifuges,
incubators and protective suits.
The Pentagon paid 46,960 dollars when it bought that
same equipment, according to the report.
In addition, investigators tried to trace the
equipment after its sale and found out that several of the
items had been re-sold to countries like The Philippines, Egypt and The United Arab Emirates.
Bureau Report
