Governors Conduct Biological Attack Exercise

U.S. governors yesterday participated in a “tabletop” bioterrorist attack simulation conducted by the U.S. Homeland Security Department, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Dec. 1, 2003).

The simulation involved anthrax brought to the United States by al-Qaeda through ports and spread by crop-duster airplanes, according to one person who attended the closed-door session in Seattle led by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

The governors were faced with a scenario of simultaneous attacks in cities in several states and then discussed responses.

“This is just a little taste,” said Governor Janet Napolitano (D-Ariz.). “If they’re well run, I’ve always found them to be very helpful,” she added.

Governors attending their annual association meeting said they appreciated the overall effort by Ridge to distribute antiterrorism resources to states, according to the Associated Press.

“Can we prevent all possibilities? Absolutely not,” said Governor Ed Rendell (D-Pa.). “But we’ve been able to get a lot of the money we need,” he added (Robert Tanner, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, July 20).

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