Former Senators Graham And Talent Present Interim Report Of WMD Commission

PR Log (Press Release) – Oct 30, 2009 – The George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) and The Elliott School of International Affairs welcomed former Senators Bob Graham and Jim Talent, the Chair and Vice Chair of the bipartisan Commission for the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, to present their interim report on government efforts to safeguard against the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).  Douglas B. Shaw, Associate Dean for Planning, Research, and External Relations at the Elliott School and assistant professor of international affairs, opened the event.  Frank Cilluffo, HSPI’s Director, moderated the discussion.

Senator Graham called the interim report “a wake-up call for Congress and the Administration.”  He stressed that, “in spite of all we have done since 9/11, the United States is today more vulnerable to a weapon of mass destruction that we were in 2001.”  In turn, Senator Talent reinforced that “these threats are real. …The difficult part is maintaining focus.  No one wants to see a WMD event, but you have to keep the issue out there and get these issues built into decision-making processes.”  Graham and Talent cited the conclusion of the Commission’s 2008 report, World at Risk:  “Unless the world community acts decisively and with great urgency, it is more likely than not that a weapon of mass destruction will be used in a terrorist attack somewhere in the world by the end of 2013.” The assessment also said that the threat of biological attack is more likely than nuclear.   When asked about the U.S. level of preparedness for a biological event, they noted the importance of the full spectrum of elements that provide protection and response capability, including laboratory security, pathogen detection, and the stockpiling and distribution of antidotes.

During the question-and-answer session, Mr. Cilluffo asked, “What are the tangible outcomes that you would like to see come out of this Congress and this Administration?” Graham and Talent replied that the President should task someone with the necessary clout and gravitas, such as the Vice President, to maintain focus upon and oversee WMD issues.  In addition, congressional oversight must be streamlined.  When asked by Carie Lemack of the organization Families of September 11, how this could be done, Graham and Talent said congressional leaders should move to eliminate legacy jurisdictions and reduce the complexity of the current system in which more than eighty committees exercise some form of control.

Senators Graham and Talent also mentioned an upcoming project, www.FasterVaccines.org, which also focuses on biopreparedeness.  

See HSPI’s event page for video as well as other resources for this event: http://www.gwumc.edu/hspi/events/WMDPRFresource.cfm