Editorial: Fear not answer to bioterror

Friday, Oct. 5, 2001 | 4:31 a.m.

The threat of bioterrorism has received a great deal of attention following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Bioterrorism experts have said that the federal government has done a better job in recent years preparing for, and fending off, these attacks, but at the same time more needs to be done to adequately meet this danger.

Of course, some residents of our city may be even more jittery about bioterrorism because some analysts have suggested that Las Vegas, with its "Sin City" reputation, could represent a symbol of decadence for Islamic extremists. It also didn't quell nerves to find out that several of the hijackers met in Las Vegas shortly before the attack. No one has suggested that they were targeting Las Vegas, and they very well could have used the large tourist city as a place to easily blend in while they plotted their East Coast hijackings, but to know that they visited here still leaves people edgy.

But Las Vegans should not panic about any concerns they have regarding terrorism, including those posed by bioterrorism. As Steve Kanigher reports in today's Sun, the bioterrorism threat in Las Vegas is no greater here than it is anywhere else in the nation. It also should be noted that it is incredibly difficult to pull off a bioterrorism attack because it is so hard to obtain and then successfully spread these dangerous pathogens and chemicals. The federal government should improve its readiness and aid the preparation of local health officials for a bioterrorism attack, but no evidence has been offered so far to suggest that the public should be alarmed.

During the Cold War, the people of this nation had to deal with another threat: nuclear war. In that period of history, lasting about four decades, Americans had to learn to live with the possibility of nuclear annihilation. Fortunately, the Cold War is over, but terrorism could take its place in our national psyche. The randomness and horror of terrorism naturally create anxiety; many Americans still are having a tough time coping with the Sept. 11 attacks. But the reality is that our nation has faced threats that are much more dangerous. The key for Americans is to not let fear overwhelm us as we go about fighting the war against terrorism.