U.S. military unprepared for chemical & biological attacks

A disturbing report by the General Accounting Office raises the question of just what on earth the Bush administration has been doing in the more than five years since 9/11. Clearly, they have not been training and outfitting the military in anticipation of chemical or biological terrorist attacks on the United States.

The report, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE: Management Actions Are Needed to Close the Gap between Army Chemical Unit Preparedness and Stated National Priorities, finds numerous vulnerabilities in our military's ability to respond to such an attack.

Among the key findings:

Most Army Chemical Companies Are Inadequately Staffed, Equipped, and Trained to Perform Their Missions

The vast majority of the Army’s chemical companies, particularly in the National Guard and Reserve, are currently reporting readiness levels so low that their ability to perform their mission is in doubt. Our analysis of Army active duty, National Guard, and Reserve chemical unit readiness and personnel data determined that most of these units’ readiness is currently being affected by severe personnel shortages, especially in key chemical occupational specialties. They are also experiencing key equipment shortages, and both these factors are adversely affecting chemical unit training. Under these conditions it is questionable whether most of these units would be able to respond effectively to significant wartime or terrorist CBRNE events, and the Army appears to lack a specific plan for remedying this condition.

Army Chemical Company Readiness Is Low

As of March 2006, most of the Army’s chemical companies, particularly in the National Guard and Reserve, were reporting the two lowest states of readiness measured by the Army’s Unit Status Reporting System.10 In fact, the overall readiness of the Army’s chemical companies began to decline precipitously from already low levels in early 2004. According to Army officials, this decline in readiness was primarily attributable to the transfer of resources from chemical units to other types of units deploying to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Army chemical companies reporting the lowest level of readiness doubled from March 2000 to March 2006. Specific details on the readiness ratings and readiness trends of the Army’s chemical companies are included in the classified version of this report.

Personnel Shortages Are Driving Chemical Companies’ Low Readiness Rates

Severe personnel shortages created primarily by the transfer of chemical unit personnel to other types of units deploying in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom are the primary reason why Army chemical companies, particularly in the National Guard and Reserve, are reporting low readiness levels. Long-standing shortages in key occupational specialties are now becoming worse and further exacerbating chemical company personnel shortages.

Even as the Bush administration ramps up its rhetoric, insisting that democratic debate over Iraq policy makes us more vulnerable to attack, it has not taken the basic steps necessary to ensure we can respond to such an attack. President Bush has failed to demonstrate that "War on Terror" is anything more than a political slogan. If there truly is a "War on Terror," it is one that Bush is losing. In fact, it is one that he has not even bothered to fight, preferring to pursue grand and foolish schemes of world transformation.

Add this to the list of items over which congress can and must exercise oversight. The American people need and deserve no less.