A nightmare scenario

Reports that Mohammed Atta made inquiries about hiring a crop- duster plane have fueled intense speculation about a terrorist attack involving biological or chemical weapons. Suddenly, nightmare scenarios of mass loss of life have leapt from cinema screen and novel into the news.

The unpalatable truth is that the scientific expertise required to create many biological, chemical or nuclear weapons is available in libraries or on the Net. Most of them do not require materials that are difficult to obtain or particularly sophisticated laboratories.

The task of government lies in surveillance and detection -- that may mean new state powers to monitor suppliers of dangerous substances, scientists and laboratories.

-- The Guardian, London