Air force tackles threat analysis.

• Author: Fein, Geoff S.
• Position: Security Beat - Brief Article

The United States is better prepared to deal with a radiological or chemical attack than a biological event, said Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Smolen, director of nuclear and counter-proliferation for the office of the deputy chief of staff for air and space operations.

He likened a biological attack to something out of science fiction.

"A biological attack is tough to characterize," he told the gathering of defense industry and military representatives on Capitol Hill. "We are just beginning to look at how we'd manage under circumstances like that."

The scope of XON (director of nuclear operations) has changed, he said. "[We are] looking at a whole spectrum of what is counter chemical-biological-radiological and nuclear."

For example, XON will...