Instructions:
There are a total of 15 questions, requiring a short essay to answer each question. You must answer 10 of the 15 questions provided below. Each question is worth 10 points, for a total of 100 points. Please read each question thoroughly before answering. Restate the question before providing your answer. Each question can be answered in 2-3 well-formed paragraphs that should not exceed 1 page in length. Use of APA citations is required when necessary to indicate the source of your answer. Include a references list beginning on a new page at the end of your mid-term submission.
1) Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) are identified as one of the single greatest threats to our nation in the National Security Strategy. Define the term WMD and discuss which Federal organization is identified as the response lead to WMD incidents.
2) List the different types of Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA) known today and discuss their performance characteristics.
3) Define the term Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and discuss how this differs from a nuclear detonation device.
4) Which biological threat agent involves spores and describe how victims are exposed to this biological threat agent.
5) Define the term Interagency and briefly discuss it within the context of response to WMD incidents. 6) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the National Decontamination Team available to respond to incidents involving WMD. Briefly describe the roles and functions of this organization and provide some recent examples of when the team was activated and utilized.
7) Briefly describe and contrast the basic differences between Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA) and Toxic Industrial Chemicals/Toxic Industrial Materials (TIC/TIMs).
8) Ricin is a biological toxin produced from castor beans. Describe the effects this biological weapon can produce and attribute the presence of this WMD threat to a known terror organization. Comment on the potential for casualties if the terror organization were to deploy Ricin on the local population. 9) Is the release of chlorine gas considered a Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA) or a Toxic Industrial Chemical (TIC); choose a position and defend your answer. How persistent is the presence of this WMD threat agent and briefly describe likely ways to protect against it.
10) In detection science and technology, the possibility of “false-positive” alarms is a concern that must be considered when developing a response effort. Define the term “false positive” as it relates to detection science and technology efforts for biological threat agents and provide examples in your answer that support the use of this term.
11) When screening cargo containers at major ports of entry into the United States, the utilization of radiation detection capabilities are employed to identify the presence of radiological materials that may constitute a “dirty bomb” or “improvised nuclear device”. Define these WMD threats and briefly describe how current radiation detection technologies can be thwarted.
12) Define the term “polymerase chain reaction” (PCR) as it is used in the detection of biological warfare agents. Briefly describe how this is used in detection science and technologies for the identification of biological warfare agents.
13) Define the role of the National Joint Terrorism Task Force (NJTTF) and briefly describe the contributions of at least 4 other agencies who provide personnel, resources, and other assets in support of their efforts.
14) Phosphates are sometimes used in the development and detonation of high-yield explosives. Briefly describe how these materials are used with other substances to produce tremendous explosive effects.
15) Epidemiological and bio-surveillance are evolving methods in the early detection of biological incidents affecting the general population. Describe the use of these methods by public health organizations and provide 2 recent examples of how these methods were used to identify persons affected.
Sample Solution
