Biological warfare has been with us for some time now. Plague victims catapaulted over city fortifications, smallpox infected blankets,and, in the more recent wars of the twentieth century, mustard gas and now depleted uranium(yes that's biological warfare)are but a few examples from history.
The recent incidents of anthrax contamination could be just the beginning of a new wave of such incidious infections.
My concern is the possibility that contaminated "greenbacks" will at some time in the future be used.
A dormant infectious agent,sprayed, or in some way "fixed" on to the surface of banknotes and activated by the sweat on our hands is one possible form of biological warfare we must all be made aware of. It's only a matter of time before someone with the means and know-how tries it.
I am not suggesting for one minute that it's out there now. I have no way of knowing until people start dying, but of course then it will be too late,the infected money will already be in circulation. What I am saying is that we should all be made aware of the possibility.
With the launch of the "euro" on the first of january 2002, the criminal fraternity were once again in action. Counterfeit notes are already turning up in circulation, altough they are crude at present.I am sure that the ignorance of the populace will ensure that a "profit" is made, but here is a perfect example of how this kind of attack on any country's economy could so easily bring that country to its knees.
Greed is endemic in our societies, Hollywood has even promoted it,("greed is good" I hear Redford say). People,it seems,cannot get enough of the stuff. They lie,steal and even murder for it. A better carrier,in my view,does not exist.
Would any government, discovering that,indeed,some terrorist or "enemy of the state" had put into circulation millions of banknotes infected with a virus that is easily transmitable,inform its populace? I think not.The
government would immediately start an innoculation programme(if it was available) and call it "preventative measures" to try and counter its effect, without letting on to anyone the real reason why.
There may be some of you out there thinking "why is this person putting this idea into peoples' heads, surely someone will pick up on the notion and 'run with it',surely it's best to say nothing?" something on the lines of "keep quiet about it and it will not happen".
That is superstitious thinking. If I can think of it, so can someone else.The way world events are shaping,it's just a matter of time.
I think we should all be made aware of the possibility, before it happens,and not bury our heads in the sands of ignorance and blind hope.
This scenario is possible. It could happen tomorrow. The agents of infection exist today, why wait till it's on our doorstep(or in our wallets)? We should prepare for such an eventuality now.