Plague Wars: The Terrifying Reality of Biological Warfare

by Tom Mangold, Jeff Goldberg

Anthrax. Plague. Smallpox. Ebola. These are the weapons of the future—microscopic organisms produced in laboratories and unleashed on unwitting populations to reproduce, spread, and kill. They are as deadly as atomic bombs, much cheaper to create, and much easier to distribute—inside a warhead on an intercontinental missile, in an aerosol can sprayed in a crowded building, or by a crop-duster flying over a major city. Exposure occurs without warning. Infection from only a few minute particles can mean a ghastly and painful death. The kill rates are staggering.

Modern biological warfare began during the 1930s, when the Japanese Army conducted atrocious experiments on Chinese prisoners using lethal bacteria. During the Cold War, both the Soviet Union and the U.S. rushed to build biological weapons programs. In 1972, the Biological Weapons Convention banned the development of bioweapons, supposedly ending the threat.

But the threat was only beginning. Plague Wars tells the stories of the secret battles that are still being waged in many nations, stories filled with international espionage, deceptions, and treachery. Recently, defectors and covert sources from third-world governments such as Iraq have revealed active biological weapons programs, despite international arms inspectors' attempts to eradicate them. A U.S. war game to prepare for a North Korean biological attack went so horribly wrong that the results are still classified. In South Africa, the use of bioweapons represents one of the last untold secrets of the apartheid battles, while in Zimbabwe, people are still dying of anthrax from the dirty wars of independence fought two decades ago. Fringe cults, apocalyptic madmen, and terrorists groups everywhere claim to own bioweapons, and are threatening to use them. Major Western cities are busily planning defenses against such an attack.

Researched across four continents with exceptional access to many sources from the United Nations, U.S. Department of Defense, and various civilian and military intelligence agencies, and using previously classified government documents, Tom Mangold and Jeff Goldberg have written the definitive account of the state of biological warfare in the world today.

Genres: History, Science, Nonfiction, Military History, Military Fiction, Terrorism

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Francesca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not at all hard enough on the genocidal war criminals they interviewed, the authors of this book have written a good summary of bioweapons history but have let the evil men who develop these weapons for commercial gain or their own war mongering get off far too lightly.

There are no words strong enough to condemn some of the programmes discussed (especially those focusing on ethnic cleansing through genetically engineered diseases developed to target specific races) but it felt like these authors barely even tried.

Plus, I don’t care if it was written in 1999, the way they over describe the looks of the highly qualified female experts and activists made my toes curl. Some of the words used throughout the book are not at all okay and I doubt were acceptable even when it was published

Tried something new in a new genre with this one but it’s not paid off at all, a shame really cause could’ve been a good book without the above

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, mostly-objective summary of biological warfare.

[Jessica Berumen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good history of biological warfare, but a tad politically slanted at times

[Keith Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bio warfare worldwide, from pox infected blankets, to the Japanese army in Manchuria, to Dr. Wooter Basson, and Project Coast in Apartheid South Africa. Most of the book however is about the massive and secret program called Biopreparat that the Soviets operated long after they signed a Chemical and Biological Weapons ban treaty. Indeed it continued until the collapse of the USSR.

[Sakina (Y.L.) Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had this for years and tried a few times to read it, this time I finally dedicated a good chunk of time to the book and it paid off! Really enjoyed the writing, despite the strong Western bias. The narrative was accessible and tense, a real page turner. Fascinating whirlwind tour of modern history with spotlights on five nations.

[Virtue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Garbage! This type of books mislead public and eventually paved the road for the War in Iraq. People who write this type of books are not necessarily liars. They are just quickly buying prevailing trivial misconceptions, then amplify them and re-sell them with profit.

[Andrew Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grim but compelling reading.
Dr Ishii from Japan makes Mengele look like a saint.
Not a book for easy bedtime reading due to the subject matter.

[Mikael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although i read this as a primer on WMDs during cold war studies the book works as a warning about weaponised diseases as seen by the anthrax attacks.

[Scuppers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Same material's better covered elsewhere.

[George Dimitrov · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book left in me the feeling that I am wasting my time. Another attempt to shock the public and make some money.

[Nicolette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blurg.

The first 250 pages of this was a wonderfully-written history. Then 1972 happened, and South Africa, Iraq, and the USSR were bad and everyone else was good. The End.

[Meg]

I'm putting this book aside - the descriptions of experiments on live subjects in the early chapters were just too icky. Quitting now before I have nightmares!