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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, January 21, 2004

US to increase WMD civil support teams

authorities in the event of a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) attack on the country.


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The US Defense Department said on Jan. 20 it plans to create more National Guard-staffed civil support teams to help local authorities in the event of a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) attack on the country.

There are currently 32 WMD civil support teams in the country capable of detecting chemical, biological, nuclear and explosive agents in support of emergency first responders in event of an attack, the Defense Department said in a press release.

The Congress recently approved 88 million US dollars to field 11 more teams, as part of ongoing evaluations of the role of the Guard in homeland defense, Paul McHale, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense, was quoted as saying last Friday.

The Defense Department will field a total of 55 WMD civil support teams, each of which comprises 22 Army and Air National Guard members, he said.

McHale said US officials believe terrorist groups such as al Qaeda could very well attempt to use WMDs to attack Americans, key infrastructure or defense industries.

He said he envisions civilian law enforcement officials would work closely with the National Guard in the event of an attack threat on US defense industry.

A 1878 act prohibits the active duty military from conducting domestic law enforcement operations, but with the Guard under the control of state governors, it has more leeway to assist law enforcement officials during an attack or other emergency, he said.

Source: Xinhua


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