The commander of U.S. strategic and nuclear forces said recently that the military is studying ways to deter Al Qaida from using WMD (HAH!)

Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, told reporters recently that military strategic planners are looking for "nuanced" measures as part of a 21st Century strategic deterrence, contrary to the force-on-force nuclear deterrence of the Soviet Union in the Cold War.

Gen. Kevin Chilton

The deterrent strategy will examine what motivates enemies, what do they value, what do they fear and what is unacceptable risk and in what areas.

"And it may not be in a military solution at all. It may be in an economic solution or diplomatic solution."

Nuclear weapons deterrence will still be required in the future, and additionally the military is developing "prompt global strike" weapons with conventional and non-nuclear weapons, which will allow attacks to be carried out world wide very rapidly, he said.

On Al Qaida, Chilton asked Al Qaida would be dealt with if it achieved its goal of getting a weapon of mass destruction and using it against the United States. "These are really hard questions that we believe we have to address and think about, report on," he said.

Asked about deterring Al Qaida, Chilton said Strategic Command officials are "looking at that and thinking about those types of problems."

He did not elaborate, but other defense sources have said among the considerations are holding states accountable in the Middle East and South Asia that have capabilities to deal with Al Qaida and making it known they will be attacked if Al Qaida conducts nuclear, chemical or biological weapons attacks against the United States.

HOWEVER....

Jihadist posts anthrax-making instructions

In a chilling sign that Islamist terrorists continue seeking weapons of mass destruction, a jihadist website recently posted instructions on making deadly anthrax for biological weapons.

The website disclosed the illustrated instructions March 17 and included additional links, and promised to provide information on a delivery system in the future, a Cessna airplane.

Think quick, Chilton, what do you do, what do you do?

"The wait has been long, but the time has arrived, God willing. It is the glad tidings of being able to use biological weapons against the enemies of God. So, allow me to present to you a simple recipe for making anthrax, God willing," the web site stated.

"Anthrax is an effective and lethal weapon," the report said. "It is cheap and easy to make. One kilogram of anthrax may be produced in a small test tube with a spore sample that is kept in a special incubator for just 96 hours."

"Sprinkling 50 kilograms of powder containing anthrax spores along a distance of 2 kilometers will form a lethal cloud that could travel with the wind a distance of more than 20 kilometers, reaching people inside their homes -- even with sealed doors and windows."

To produce a kilo of spores costs about $50 and a lethal doze is no more than one-millionth of gram, or no bigger than a speck of dust.

The posting includes the text of one of the anthrax letters sent to U.S. officials in 2001.

The instructions include using Petri dishes to multiply samples of anthrax, and then adding powder that will allow it to float in the air.

The writer appears to be Saudi as he mentions the cost of several items in Saudi riyals. "I would be happy if you used biological weapons against the enemies of God," the poster stated.

As for delivery systems, the report said he would post instructions on how to make a Cessna 182 aircraft from parts obtained separately.