the rollback of south africa's biological warfare program
the rollback of south africa's biological warfare program
the rollback of south africa's biological warfare program
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who had detailed knowledge <strong>of</strong> many Project Coast projects. He readily<br />
acknowledged in a television interview that:<br />
Project Coast had <strong>the</strong> ability to be very, very<br />
sophisticated. We established <strong>the</strong> ability to do genetic<br />
engineering and all <strong>the</strong> fancy type <strong>of</strong> stuff that would<br />
produce good <strong>biological</strong> products, but nothing was really<br />
produced.<br />
In response to <strong>the</strong> next question, “But you don’t have to produce it, do<br />
you? You just have to have <strong>the</strong> knowledge, <strong>the</strong> production is easy. You and I<br />
could do it in a laboratory in 48 hours,” Goosen responded:<br />
Yes…this is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> so-called myths surrounding<br />
<strong>biological</strong> <strong>warfare</strong> products, that is to a large extent<br />
misinformation. Any vaccines in any normal laboratory are<br />
producing tons and tons <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> highest potent toxins, and it<br />
can be misused. So <strong>the</strong>re wasn’t any super <strong>biological</strong><br />
weapons developed and produced by <strong>the</strong> <strong>program</strong>.<br />
The interviewer next asked him to explain why <strong>the</strong> British and<br />
Americans were so worried about <strong>the</strong> <strong>program</strong> that <strong>the</strong>y went to see President<br />
de Klerk, on one occasion, and, later, President Mandela, and said “Give this<br />
<strong>program</strong> up.” Dr. Goosen responded:<br />
The facilities were…state-<strong>of</strong>-<strong>the</strong> art. The laboratories,<br />
<strong>the</strong> P4 containments, everything. The scientists assembled<br />
<strong>the</strong>re had <strong>the</strong> potential <strong>of</strong> developing really new and fancy<br />
<strong>biological</strong> weapons. But it was never done. When we got to<br />
<strong>the</strong> point that we should have produced, <strong>the</strong>re was no support<br />
for <strong>the</strong> scientists to produce. It was very ineffective…. We<br />
produced some knowledge…and crude <strong>of</strong>f-<strong>the</strong>-shelf<br />
assassination devices.… It is no use controlling scientists<br />
and laboratories, etc.; <strong>the</strong> real control lies in controlling <strong>the</strong><br />
people who decide where to apply it or not, and that is <strong>the</strong><br />
politicians. And as long as <strong>the</strong>re is no agreement that can be<br />
enforced <strong>the</strong>n you won’t control this [<strong>biological</strong> <strong>warfare</strong>]. 214<br />
If Dr. Goosen’s assessment <strong>of</strong> what was developed by Project Coast is<br />
accurate, <strong>the</strong>n one can find grounds to support ei<strong>the</strong>r assessment regarding <strong>the</strong><br />
sophistication <strong>of</strong> Project Coast. However, <strong>the</strong>re are several unanswered<br />
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