This is a comprehensive analysis of the threat without being alarmist.

It is far too easy to find shocking explanations of the biological weapons potential that do not describe some of the difficulties in their procurement and delivery. This "sexy" approach captures our attention and makes for good entertainment, but the 'Chicken Little' approach doesn't help us develop rational methods for dealing with the issue.

Read this book if you want a levelheaded examination. It also contains a good description and solid recommendations for a national strategy.

In a very good way, I got more than I bargained for by reading this book. While seeking a solid source to inform myself on the "nuts and bolts", policy implications, and development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), I continued to come across this title. Expect some dense and intense reading; there is not a wasted word here. The book focuses exclusively on the covert delivery of a nuclear, biological, or chemical weapon against an American target, exploring possible methods, limitations, locales, preventive measures, and consequences. This book will considerably broaden the knowledge of any first-timer looking into WMD and likely provides substantive material for discussion among policy makers and experts in the field.

I picked up this book as a research tool for a paper. Not only did I find the book to contain everything I needed, I became so enveloped in the reality of what I was reading that I couldn't put it down. A fan of Tom Clancy novels, this book describes the harsh reality that we live in, while detailing both the strengths and the weaknesses of the US response to bioterrorism. A must read for those with an interest in national security issues.

Leah Newman's Robert Frost: The People, Places, and Stories Behind His New England Poetry provides an invaluable companion to the beloved poetry of Robert Frost. Newman not only provides the context of Frost's personal history as a backdrop for his poetry, but also provides key literary references, literary criticism, and annotations on the reception of his work in his lifetime. The essays accompanying Frost's poems are lively and warm, often punctuated by Frost's own words. Newman brings Frost's relationships to his family and his work to life in this collection, without diminishing the richness or subtlety of his poetry. I highly recommend this volume to life-long students of Frost's work as well as newcomers.

Lea Newman is able to make her reader's introduction to a major American poet easy, fun and memorable in Robert Frost: The People, Places And Stories Behind His New England Poetry. Newman's concise and informative essays accompany each of thirty-six of Frost's early New England poems including his "The Road Not Taken"; "Mending Wall"; "The Death Of The Hired Man"; and "Birches". Biographical information and his own commentaries provides insights into what Frost was doing and thinking when he wrote each poem. Newman's format of combining essay and poetry enables the reader to experience Frost's poetry with a fresh appreciation and insight. Robert Frost is "must" reading for anyone who ever thrilled to this great man's poetic genius and enduring wisdom.

Robert Newman not only leads up to his highly praised history of the Owen Lattimore story and the influence of the "China Lobby" with this account, but gives much denied credit as well to the history of the left which had been censored, denied, and castigated... Included is a little-known quote from Lillian Hellman in her opening remarks to the Waldorf Peace Conference in 1949, which she co-organized. The Waldorf Conference was a credit to the post-WWII anticolonialist peace movement fueled by the activism of the radicalism of the 30s. This social/political/cultural movement included among others Hellman and W.E.B. DuBois, who founded the Peace Information Center in 1950 and circulated the Stockholm Peace Petition at a time when the Soviet Union was allegedly running a "peace offensive" and at a time when anyone who promoted peace or who criticized U.S. policy must therefore be viewed as being an agent of a foreign govt. in the McCarthy hysteria. Not only was anyone associated with those promoting peace at risk of suspicion, but also anyone who showed any independent thinking regarding foreign policy, no matter how extensive the institutional experience (as in Melby's case) or how well-founded the logic. This was the case with John Melby, chief editor of the China White Paper which acknowledged the inevitable failure of the KMT and the subsequent "loss of China." Just as anyone associated with the Waldorf Conference was eventually brought before HUAC and/or blacklisted, so anyone associated with authorship of the China White Paper was subjected to loyalty security board hearings and their careers ruined, but for different cause. The irony of this book is that it illustrates how the relationship of Melby and Hellman resulted in a collision of these two very different worlds of thought, intellectual culture, career, and experience.

Wow. Newman sets out to (and overwhelmingly succeeds) to obliterate any and all arguments of those who claim the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki unjustified and/or not needed. He does this by exploring not only the myths perpetuated by these "cultists" (the word he uses to describe people who endorse the above), but also how and why these myths began. These people believe the bombing was primarily motivated by something other than military reasons and fall into one of six categories, namely those who think primary motivation was: (1)intimidation of the Soviet Union (2)racism (3)desire of scientists to experiment with a new toy (4)fear of investigation by Congress of those in charge of the A-bomb project if the expenditure found not useful (5)sheer bureaucratic momentum (6)any combination of the above. The book is essentially a debate; an appeal to actual history vs. convolution and misrepresentation of facts by some very formidable-sounding opponents. Some include U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey (the impetus behind most of those who endorse any of the above), Gar Alporovitz, P.M.S. Blackett among most any others of note. The sheer volume of impeccable research would suffice for a great argument, but the way Newman delves into the sources behind the sources and their context coupled with the flawless logic he employs is simply stunning - its a virtual lesson in debate as well as vital history. Knowing from outset his intention (to argue) I consciously tried to poke holes in his discussion and failed miserably (since I was familiar with Gar Alporovitz's opus 'The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb'as well as a fair amount of WWII history, I thought I was reasonably prepared - wrong!) Even though Newman's discussion is rational, logical, and non-vindictive or inflammatory, he effectively skewers his opponents. However, he still remains balanced in his position as his discussion of the AEC and post-war events shows. Highlights include his discussion of post-war events that influenced the American 'cultists' genesis and perpetuation as well as a total of deaths attributable to the Japanese from 1931-45. I truly wish that I could point to a major flaw but I simply cannot. The book is not archival but isn't intended to be (try Rhodes 'The Making of the Atomic Bomb'). Newman's position in a nutshell: the decision to use the bomb was motivated primarily by ending the war as quickly as possible while saving as many lives as possible. If somebody wants to argue with him, good luck. Outstanding book.