Rating: 
Summary: Are we prepared?
Review: ...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. Never before has the complete scope of these terrifying weapons been so thoroughly examined. A startling look into hidden facets of history, dark secrets of the present, and the anticipated horrors of a none-too-distant future, Plague Wars will make you reconsider your safety in a world where death is just a breath away.
Rating: 
Summary: A frightening expose ...
Review: A well-written, and very frightening, summary of some of the up to now hidden story of biological warfare. The Soviet, British and US involvement was to some extent known before. But this is the first time that I have seen the extent of the South African work in this sector - and the uses to which they put the results. I agree with other reviewers who have commented that the authors accepted without too much questioning the US and British statements that they have not been involved in offensive BW work for years - perhaps in the light of this expose such statements should be rather less easily accepted. Given the possibility of almost any organised terrorist group having access to potential biological weapons and the means to spread them, this is very disturbing ...
Rating:
Summary: Horrifying!
Review: After I read "The Hot Zone" I thought nothing could come closer to biological terror. Well, I was wrong. Plague wars is with no doubt one of the most revealing books on the subject. One can only feel horror when the narrative takes you through all the nigthmares human beings have created to destroyed themselves. More than a reference, this books is a huge warning of what it can come in the near future.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to read & understand
Review: By coincidence I was reading this book as the news about the death of Dr David Kelly became known. Dr Kelly features very prominently in this book, and its a pity that such a fine individual met such a tragic end. Tom Mangold's book pulls together an excellent story over the decades. Very easy to read and to understand. Would be nice to see a revised edition with more information about Iraq post-2001.
Rating:
Summary: Another briiliant piece of Mangold investigation
Review: Even if you have no interest in the world of biological warfare, Mangold's deep and thorough investigative technique surfaces again. This book details the biological warfare efforts of a range of countries, such as Japan, Russia, South Africa and Iraq, as well as the Aum Shinrikyo cult and their sarin (albeit a chemical agent) attack on the Tokyo subway. Not advisable to read in conjunction with or shortly after Alibek's "Biohazard," as a large portion is devoted to the Russian weapons programme-meaning you'll skim through maybe 150 pages (but read them both anyway). I found the strong points of this book lay in its investigation and interviews of countries that would normally be difficult to research, such as South Africa. Low points-it does require a fairly concerted effort and can become a little dense at times, as well as needing fairly constant revision on Iraq and South Africa.
Rating:
Summary: truly frightening, some new information... but credible?
Review: Goldberg and Mangold cover the history of modern biological warfare in some detail. The writing style is noticeably British and is usually frank and interesting. To their credit, the authors are bringing to light some instances and situations that are generally not well known, particularly South Africa's active use of biological weapons in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). There's a lot of good information on the Soviet/Russian biowarfare programs, not too difficult since the defection of Kanatjan Alibekov, author of _Biohazard_, who was heavily interviewed for this book (as we know because it is well and copiously referenced). My only reservation about the book is as to credibility, specifically that of the reporting on United States biological warfare activity. If we are to believe the authors, the US government's assertion that development of offensive bioweapons ceased decades ago is the absolute truth. The authors do not make a very convincing show that they questioned this (suspect) claim too closely. Could it be that key information sources might have suddenly become unavailable if they started questioning the wrong people's official positions? We don't know. All we know is that this omission does call into mild question the authors' credibility. Recommended with the above reservations, plus one more: one of the illustrations is sufficiently appalling that it could give a very sensitive reader nightmares. If you are in this category, you may want to avoid the first photo section. (Neither photo section adds much to the book.)
Rating:
Summary: SOOOO SCARY!!!!!!
Review: I did not think I was going to like this book because it was written before 9-11 and therefore I thought was out-of-date. UNTRUE! Although this book concentrates on biological warfare and not on airplanes used as missiles, there were people warning about terrorists making an attack on this nation long before it happened. I live near Houston and the first chapter describes a hypothetical scenario that was played out by the military involving some people from the Iraqi government holding hostages at Bush International Airport and dousing them with several biological agents. In a few days, the city of Houston was reduced to martial law according to the forecasts. It gave me chills. This is a very good book if you want to know what our enemies can do without using airplanes to crash into buildings.
Rating:
Summary: SOOOO SCARY!!!!!!
Review: I did not think I was going to like this book because it was written before 9-11 and therefore I thought was out-of-date. UNTRUE! Although this book concentrates on biological warfare and not on airplanes used as missiles, there were people warning about terrorists making an attack on this nation long before it happened. I live near Houston and the first chapter describes a hypothetical scenario that was played out by the military involving some people from the Iraqi government holding hostages at Bush International Airport and dousing them with several biological agents. In a few days, the city of Houston was reduced to martial law according to the forecasts. It gave me chills. This is a very good book if you want to know what our enemies can do without using airplanes to crash into buildings.
Rating: 
Summary: Campfire Stories of the Biological Kind.
Review: I'm going to keep it short and to the point (just like the book). What was good abot the book is that it covered several topics throughout the history of 20th century Bio-warefare but what it didn't do is elaberate on many subjects. This Book was well written and an easy read but doesn't realy go as deeply as it could into some areas. Instead the book gives general overview which works for this book. This is a good starter-book for anyone with a curiosity in the area of bio-weapons but I would reccomend anyone with even limited knowledge to stay away (or just borrow it from the library) otherwise there are other volumes that go more in depth into specific topics. Overal though: a pretty good book just a bit on the short side.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely great book.
Review: I've ready many books on BW and found this to be the best out there today. It is both informative and interesting. I must read for anyone even remotely interested in the topic.
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