Washington, D.C.
The Pentagon has sold surplus laboratory equipment over the Internet that could be used to make chemical and biological weapons, according to a congressional report released this week. Investigators in the General Accounting Office said they set up a shell company and were able to purchase centrifuges, evaporators, bacteriological incubators, and protective clothing. Similar gear is sold commercially, but the Pentagon still should have made an effort to monitor its sales to make sure it didn’t fall into the wrong hands, investigators said. “The Department of Defense should not be a discount shopping outlet for would-be bioterrorists,” said Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.).
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Selfies ban in art galleries: a sign of the times?Talking Point Priceless art has been damaged by visitors desperate to take a snap with star attractions, leading some galleries and museums to start fighting back
-
Quiz of The Week: 21 – 27 JuneHave you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
The Week Unwrapped: How do you turn plastics into paracetamol?Podcast Plus, what is the Wagner Group doing now? And why is it so hard to find a job after university?
