Biological warfare is greatest threat

Grader A: miss

Bioengineered weapons were not the greatest national-security threat in 2009. Official focus was on jihadist terrorism, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, nuclear proliferation (Iran, North Korea), cyber threats and the economic crisis. No biological attack occurred from 2002 to 2013; bioterrorism was one preparedness concern among several.

Test: Ranking test: bioweapons not ranked the top threat in official US assessments in 2009; no bioattacks 2002-2013.

• Bioterrorism (Wikipedia) (2026-09-28): Only major US incident the 2001 anthrax letters; no bioterror attacks documented 2002-2013; threat discussed as preparedness issue.

Grader B: miss

In 2009 the US government did not name bioengineered weapons as the greatest national security threat. In his April 2009 Prague speech, President Obama called nuclear terrorism the most immediate and extreme threat to global security. The official focus was on nuclear terrorism, al-Qaeda and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Bioterrorism was a recognized concern (the 2008 WMD Commission judged a biological attack more likely than a nuclear one), but it did not rank as the top threat.

Test: Test: bioweapons are officially or consensually seen as the top national-security threat in 2009. Actual: the President named nuclear terrorism the most immediate and extreme threat (Prague, April 2009).

• 2010 Nuclear Security Summit (Wikipedia) (accessed 2026-09): Obama's 2009 Prague speech called nuclear terrorism the most immediate and extreme threat to global security.