The national, regional, and global spectrum of biological challenges is limitless. Throughout recorded history, these safety concerns stem essentially from two inevitable sources of enduring actual and potential dangers to individuals, communities, societies, and civilizations.
The first critical threat is caused by Mother Nature’s disasters, such as earthquakes, cyclones, and infectious diseases. The second concern is man-made menaces, including violent radicalism, terrorism, and war. The key question is whether the United States and the international community are prepared to identify, prevent, and counter current and future biological threats.
In this context, the current report on “Covid-19 and the Role of the Military” [November 2021] consists of contributions by invited interdisciplinary academics and practitioners who participated at a special virtual Forum held August 23, 2021 at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. The program of this event began with opening remarks by Dr. Jennifer Buss [CEO, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies]. The virtual Forum was moderated by Professor Yonah Alexander [Director of the International Center for Terrorism Studies]. Presentations and discussion were by Lieutenant General [Ret.] Vincent Stewart [20th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency [DIA]]; Distinguished University Professor Rita Colwell [University of Maryland, College Park; Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health]; Major General [Ret.] Dr. Mihail E.Ionescu [Professor, National School of Political and Administrative Studies [SNSPA],Bucharest, Romania]; and Ambassador [Ret.] Charles Ray [Former U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia and Zimbabwe]. Closing remarks were delivered by Gen. [Ret.] Alfred Gray [29th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps [1987-1991]; Senior Fellow and Chairman of the Board of Directors and Regents, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies].
The preface of this report offers an overview of Mother-Nature and man-made threats as well as selected perspectives on passive and active military missions during war and peace times.