This paper evaluates the threat of the use of biological weapons use in the near term, by surveying, successively, the proliferation of biological weapons (BW) in identified state programs; the historical record regarding the potential for state-supported terrorism with biological weapons; the experience of the use of biological agents by non-state groups, either identified as “terrorist” organizations, or by any other designation; and the requirements and parameters for non-state groups to produce biological agents capable of being used as weapons systems.