15 
U.S. continues to obtain evidence the Soviet Union has maintained its 
offensive hiological warfare program. 
Mr. Rifkin said he had learned, but had not substantiated, that the Centred 
Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been holding classified briefings for various 
agencies. At those briefings, the CIA is warning of a Soviet "threat" in 
genetic engineering. Mr. Rifkin said the chainran of a university molecular 
biology department had told him the CIA has been contacting molecular 
biologists to develop think-tank scenarios of possible uses of recombinant 
DMA technology in biological warfare. 
Mr. Rifkin said the Department of the Army is using recombinant DMA 
technology in a cobra vencm study. Several months ago several periodicals 
pointed out, but have not substantiated, that the Soviet Union was using 
recombinant DMA technology in research involving cobra vencm. Mr. Rifkin 
said the DOD has received NIH permission to pursue this project; he asked 
RAC what is the redeeming social value of cobra vencm research? He said: 
"Are there millions of people who potentially can be bitten by cobras 
around the world and therefore we need sane kind of vaccine in order to 
inoculate them?" 
Mr. Rifkin said RAC hats examined every recombinant CNA technology applica- 
tion except biological warfare. He said RAC is "shirking" its responsibil- 
ities by not examining the ethics of using recombinant DMA technology in 
biological warfare. 
Mr. Rifkin said he was suggesting RAC set up a working group to examine the 
technology and pose questions about the convertibility of this technology 
to hiological warfare or military purposes. Such a mandate would not 
require investigation of DOD. Rather the working group would develop useful 
criteria to inform the public about the biological warfare implications of 
recombinant DNA technology. Mr. Rifkin said: 
"What has caused you in your collective minds to be so certain that 
there's absolutely no need for any other agency beside the Department 
of Defense to deed with the overall implications of recombinant DMA in 
this field. I just don't understand it and I'm really getting very 
frustrated and tired year after year of stone-walling and unanimous 
votes saying this committee has nothing to do with this technology 
because sooner or later you're going to have to deal with it. Sooner 
or later there's going to be a problem that’s going to cause the 
Department of Defense to lock horns or the CIA or other agencies with 
this ccnmittee." 
Mr. Mitchell said the United States has ratified the 1972 Biological Weapons 
Convention and RAC should not engage in any activity vhich might suggest 
the U.S. may be violating a treaty or is interested in violating a treaty. 
[135] 
