WASHINGTON: The anthrax attacks on America, observers say, exposed three big weaknesses in government’s ability to respond to acts of bioterrorism.

They reveal a decided lack of knowledge about biological weapons. While experts acknowledge that anthrax is a complicated subject with few easy answers, politicians, eager to appear informed, have tripped badly over terms like “weapons grade,” and ”infected” versus “exposed.”

They highlight the manpower shortage up and down government ranks. The top spots at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, for instance, are vacant. Both are key command posts during a bio-attack.

They show that traditional alley-cat rivalries endure among agencies - especially between public-health and law-enforcement officials.

These troubles led key players to stumble in the first weeks of the attacks. Yet there are signs government is rallying - and that it is better prepared should more attacks occur.

The swirling talk about negatives versus positives and exposures versus infections has sparked much confusion. As recently as Friday, officials were still behind the curve during their press appearances. By 11:30 a.m., for instance, the media were reporting that a New York Post employee had tested positive for infection. Then, at a 1 p.m. White House briefing, homeland-security chief Tom Ridge was asked about the Post case. With cameras whirring and the White House seal behind him, he said he did not know anything about it.—Dawn/LATS Service (c) Christian Science Monitor.