Is there anything in the story that justifies such an alarmist scenario, DoughtyOne?
Yes, there is.
Tons of a chemical that can be used as a weapon have gone missing.
Terrorist manuals detail procedures for using this chemical in attacks.
We don't know who stole it.
Correct threat assessment involves capability and ignores intent. Someone out there is capable of killing yet more thousands of Americans using the missing chemicals. That is a valid threat.
/john
Each ton represents 1000 x 16oz jars of Cyanide. Ten tons is 10,000 x 16oz jars of the substance. It only takes a small amont of Cyanide to be lethal. Each 16oz jar is enough to kill hundreds of not thousands of people. I'm not sure how much Jim Jones had access to, but over 700 people died from Cyanide poisening.
The United States isn't the only target. I'm sure there are a number of terrorist states that would love to get their hands on the stuff. Imagine what 200 jars would do in the hands of the PLO. Any large restaurant in Israel would be the target. One unsuspecting employee could dump it in the potatoes or beans that accompanies each meal. Most of the patrons would drop dead on the spot.
This stuff isn't something to be passed off lightly. It's just as effective as a terrorist bomb. And it's out there in our neck of the woods.