Actually, the Soviet India 1 strain was not successfully engineered to have an equal mortality rate against non-vaccinees as against vaccinees. It can infect and sicken people who were vaccinated, but usually ones who were vaccinated more than 10 years earlier, or who had weakened immune systems.
If Saddam or al Qaeda hit us with smallpox, the strain they use may be similar to the Soviet strain.
Its highly likely that it will be identical to the Soviet strain. The Soviets produced 20 tons of this stuff and goodness knows whether or not it was all destroyed. Any impoverished Russian scientist could have pocketed a vial and flogged it to the Iraqis or the Iranians.
Hmmmm.... I must have misinterpreted that article. I'll back and read it again tomorrow. Maybe it's not talking about the India 1 strain or something. Right now I'm getting offline. THanks.