Authorities say that he was trying to make a chemical explosive similar to TNT.

WSJ: FBI Uses 'Tripwires' to Catch Bomb Makers

Obama also called for "a review to ... figure out why an individual with the chemical explosive he had on him could get on a plane in Amsterdam and fly into the United States, " Gibbs said on NBC.

CNN: Obama orders review of flight screenings

Whereas the worst effects of a chemical or explosive attack are soon over, the devastation following a smallpox or anthrax outbreak can continue for weeks or months as the contagion goes on spreading.

ECONOMIST: Biowarfare could be the worst terrorist threat of all

One could be forgiven for thinking that the detonation of two "improvised explosive devices" equipped with toxic chemical agents would be seen as confirmation that there are still Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in Iraq.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Saddam had WMDs; the Left couldn't care less

We also intend to mitigate the impact of binational disasters on communities by establishing procedures to manage land and maritime traffic in the event of a border area emergency, and enhance our collective preparedness for security threats of all types -- health, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House