In a post-September 11th world, governments are being forced to walk a fine line between protecting national security and obeying national and international laws. Focusing the discussion on the questionable government-sanctioned use of chemical agents, the article describes how Chechen terrorists seized a Moscow theater and its 800 inhabitants. The Russian Government used an unknown gas in the theater to incapacitate the terrorists and prevent them from triggering their explosives. Although the Russian Government will not comment on what the gas was, the author offers several possibilities, including BZ, fentanyl, and nerve gas. The article describes off-the-shelf and dual use chemicals and an incident from Britain involving the production of the dangerous chemical, ricin, is offered to illustrate the salience of the terrorist threat. Finally, the article considers legal concerns about the use of chemical agents for counter-terrorism purposes. The challenge for the future will be how to maintain civil liberties and follow international and national laws while at the same time effectively combating terrorism. References