Nov. 1, 2001
The following is the transcript of a TimesChat with Times columnist Howard Troxler held on Nov. 1 on TimesChat. To see the schedule of future chat guests and view previous chat transcripts, go to www.tampabay.com/chat
| ModeratorSteve | OK, we're ready to start. Welcome to Timeschat. Let me give Howard a chance to introduce himself |
| HowardTroxler | Hey, this is Howard. I'd like to start by admitting up front that whatever you're for, we're probably biased against, no sense in trying to outwit me in that regard. (Grin.) |
| ModeratorSteve | OK, for our first question. |
| Bucsalltheway | With the very recent occurances of Anthrax appearing with no forseeable link, do you believe we will now have reports of postal facilities all over the country being tainted? and more people at homes contacting anthrax? |
| HowardTroxler | So far, what do we know for sure? Only the Trenton letters -- no evidence yet this is not a sole domestic nut who somehow had access... |
| ... they were smart to target the media to get maximum attention though. I am not minimizing the seriousness -- people are dead -- but in terms of the scale of 5k dead in NYC, Pentagon attack, the fact we are bombing a foreign nation & holding together an international coalition, it is NOT the biggest thing going, true? | |
| ModeratorSteve | If you're just joining us, we're chatting today with Times columnist Howard Troxler. Send in your questions now by typing them at the bottom and hitting enter or return. And remember, we'll post a transcript later on for anyone who missed the chat. |
| shoney | Did you get tested for anthrax exposure after you got that powder in the mail? |
| HowardTroxler | Yes, but only after the first NBC test was positive (remember, our St. Pete letter-writer also wrote to NBC and NY Times Judith Miller |
| It was a simple nose swab, which of course was negative. :) | |
| ModeratorSteve | An important reminder: Anything you guys type in at the bottom is sent to us as a potential question. Your general comments won't be seen by other participants. |
| PEGGYB | Have you heard any theories as to how someone is putting the anthrax spores into the envelopes that were mailed without inhaling it themselves? My understanding is that there are no 100%% sure masks or gas masks that will work. |
| HowardTroxler | That is a great question, and I have no clue how it works. I suppose if you were serious about it, you could work in a glove box? |
| After all, if they're sophisticated enough to get the right diameter & transport medium, that seems like a relatively minor technical matter, true? |
| ModeratorSteve | Here's a question from Bucsall the way sent via e-mail: My question is in regards to the Hoax anthrax letter you received. Nothing more was said about it. I assume it was negative but are you on Cipro? Was the building tested? It seems the reporting on that subject got awfully quiet quickly. |
| HowardTroxler | Our letter was merely a local hoaxter. He got himself nat'l attention by also sending to NBC and NY TImes' Judith Miller -- all negative. All hoaxes. But it came just before the Trenton letters and for a while it was not clear the actual source. My test was negative. Our envelope was negative. All negative. I think we said so in print, and if we didn't make it clear, I'm saying it now. |
| guy | Your letter was postmarked 10/5 and contained similar things that no one could know about the other letters unless they were involved |
| HowardTroxler | Yes, the same guy in St. Pete wrote me 10/5 and the NY Times letter postmarked 10/5. I am not certain of the postmark on the first NBC letter. I am not aware of what the letter said that referenced the other letters -- I saw the text and we printed it, and I don't think the text supports that.... please clarify? |
| ModeratorSteve | Guy, please go ahead and send us a clarification on that question and we'll try again |
| guy | I really think there is a link to your letter and to the terrorist's |
| HowardTroxler | Of course, anything is possible -- but to me so far, it seemed purely like a local nut... unfortunately I get a lot of them! (It was flattering, in a weird way, to be included with the NYTimes and NBC, but I realize it was only the accident of having my pic in the local paper.... sigh). |
| Bucsalltheway | I believe the mailing to the media indeed was to get Maximum exposure, now that they have it and as I said eariler, the cases now being found if no links could mean they are still out there and branching to private homes as the FBI said they are investigating. what's your take on Irradidated mail? For or against? |
| HowardTroxler | No evidence of private homes yet, although the NY hospital worker is still a mystery. If irradiation works and is feasible and doesn't jack postage to $3 a letter, what does it hurt? But maybe there are more efficient precautions? |
| ModeratorSteve | A question from Francis in Tampa: Mr. Troxler, One of your reporters, David Wesson I think, wrote a most interesting piece several weeks ago. It had to do with an investigation called Operation Jericho that he said was conducted by FDLE in the eighties and the ninetees. It looks like FDLE and the state had knowledge of many of the potential terrorist support networks here in our state for many years in advance of the September 11 tragedies. Has there been any follow up to this, and how can we now trust law enforcement which should have known about terrorist sympahizers? |
| HowardTroxler | Hmm, you might be talking about David Wasson, who is a reporter for a certain Virginia-owned newspaper that circulates mostly in Tampa... |
Firefighters and guards cover St. Petersburg Times columnist Howard Troxler's desk with plastic after he received an envelope, below, Tuesday with a substance like salt or sugar.
The cryptic letter misspelled Troxler's name and had little punctuation. It said:
"Howard Toxler ... 1st case of disease now blow away this dust so you see how the real thing flys. Oklahoma-Ryder Truck! Skyway bridge-18 wheels."
