The actual main title of the article is: "Clash of The True Believers."
It's about people of all beliefs who make firm judgements based upon false or carefully selected information. In the anthrax matter, those who pointed at Dr. Hatfill fall into such a category. It's also about people who start with a belief and only look at proof which supports their belief. Those who point at al Qaeda or Iraq fall in such a category.
I was just trying to think like an FBI agent.
It was terrible what they did to Hatfill. It was also terrible what they did to Jewell in the Atlanta Olympics bombing and Wen Ho Lee at Los Alamos.
It seems they get fixated on the “usual suspects” and can’t let go. In the mean time the trail gets cold and the real perpetrators get away.
If I believed the FBI was competent, I’d say it might be a conspiracy.