My Complete Whackjob Nutbag theory on white powders and anthrax

Fab

[francisandbeans]

OK, folks....I have posted this on a couple of threads....but someone suggested I make a thread of it...here it is:

The anthrax scares of the past 10 days has prompted many to ask questions.

Why would they target with an anthrax delivery device that won't kill a lot of people?
Why are they targeting the media?
Is this related to 9/11?
What's with all the white powder?

Let me lay out the theory:

The media is a target for a very specific reason. This prevents the government from covering up the details. This is why they went after the sensationalist media and why they went after a major broadcast network. The delivery system is designed not to maximize death, but to make us "anthrax aware"

Reportedly, the anthrax was mailed in a white powder. Along with the actual cases, we are finding cases of white powder mailings with no anthrax. Many have speculated that the white powder is done by sick pranksters. I think this is an impossibility. Let me explain...

We learned about the white powder on Monday evening (via Newsweek). Tuesday, we saw several packages and envelopes with white powder show up. It is nearly impossible for a prankster to gather themselves quickly enough to do it. There is a plan in action:

Part A:) mail out packages with anthrax contained in a white powder.
Part B:) mail out packages without anthrax, but with the white powder.

What does this do?

CDC has to investigate each of these powder instances. This will strecth thier resources. If enough actual anthrax envelopes are sent out, the US mail will be severly slowed or stop al together. This will have a massive effect on our psyche, our economy and our Law Enforcement community.

What they will do is play the Anthrax Russian Roulette with these packages until the fed decides to start issuing massive amounts of antibiotics to the populace...therfore reducing our supply.

Now, with antibiotics increasingly rare and the CDC and other departments stretched to thier limit...the terrorists are free to strike a full scale bio-attack and us unable to treat those infected.

[FReepaholic]

I have read that Bin Laden is very good at generating a lot of "red herrings" in order to confuse authorities.

Mass mailings of real and fake anthrax sounds like his M.O.

[StriperSniper]

"they" will have to begin targeting residential mail.

Last night the HAZMAT suits were going into a house a few blocks from my house. The locals on the scene were told by the authorities that is was 'just a drill' (yeah, right). I have to do a little investigation since it did not hit the local paper (no suprise).
I will update everyone when or if I can find out more.

Heading out now, be alert and stay safe.

[oc-flyfish]

You know that makes a lot of sense. Frigging terrorists!

[KC_for_Freedom]

Once the system is in place to "do something about it", the attackers will just move on to something else. Airplanes were used, then airline security was tightened...but too late. Anthrax is being used, now drug companies are distributing medication...but too late. Once the anti-Antrhax system is in place, the terrorists will be attacking one of a host of other under-protected fear-generating spots.

Yes true, but now the level of hysteria is sufficient that a crop duster dropping nothing more than flour over a stadium will have us killing one another in an effort to reach the street. (And flour can be obtained almost anywhere.)

[Robert357]

The point is that mail distribution would be stopped cold within a week. Therefore, the need to distrube antibiotics to those exposed in the first couple of weeks would be to a limited population, as opposed to the theory posted.

Mail would be quarentined, and ways would be figured out how to screen potentially contaiminated from uncontaminated mail.

At that point the treat would be over, nothing would be "overstretched and open to attack." Again summarizing, rather than the mail delivery system continuing to operate until a time that things are stretched thin, the mail system would quickly shut down. The stretched thin so that the terrorists could pick their optimal time, would never happen. That is why the theory is flawed

[Fredgoblu]

I wonder if dust masks can capture anthrax spores

What? You mean the little dust masks they sell in the paint department at the hardware store to the hypochondriacs who think that these things keep out solvent vapor? I don't think so...that little nose pinch thingie is worthless

I wouldn't want anything less than a form fitted mask with HEPA cartridges.

[riri]

Yeah, see, we have been screaming from the rooftops how unprepared we are and how bio terrorism is our worst nightmare, almost as though we are begging for it to happen. So, I don´t buy this theory. I could be wrong. I do know one thing though, halting the bombing today was the most asnine, ridiculoous move o date. Who´s running this show, Mr. Rogers.

Not to knock Dubya, but I think I´ve got more testosterone running through my veins and I´m lactating. LOL

[francisandbeans]

well lets see...we have 2 locations with actual anthrax exposure, and quite a few white powder scares. John Ashcroft just said that "they can target our mail, but we won't stop delivering it." This does not even take into account FedEx, UPS and any other delivery service.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Buying gasmasks at the local Army Navy Supply store won't save your bacon. #1 - The masks are not fitted to your face. #2 - The cannisters are (a) out of date, or (b) ineffective against that particular agent. But it is a good panacea if it makes you feel better.

Stop making sense! I used to be a safety and training guy on offshore oil rigs, and I am currently involved with oilfield emergency response (Fire/Gas leak/Medical/etc).

You are absolutely correct about the uselessness of surplus "gas masks" from Ranger Joe's Army Surplus Store. Respiratory protection is a complex and demanding field- correct mask fitting, training, and maintenance of the equipment takes many, many hours, and is extremely expensive. It has to be done right- anything less is worse than useless (because of the false sense of security that folks may develop). And prophylactic use of Ciprofloxacin (at roughly $3.00 per tablet) is unworkable. There is no possible way that 270 million Americans are going to get CIPRO, and it's effectiveness is very doubtful, anyway. The only answer I can see is to roll up these terrorist networks, hold military trials, and summarily execute them (this will prevent hostage-taking and other actions to free the terrorists who are in custody).

I love civil liberties, but they will need to be severely curtailed for the duration of this war. (Reality- what a drag!)

[pgkdan]

I don't know if you're right or not, but I really think you're on to something here. This is the most reasonable theory I've heard yet.

[Jack Barbara]

A good way to distribute anthrax to effectively kill people would be to mix it with powdered cocaine. The purchaser intends to breath it in. This method, however, would likely not achieve the levels of hysteria we are seeing.

[Stefan Stackhouse]

A credible hypothesis. However, it might also be possible that they simply don't have a large quantity of Anthrax available. What if they have only gotten their hands on a very small quantity of Anthrax? How would they then put this to the most effective use? How about targeting one major media office, follow up with a bunch of random false alarm mailings, then a target a second media site, then a bunch more random false alarm mailings, etc.? This strategy would assure maximum media attention, and maximum panic effect, using only a very small quantity of anthrax, even if only one or two people actually are killed. Maximum bang for the buck.

[browardchad]

According to a reporter on Fox, local Hazmat teams in Florida are running out of decontamination suits.

It seems the government, as would be expected, has always looked at "the big picture," and not this kind of psychological warfare. Consider also the loss of jobs (whatever you think of snailmail) if the postal service suddenly shut down, and the fact that packages can't be e-mailed.

[Loopy]

Yes I know, they wouldn't want us all demanding that we go nuking our oil supply would they?

[Kaslin]

It seems self-protection to the extent possible is the only way to go.

I am not going to say it can not happen, but I absolutley refuse to go into panic. If we let them scare us then they have won

[DCPatriot]

The government needs to immediately, discreetly do some MAJOR PROFIING! They need to have these groups in "protective" custody by Executive Order.

If this still results in a major germ attack on our country, they need to drop Nuclear bombs from Damascus to Jakarta before the sun rises the next day.

Welcome to the United States of America in the New Millenium. NOT!

More and more of my liberal acquaintances are approaching me as they've never heard me tell them, "We have to kill them, don't we?"

"Yep", I proudly tell them. "And, tomorrow's not too soon"!

We even have a built-in liberal excuse should we end up being a footnote in World History.

The Western World has felt the real need to go to war against them, to save themselves....for THOUSANDS OF YEARS!

Well, this ain't your mama's military. We should end this bullshit once and for all.

Then, we can all meet at Times Square, this New Year's Eve.

[Don Joe]

It's the same doctrine that says to send large numbers of "decoy" ICBMs with a few real ones mixed in.

However, it's a bit more cunning, in that -- thanks to the time element (not shared by ICBMs) -- it will create a "boy who cried wolf" mindset. When we finally let our guard down (inevitable sooner or later, because that's the way peoples brains are wired), they hit us, and hit us hard.

All the more reason for us to hit them, and hit them hard. Now.

[Fredgoblu]

I think in order for US mail to be significantly disrupted, "they" will have to begin targeting residential mail

Maybe this is just the scare we need to stop the spread of junk mail!

[harpseal]

Clearly the inert powder is almost as good as actual anthrax for causing economic disruption. every business that has a mailroom recieves checks and bills through that mailroom. one package of white powder and they are suffering economic loss. Further hazmat clean up crews use up their disposable suits and filters. It is a very effective force multiplier and while we are looking at this some other operation can be mounted.

Kudos Francis you have stated what may well be a tactic.

To those who think this is unrelated to september 11, 2001 you may well be right but I for one was unaware that the local Wal Mart stocked five gallon buckets of spores.

Stay well - stay safe - stay armed - Yorktown