[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.

[Loopy]

Why is it so impossible to think that terrorists really ARE sending lots of the stuff through the mail? Perhaps they have figured out a way to suspend it in talcum powder or the like? Must we assume that our enemies are idiots? Must we assume that our enemies don't have the capability to make technological advances? In any war both sides seek to create new methods of killing the enemy.

In any event, keep in mind that in the past the terrorist's biggest hits have been on the order of 10-100 dead at a clip. Why would they necessarily care if their delivery system was crude or easily treated. They are going to get SOME people. They are going to score SOME successes. Not everyone who opens mail keeps abreast of the news. So why is it impossible to imagine (like the notion of flying airliners into buildings) that they have developed a method to deliver anthrax through the mail? Because we haven't figured out how to do it? Well, there's no reason for us to figure that out. There is a reason for them to figure it out.