The first article, in the Washington Post, is just about anthrax. Here's a short excerpt from the Washington Post article:
Several sources agreed that the most likely way to build the coated spores would be to use the fine glass particles, known generically as "fumed silica" or "solid smoke," and mix them with the spores in a spray dryer. "I know of no other technique that might give you that finished product," Spertzel said.
In contrast, the Washington Times article that this thread is about is only about dusty VX. This article says that Spertzel was "stunned" when informed of Iraq's recent purchase. It doesn't say whether he was stunned because of the prospect of dusty VX, as the article implies, or because of the prospect of weaponized anthrax, as would be suggested by the earlier article.
So did Iraq purchase the fumed silica for VX, or for anthrax, or even conceivably for some other weapon (it's clearly of general applicability)?