Anthrax scare at US State Department after white powder found.

Yahoo News. ^ | Monday August 18, 11:11 PM

[ConservativeMan55]

Anthrax scare at US State Department after white powder found

An envelope containing a suspicious white powder was found at the US State Department prompting a security alert amid fears it might be the deadly anthrax bacteria.

The discovery forced a limited shutdown of the department's Office of Public Communications, where the envelope was found, while an FBI anti-terrorism team and agents from the Bureau of Diplomatic Security conducted tests on the powder, they said Monday.

The ventilation system in the vicinity of the office was also turned off as a precaution, the officials said.

"The area has been sealed," one official told reporters.

A public announcement made over the department's internal intercom system said a "suspicious piece of mail that contains an unknown white powder" had been discovered in the office.

Shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, letters containing anthrax bacteria were received by US news organizations and lawmakers, killing five people.

The State Department, which handled one of those letters that had been misrouted to its main mail facility, temporarily shut down its diplomatic pouch service after traces of anthrax were found at several of its overseas missions.

One department employee, who worked at the off-site facility, was infected with the bacteria but recovered.

Since then, all incoming mail to the department, as well as other US government agencies, has been irradiated although discoveries of white powder still prompt thorough investigations.

The last such anthrax scare is believed to have occurred in October 2002 when a suspicious white powder was found in an envelope at the department's Office of Children's Services.

Test on that powder came back negative for anthrax.

[ASA Vet]

Seems to me that since Hatfill's name has surfaced, we haven't had any more anthrax attacks

Seems to me that since the 19 rags died crashing airplanes,
they haven't been able to do anymore anthrax attacks.

[G.Mason]

"she don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie.... Co-Caine!!"

That does it!!

The wife has theater rehersals tonight.

I'm getting out the scotch and soda, putting on two albums, and setting the sound to "remove ceiling dust" levels.

Life is good!

[Shermy]

Seems to me that since Hatfill's name has surfaced, we haven't had any more anthrax attacks.

And what about the period between Oct 2001 and June 2002 when the name "surfaced?" No attacks then.

[Nexus]

Hmmm. Tin-foil hat... on. Ok.

Anthrax attack right after 9/11/01.

Possible antrax attack after blackout (according to Foxnews channel, Al Qaeda is claiming responsibility for blackout, take with grain of salt).

Alright, done.

[Sabertooth]

Pinging a few of the usual suspects.

[Coop]

And what about the period between Oct 2001 and June 2002 when the name "surfaced?" No attacks then.

Yep. And this proves Hatfill's innocence? No, it does not. You folks don't know any more than I do if Hatfill's guilty or innocent, but he's in no way earned the title of "scapegoat." There's plenty of reason to suspect him. That's why he's a suspect. Neat how that works, huh?

[Princeton]

I have an air tight alibi. My dentist will vouch for me:)

[Princeton]

Don't need no stinkin' trial. Who's got some rope?

[ASA Vet]

And this proves Hatfill's innocence?

We have this quaint legal system in this country whereby the
accused is in fact innocent, until proven guilty.

Neat how that works, huh?

[Princeton]

"Nevertheless, I have written many times on FR that I believe those crimes were committed by a native English speaking native born American citizen, orchestrating (poorly) the crime to look as if a non-US citizen had done it."

That's the ticket!

[Shermy]

And this proves Hatfill's innocence?

No, it disproves your inferrence that the lack of attacks are connected to the surveillance of Hatfill.

[Coop]

No, it disproves your inferrence that the lack of attacks are connected to the surveillance of Hatfill.

Wrong. It does nothing of the sort. And my "inference" was in direct response to the "scapegoat" comment. The man's a suspect, for good reason.

[Carry_Okie]

I don't wish anthrax on anyone, but if this incident closes that place for a month or two, so much the better.

[MD_Willington_1976]

[Calpernia]

Ping

[thatdewd]

Well now that Saddam is out of power, he can't send Anthrax letters anymore.

BUMP!

[George W. Bush]

Fox News reporting that State Department mail is irradiated before delivery. Quite a number of other agencies and some big corporations are doing the same.

I think they use food irradiation equipment for this.

[G.Mason]

"Don't need no stinkin' trial. Who's got some rope?"

Exactly.

These people sit on juries?

[browardchad]

Fox News reporting that State Department mail is irradiated before delivery. Quite a number of other agencies and some big corporations are doing the same.

Which brings up the questions: does irradiation completely destroy anthrax spores? Can analysis determine if anthrax spores were present before irradiation?

I would hope that actual attacks can be distinguished from hoaxes, even if reality might not fit neatly into current FBI theory.