[cgbg]

You are to be congratulated for putting forward a theory that fits the known facts reasonably well.

I don't think I agree with it though.

Some random thoughts (too early to fit into a theory):

The unabomber was sending bombs through the mail which forced folks to be careful about opening packages. Yet the mail continued to operate.

Anthrax, as has been discussed ad nauseum, is a miserable terror weapon--not contagious, can't survive sunlight, etc. So it cannot cause a true panic once the novelty wears off.

While the hazmat teams are running around in the silly "white powder chase" there appears to be no major long-term harm as a result of the exercise--it probably does them good to practice a little. ;-)

While it does divert them and the antibiotic supply in the short term it has no long term impact.

My gut just tells me that history will recall this anthrax thing is nothing about nothing.

(Caveat emptor--I was wrong about Y2K ;-) )

[francisandbeans]

while you unibomber analogy holds some water, he didnt send packages after running planes into large buildings. This is why it works. If there were to occur minus the WTC, I dont think I would even think about it much. Everyone has anthrax on the brain to some degree.