Iraqi Anthrax? -- Getting Closer

New York Times ^ | October 26, 2001 | William J. Broad with Judith Miller

[Publius]

Experts disagree on whether Iraq produced the Daschle-grade anthrax...

To think that this is what Daschle will be remembered for in the history books. A grade of anthrax. How fitting.

[Clinton's a rapist]

Iraq may be making war on us whether or not our government admits it.

Am I right, or am I right?

[aristeides]

You are right.

Thanks, Thud.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Maybe Atta was given a sealed envelope of anthrax powder (and some cipro).

A little bit of it to spread around. "Hey, let's see if this stuff really works."

[TomGuy]

One thing I haven't heard discussed is the "local transfer"
of the anthrax into the envelopes, themselves.

The earlier envelopes apparently were not "militarized"
to cause them to float in the air. However,
the one(s) to W, DC., apparently were "militarized"
to allow them to explode and float into the air.

The perpetrator either loaded the envelope(s) in a save
environment--not many of those are open to the public--
or he/she is also contaminated, possibly dead.

The equipment to create a safe environment is probably
not off-the-shelf-Kmart-blue-light-special and would
have been acquired somewhat recently. Seems checking
manufacturers for recent sales would be in order.
The envelopes could have been prepared overseas; however,
and transported into the country. If that
were the case, wouldn't there be many more in the mail?

[samtheman]

You are right.

[Eva]

You have to remember that studying anthrax is perfectly natural in the Mid-East. Anthrax originates in that part of the world. If you remember, the last outbreak in this country, involved wool from Pakistan. They used to call anthrax, wool handlers' disease. It was an occupational hazard. It probably came from camels' hair or some other natural fiber that was mixed with the wool.

[aristeides]

Sounds a lot like the way the CIA and other U.S. government agencies had in effect been helping bin Laden and his organization, the Taliban, and Islamofascists in general, right up to Sept. 11th. In that way, Sept. 11th was a lot like Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, causing a sudden change in U.S. government policies which had looked increasingly irrational in preceding years.

Question. In both cases, were the irrational policies just a matter of bureaucratic inertia and CYA? Or was there something more sinister at work, i.e., a desire to see the predictable horrible event happen, and then to take advantage of it?

[Willing To Listen]

Iraqi Anthrax? -- Getting Closer

For the last two days all we have heard is that there are only three countries that could have created the Anthrax.

Then today from the Whitehouse Press Secretary we heard that all you need is a person with a Doctorate Degree in Microbiology and a "small lab" and that person could have created the latest and greatest.

Getting closer? I don't think so.

[Vinomori]

bump

[Thud]

Knowing that something is possible, knowing precisely how to do it, and being able to do it are three different things.

Knowing in general that Iraq can produce Daschle-grade anthrax doesn't mean that someone knows precisely how to do it even given exactly the right equipment and materials plus adequately skilled personnel. The production techniques can be tricky. Occam's Razor says the Iraqis made the anthrax powder used on Daschle's office.

There are other considerations. You might know that making babies is possible, and how to create them but, if you are male, I defy you to personally give birth to a baby.

[Registered]

[bvw]

Hey, your mail is still being delivered, I see. We got a lot today. After not much in the past few days. Two bulk dropped at Trenton, then trucked over to New Brunswick, where it was mailed to us. I washed my hands after opening them.

My wife's West Trenton office hasn't gotten mail all week.

But hey, parody is parody, right? So what if it encourages someone to make light of a deadly danger, and ignore some precautions, and get the disease. Doesn't effect Registered, in the slightest, I guess.

Throwing any chickenpox parties? Understand smallpox parties are the next thing for bold boys such as Registered.

[Willing To Listen]

"Knowing in general that Iraq can produce Daschle-grade anthrax doesn't mean that someone knows precisely how to do it even given exactly the right equipment and materials plus adequately skilled personnel. The production techniques can be tricky. Occam's Razor says the Iraqis made the anthrax powder used on Daschle's office."

I couldn't agree with you more!

Don't you think there might be a reason why the Whitehouse Press Secretary said that all you need is a Doctorate in Microbiology and a "small lab" to produce it.

[rebdov]

You are guilty of racial profiling and ethnic intimidation. And all this time I was looking for those ant tracks.

[Nogbad]

Don't you think there might be a reason why the Whitehouse Press Secretary said that all you need is a Doctorate in Microbiology and a "small lab" to produce it.

I agree. It couldn't have been made in Iraq. No way! It was made in Slippery Rock State College.