Ed writes:
“And ZacandPook seems to consider me a “al Qaeda apologist” because I say the facts indicate that al Qaeda had nothing to do with the anthrax mailings.”
Given we have corresponded regularly for 5 years, you have no basis for saying this. What I’ve said is that you never have addressed an Al Qaeda theory, and that you avoid critical analysis by endlessly invoking your ad hominem “conspiracy theorist” and “true believer” labels. (for example, see your posts above in this thread)
You don’t know enough about Ayman or his anthrax program to comment meaningfully about Amerithrax, which is odd given that you have been told by the FBI Director that they have aggressively pursued an Al Qaeda theory.
But go ahead, give it a try.
Your key argument that the hijackers were all “dead, dead, dead” is very lame.
That's certainly not true. Like almost everyone, when I first learned about the anthrax letters, I assumed that al Qaeda had sent them. But then as the evidence started piling up, it became clear that al Qaeda was NOT behind the anthrax attacks. And neither was Saddam Hussein.
Instead of looking at the facts, however, back in those days (November 2001) everyone was just voicing opinions: "Al Qaeda did it!" "No, Saddam Hussein did it!" "No, it was the Bush Administration!" "No, it was the pharmaceutical companies!" Etc., etc., etc.
That's why I started my web site. I addressed the "al Qaeda theory" in early 2002. All the FACTS say that al Qaeda was not behind the attacks.
However, there's no way to convince a "True Believer" of that. A True Believer can rationalize anything to fit his beliefs. And there's no way to prove him wrong. Here's why:
The anthrax mailer used standard small pre-stamped post office envelopes to mail his warnings. The envelopes have a green eagle stamp on them. A True Believer sees the green as a color code used by al Qaeda, and sees the American eagle as bird code used by al Qaeda. He sees this a PROOF that al Qaeda sent the letters. How can anyone prove him wrong?
The senate letters were mailed to two liberal senators. There appears to be no sensible reason why al Qaeda would target those two senators before targeting President Bush, the Pentagon, and dozens of Republican senators and congressmen first. But, a True Believer can dig around and find some bill to aid Israel which was sponsored by one of those senators. A True Believer can claim that is PROOF of why those senators were targeted. And how can he be proven wrong?
The letters contained medical advice, and it is clear the sender took numerous precautions to avoid harming anyone. But a True Believer can find some obscure passage in some obscure Muslim writings somewhere which indicate that a good Muslim should warn his enemy before using unusual weapons. To the True Believer, this is PROOF that al Qaeda would send medical advice in a warning letter. How can anyone prove such a ridiculous belief to be wrong?
The FBI has stated many times that the crime was a "domestic" crime. But a True Believer can say that "domestic" means that it was a crime committed by an al Qaeda member who lives in the United States. And who can prove him wrong?
The FBI is searching the world for any sign that al Qaeda might be developing bioweapons or chemical weapons somewhere. The True Believer sees this as "proof" that the FBI is pursuing a theory that al Qaeda was behind the anthrax attacks and that is their PRIMARY theory. And who can prove him wrong?
A True Believer converts facts to beliefs as he tries to convert the heathen to his way of thinking. He relies on the fact that he cannot be proven wrong, no matter how totally ridiculous his twisted rationalizations are.
Eric Hoffer stated in his book "The True Believer" that there is no way to change a True Believer's mind. The most you can hope for is to convert him to a different belief. But why bother? I have no reason to convert anyone. I just get tired sometimes of having some True Believer endlessly try to convert me to his absurd beliefs.