Posted on 10/17/2001 9:25:32 AM PDT by Yankee
Carl Cameron just reported that the ANTHRAX that was mailed to Daschle was natural spore, NOT enhanced, weaponized or modified in any way.
The Senators have all just been briefed by experts that it was potent, in that there was large number of spores by volume of powder, but that it was, quote, "Garden Variety" spores.
It was not the "floating variety that could spread through venitilation systems" that has been reported since yesterday.
Looks like Daschle caused a greater panic than warranted.
He's having a press conference in a few minutes, evidently to "revise and extend his remarks" from yesterday.
What I gathered from watching Daschle's press conference is the Anthrax is a Natural strain, but the samples found in the Senate building were PURE Anthrax spores. Is the Anthrax released so far a naturally occurring strain? I gather it hasn't been genetically tampered with, but getting pure Anthrax of any color would be impossible without very strict lab control.
As far as weaponized, what does that mean? Getting the correct size spore to avoid clumping would be necessary in a weaponized strain, but is that enough to call the strain weaponized?
Our officials need to define the terms, and communicate exactly what those terms mean. JMO.
Btw, the Fort Detrick guy is not someone I trust to tell the whole truth. If this strain is common, as he said, why haven't we identified it yet, with hundreds of strains on file?
mlo, the only thing that I am doing is sitting back and watching things develop. I was in the military for 25 years. There were times of boredom and times of excitement. I think these times are exciting. But that is the military mind. The civilian mind works differently. These things do not frighten me.
IMHO you answered your own question.
It is common, ie: not enhanced, because it is succeptable to all the antibiotics that were tested against it.
There are thousands, not hundreds of strains on file, therefore it takes time to analyze and identify the strain.
And by downplaying its weaponized nature you don't have to do either. Hence my point.
How long does it take to fully analyze anthrax.. anyone?
2. The Anthrax in FL was not "regular Anthrax" but weaponized Anthrax. How do we know this? Because it was INHALATION ANTHRAX.
Inhalation anthrax simply means the spores were inhaled. This happens to sheep workers all the time from NATURAL ANTHRAX. Now, if you concentrate this, then the chances of getting the actual disease go up. Weaponizes means something specific, not just "inhalation anthrax".
3 The Anthrax that was used to attack Daschel was also inhalation Anthrax. How do we know? Because of how many people were effected and by the fact that it is appearing in the ventilation system.
Read the preceding. Inhalation <> Weaponized
We need ORiley's NO SPIN ZONE and we need it now.
Yes, No spin from EITHER side. You see, you are "spinning" just as much as "they" are.
We are under attack and the terrorists are using State sponsored bio weapons against us.
This could certainly be the case, and I suspect that it is.
People don't want to face up to this because of the ramifications =
Yup, and I have heard this reason used for the Alien coverup as well... I think we under and overestimate the population in general. The ones who are really freaked out are the media, not the PIGS (People In General).
The print version of today's NYT story by Stephen Engelberg and Judith Miller quoted no one more specific than "government officials" and "experts." In addition, one "scientist" who was anonymously quoted was asked about the source of the mailing, assuming it was highly weaponized.
LOL! It sure sounds like some morons around here are hoping this is really bad.
I like how he accuses Cameron of spouting the "government" line, when the initial story was FROM the government.
I saw the term used yesterday referring to these people as "Freeptards". I think it fits.
Where is the source stating this is a fact. All I've heard is speculation. I don't doubt that it is true, but I've not heard anyone say this is a fact.
We are indeed under attack, but the way the media is handling this is like the old game "Gossip". A reporter files a report based on someone's speculation, the next reporter leaves out the speculation part and suddenly you've got two sources. Voila! Confirmation!
They will not announce the results because there is an investigation going on. Analyzing the strains from the different locations will allow them to determine if the attacks are related or the result of different sources.
2. The Anthrax in FL was not "regular Anthrax" but weaponized Anthrax. How do we know this? Because it was INHALATION ANTHRAX.
That comment shows you know nothing about this subject.
First of all, the term "weaponized" generally refers to two things. One, the spores are refined so they are all of a uniform, proper size and can be spread in the air easily, maximizing the number of people infected. Second, the anthrax can be genetically modified or hybridized so as to be antibiotic resistant.
Both or either of these can be done to cause it to be "weapinized".
Next, anthrax is anthrax. The only thing that determines inhalational from cutaneous is where the spores contact the body. The bacteria itself is identical.
3 The Anthrax that was used to attack Daschel was also inhalation Anthrax. How do we know? Because of how many people were effected and by the fact that it is appearing in the ventilation system.
Considering the ventilation story hasn't been confirmed, we should wait to see.
Your post is absolutely correct.
No need to apologize, its good to have "backup". And I agree with you about the "abjectly wrong" stuff. I have a hard enough time dealing with whacked out liberals, its a shame to see conservatives acting in the same vein.
Not necessarily. The reason Woolsorter's disease is uncommon is not the "purity" of the bacteria, but the number. In a given day someone involved in the wool business will inhale up to 700 anthrax spores, however, in order to become infected, it is necessary to inhale anywhere from 8,000 to 10,000 spores. It has nothing to do with "purity".
I would also add that if the first location had contained "weaponized" Anthrax, you would have seen much more than one death.
Also, obtaining millions of spores is not necessarily difficult, actually, culturing antrax is fairly easy. Given time, you can grow all you want. It then comes down to delivery.
News reports said the envelope was 'heavily' taped.
The unsuspecting Daschle staffer probably had to apply extra force to open the envelope, thus the contents got shaken up and went "POOF."
We don't know if it's common, because the strain hasn't been identified. At least one researcher thinks it may never be identified.
Maybe the Fort Detrick guys are using "common" and "naturally occurring" interchangeably. I don't know, but I wish they'd use more precise terms, and stop treating us like we're proles.
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