Thanks. The only other reference to this I've seen is in an
Oct. 29, 2001, PBS interview, in which the interviewer states: "You know that the allegation in today's paper is that Mr. al-Ani allegedly gave a bottle or vacuum bottle of anthrax to Mr. Atta."
In any case, I've never understood what the evidence for this could be. Based on what we've been told, Czech intelligence saw Atta meet al-Ani and may have taken pictures of the meeting. They may even have seen a bottle being transferred. But how could they know what was in the bottle?
There are three possibilities I can think of:
- They eavesdropped on the conversation between Atta and al-Ani. But I find it hard to believe, to the point of incredulity, that al-Ani and Atta would have said anything so incriminating.
- There is inside information, from a double agent or the like, as to what happened.
- The anthrax in the bottle is pure speculation. It may be known that al-Ani gave Atta a bottle, and people may say, "What else could have been in it?" But, if that's what's happening here, it's not very definitive.
By the way, has anybody seen any article purporting to state the size of this bottle? [What I'm really asking is: Was it large enough to hold envelopes?]
[What I'm really asking is: Was it large enough to hold envelopes?] Suggesting that the envelopes would have been prepared in an Iraqi lab...and all Atta (or his confederates) had to do was drop them in a mailbox.
The accompanying note paper was cut out of larger sheets (w/scissors?), for no apparent reason -- suggesting that there probably was a reason.
Could it be that they needed to disguise that the notes had been written and copied on European standard sheets (R-4, instead of 8.5 x 11.5)?