Analysis of Anthrax Letters and Envelopes [Atta Did It?]

InstaPundit.com ^ | June 19, 2002 | Glenn Reynolds

[Nogbad]

When you rent a house, do you usually know where the rental agent's spouse is employed?

Not normally. But if the spouse is working for a tabloid, who knows?

Who knows what questions the rental agent might have asked, out of curiosity?

Who knows if the obnoxious Atta might have taken offense
over some question this woman might have asked him,
might have looked for some method of revenge.
All speculation, of course, and not very productive.

The only important question remains: who is the Donor?

[okie01]

"The big question is where did the original sample come from?? It still looks like Fort Dietrick."

Originally? Yes, quite likely.

But the question before the house is where the most recent iteration of the original sample came from...

[Nogbad]

Yes I remember now your exchange with Ed Lake.

He is another person who likes to use the phrase :

"there is virtually no doubt"

Famous last words.

[Nogbad]

Ping, just in case.

[Travis McGee]

Fascinating. If ATTA was leaving a cryptic signature, he may have made it indistinct because he could not be certain of "success" (=death) on 9-11. He may have thought the mission would wind up a scrub, and he would need to go "undercover" again. If he more clearly "signed" his name, his ID would be blown if he was unable to hijack the plane.

So perhaps he chose the middle route, the cryptic signature, to be "read" only in the event of his demise after his name became infamous.

[TexKat]

I have always thougth this to be true. There was more than one person who reported that Atta's hands were infected, raw, or something to that affect.

It astounds me that our government officials try to mislead and cover up. It does nothing but make them appear to be incompetent or just down right liars. All this time and money spent.

[TexKat]

They decided to blame some home grown terrorist organization,

And if this was the case, why has the mailings not continued?

[TexKat]

How did Atta get his hands on the quality of stuff that was sent to Daschle?

Possibly from some American Al Queda member living amongst us that we don't know about yet. Sleepers in the midst.

[TexKat]

Does anyone have any documents that Atta would have signed? Lease agreement, credit card receipt, etc. Probably not, probably FBI confiscated, never to be seen again. Could Atta write in cursive?

[Faith-Hope]

Did Atta do Fla. also?

[TexKat]

I wasn't aware Saddam had the capability to do the electro static charging to prevent clumping.

At this point, I don't think anyone is aware of what Saddam has the capability of.

[mystery-ak]

I have just one question...Why wasn't Atta's fingerprints on the paper....he knew he was going to die, why take special care concealing your prints....he was a martyr and this would give him more notoriety?

[UncleJeff]

Poor wording on my part. Should have been "Where did the Anthraxer get the original stock". I don't buy that this was done by a scientist because of the apparent attempt at reproduction.

[okie01]

Should have been "Where did the Anthraxer get the original stock".

Identification as the Ames strain means that the anthrax was originally cultured in the U.S., of course. Whoever weaponized this particular bit of anthrax could have obtained their sample of Ames strain from any of several sources, Fort Detrick being but one of several primary sources.

Fort Detrick, in turn, distributed cultures to perhaps half-a-dozen other potential sources -- including Dugway Proving Ground, the Battelle Institute, plus the Canadian and U.K. (Porton Down) equivalent of Fort Detrick.

It may well be that the sample employed originated with Fort Detrick, but it may have passed through several hands (legitimately or not) before arriving in the weaponizer's lab.

Point being, if it can be genetically proven that the weaponized anthrax originally derives from a culture at Fort Detrick...so what? How many places did it go after Fort Detrick?

[UncleJeff]

I think it highly likely that a small quantity of weaponized anthrax was obtained from Fort Dietrick, by persons unknown, and passed along to either the ultimate user or their supplier. If Iraq had provided material for terrorist use they probably would have provided a larger quantity. The whole thing is kinda screwy, with the apparent attempt to grow more from the original sample. Could indicate that even the original sample may have been pilfered by someone with little technical knowledge of the weaponization process. Security at Fort Dietrick was notoriously sketchy even back in the late '70s and early '80s when I had limited contact with the place.

[patriciaruth]

Thanks.

[My Identity]

Why wasn't Atta's fingerprints on the paper....he knew he was going to die, why take special care concealing your prints....he was a martyr and this would give him more notoriety?

Letters had to be assembled in a glove box/bag (to prevent accidental contamination). Plus, any oil from fingerprints would have reduced the effectiveness of the powder (increased clumping, reduced material).

[Ordinary_American]

"I think it highly likely that a small quantity of weaponized anthrax was obtained from Fort Dietrick, by persons unknown, and passed along to either the ultimate user or their supplier."

The Ames strain was distributed by Fort Detrick to a number of known locations. Samples could have been taken from any of them including Detrick. As you point out, security at Fort Detrick was notoriously lax.

"If Iraq had provided material for terrorist use they probably would have provided a larger quantity."

Not if they wanted to hide the source of the anthrax.

[bimbo]

It appears that Bush, Ashcroft, and Mueller are desperate to have the American Public accept the notion that the Anthrax attacks were domestic in origin. Why? … because it is easier and more politically profitable to chase and apprehend Americans. Look at the Oklahoma City bombing and Tim McVeigh – quick trial, speedy execution, and into the History books - nice and neat.

[mystery-ak]

Thanks, you are right.....DUH, I forgot about contamination.