Sen. Leahy: West Nile Outbreak Could Be Terrorism

Newsmax.com ^ | Sept. 12 ,2002 | Carl Limbacher

[honway]

Sen. Leahy: West Nile Outbreak Could Be Terrorism

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy, D-Vt., said Thursday that he suspects the recent outbreak of West Nile virus that has killed more than 30 Americans across the nation this summer is the work of terrorists.

"I think we have to ask ourselves, is it a coincidence that we're seeing such an increase in West Nile virus. Or is that something that is being tested as a biological weapon by the terrorists?" Leahy said in an interview with WKDR (Burlington, Vt.) radio host Mark Johnson.

"There are some people who, credibly, feel [the West Nile outbreak] is a test of our defenses and is a biological weapon."

Just as host Johnson attempted to grill the Vermont Democrat on his West Nile theory, the interview was interrupted by coverage of President Bush's address to the United Nations.

"I've never heard anybody mention West Nile virus as being a possible terrorist attack. What makes you say that?" the Vermont radio talker asked.

"It may be coincidence, the sudden increase [of West Nile cases]. Some of the same people who have ...," Leahy began to explain, just as WKDR broke in for coverage of the Bush speech.

Leahy unveiled his concerns about West Nile terrorism while recounting the anthrax attacks of last fall, when his Senate office was targeted by a weapons-grade sample of the deadly bioweapon.

[America's Resolve]

Boy! I don't even know what to say. This madman BETTER have some proof of this! He could cause a panic over something that isn't the case.

If this gets picked up by the major media, the political ramifications could be AWESOME!

And yet, I'm confused I guess. It's one thing when some people chatter and speculate about things like this in a bar over a beer, or in a university class. Coming from a highly placed government official gives it a stamp of legitimacy.

Coming from a Democrat, just over a month before a major election, it's just shocking! If this is picked up by the wires, he's just handed the senate to the right! This country will turn into a nation of hawks with a capital H! They'll all be demanding Hussein's head on a platter and anyone who votes against it will be not elected/recalled.

This could REALLY stir up the pot!

[syriacus]

33 new caes in IL confirmed today alone..346 total now..300 of them the past month..14 deaths..90% of the crows dead..

I remember running, many times, with lots of other kids, in the fog that followed after the "mosquito sprayer man," in the 50's in suburban Chicago.

Bring back DDT.

[grania]

The last time the city ie: Chicago sprayed neighborhoods was in the mid-70s when the outbreak of St. Louis encephalitis occurred, Paul said

In this area (SE Mass), we had a lot of WestNile virus in birds last year. Mosquito spraying is a regular event here when there's any disease danger, and that spraying kept it from being a huge human problem. This year, because of drought, we don't have a problem...no mosquitoes!

I can't believe the spraying wasn't done much earlier in Chicago (and other places) when it was so effective in infected areas last year.

To call it terrorism is pretty silly. The virus has spread in a pretty predictable fashion from its start a few years ago.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

It is more likely due to the influx of third worlders bringing the virus with them. This political hack is simply attempting to head off the obvious eruption which will occur when people experience diseases that they have never heard of before.

[Geezerette]

Thanks for posting this!

Indexing for later ...

g

[honway]

The virus has spread in a pretty predictable fashion from its start a few years ago.

I am here to learn. To my knowledge, there has never been a completely foreign mosquito borne virus that has completely swept across the U.S. in three short years. Have there been any computer models exploring bird migratory patterns to substatiate the theroy that this was spread exclusively by birds? I know mosquitos remain generally within 300 yards from the location where they are hatched during their entire lifespan. How this spread so quickly concerns me.

If you could identify a similiar occurrence, I would appreciate it.

[honway]

Mosquito spraying is a regular event here when there's any disease danger

You have identified a concern I have. Mosquito control trucks and airplanes were a rare event prior to the West Nile virus, now it is common place in our population centers.

Either planes or trucks used in a biological weapons attack could easily pass as a mosquito control operation. Just as an airborne weapon of mass destruction flying down the Hudson River could pass as a passenger jet.

[honway]

As a terrorist weapon, it's not very efficient, most people don't even get sick from it.

Please see my #27.

I may be the only one in America that is overestimating the diabolical capability of a man that engineered an operation that brought down two of the tallest man made structures on the planet with two hijacked passenger planes.

[America's Resolve]

In July 2002, the Washington Post ran a detailed report suggesting that the CIA has found a laboratory on the west bank of the Tigris river, where 85 scientists were working on a viral strain code-named Blue Nile.

Ya know, I did run across this the other day in that Scotsman article (compilation really) of what Iraq has in the way of WMD. Pretty interesting I think.

Here

Godspeed

[Jorge]

With all due respect this is getting ridiculous.
When it comes to all the diseases killing Americans, the West Nile Virus barely even shows up on the radar screen.
If this is a terrorist attact, it sure is a pathetic one.

[grania]

You have identified a concern I have. Mosquito control trucks and airplanes were a rare event prior to the West Nile virus, now it is common place in our population centers.

I wasn't expressing any concern or fear of the mosquito control trucks and airplanes...I was writing that the spraying has been very effective.

As far as this virus goes...at first it was probably under-reported. Now, there is some speculation that it might spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

This isn't terrorism. Just don't let mosquitoes bite you. And if you see pools of stagnent water, or old tires and rusty things, clean it up.

[honway]

This suggests that some 810 tonnes of chemicals needed to make VX was imported into Iraq, but that inspectors have only been able to account for 191 tonnes of it. An intelligence report says the remaining 619 tonnes of so-called precursor chemicals is enough to produce 200 tonnes of VX - which it says could "theoretically obliterate the entire global population

---

Thanks for the link in reply #29 and the very informative thread.

[honway]

Crop dusters are being widely used in the war on the West Nile virus spreading mosquitos.

Atta and Moussaoui spent a considerable amout of time investigating crop dusting operations.

Since Atta already had his mission, his research on crop dusters must have been for another terrorist operation.

Weapons inspectors in Iraq discovered Saddam Hussein had developed a means of distributing biological weapons using "crop duster" type dispensing equipment. In fact,of all his potential delivery methods, the inspectors determined this equipment used on helicopters was Saddam's most efficient method.

[verity]

It is time to profile mosquitoes. Bwahahaha!

[honway]

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E23827%257E764397,00.html

Link

Iraqi lab evidence elusive
U.S. analysts try to prove rumors of weapons site
By Joby Warrick
The Washington Post

"Wednesday, July 31, 2002 - WASHINGTON - U.S. intelligence analysts have been closely examining satellite images of the west bank of the Tigris River in Baghdad for signs of a laboratory rumored to exist there. Called Tahhaddy, or "Challenge," the lab is purported to have 85 employees and a top-secret mission: making biological weapons for Iraq's military.

Details about the lab have trickled out of Iraq in recent months in accounts from defectors and Iraqi exiles opposed to President Saddam Hussein. They tell of underground test chambers, heavy security and a viral strain code-named "Blue Nile," which sounds suspiciously like the Ebola virus."

-------------------------------------------------------

I accept that West Nile may not have been a trial run by the Iraqi biological weapons program. But evidence suggests he has a biological and chemical weapons arsenal at his disposal. Does anyone doubt that Saddam Hussein will use this arsenal if his regime is on the verge of being changed? Isn't it reasonable to assume if he spent billions developing the weapons, he spent some time considering a delivery system?

My view is that when we resettled over 15,000 Iraqi refugees in the U.S, including former Iraqi soldiers, at the conclusion of the last Gulf War, we also resettled Saddam's delivery system.

[Great Dane]

I may be the only one in America that is overestimating the diabolical capability of a man that engineered an operation that brought down two of the tallest man made structures on the planet with two hijacked passenger planes.

I hear you, and to be honest with you, the thought had crossed my mind until I learned a little more about West Nile

[honway]

I hear you, and to be honest with you, the thought had crossed my mind until I learned a little more about West Nile

I am under the impression that the spread of this virus so quickly that was first identified in 1999, is unprecedented. Is that bad information? Do you know of a similiar case?

[Henchman]

Finally! Thanks for the documentation.

Also: "Skinner, the CDC spokesman, said the cycle of the disease and its transmission — from mosquitoes to birds and to people — is what one would expect with West Nile. "All of that points to this being a naturally occurring outbreak," he said."

Why wouldn't a bio terrorist weapon rely upon "natural" cycles? The terrorists couldn't come up with a better way to hide the act AND the cycle continues....."

[Great Dane]

I am under the impression that the spread of this virus so quickly that was first identified in 1999, is unprecedented. Is that bad information? Do you know of a similiar case?

It is said that WN can not be spread from person to person, we in Canada has however had some cases of WN in birds last year, this year we have had a few people diagnosed, but they are going to be fine, Manitoba has had 4 horses dying of WN.

Most at risk, are people with compromised immune systems, such as AIDS sufferers, older and frail people, and very young children........ DON'T FORGET TO USE MOSQUITO REPELLANTS.

[honway]

For arguments sake, if this was a trial run at an intentional attempt to spread a virus carried by mosquitos, it would look exactly like the current West Nile situation.

Pigeons would be the most likely means of introducing the virus into the mosquito and bird population, IMO.

It is common for people to own pigeons. Anyone handling a sigificant number of crows, blue jays or any other species would draw attention from neighbors.