| U.N. allowed Iraqi purchase of agent usable for weapons |
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| Posted by kattracks On 11/06/2002 0:10 AM PST with 12 comments Washington Times ^ | 11/06/02 | Bill Gertz The United Nations overruled U.S. government objections and allowed Iraq to buy a specialty chemical that U.S. intelligence officials say will boost Baghdad's chemical and biological warfare agents. Top Stories o GOP regains control of Senateo Democrats can't avenge 2000 resulto Vote watchers get wish but not resultso Sharon dissolves parliament A large quantity of a chemical known as colloidal silicon dioxide was ordered by the Iraqis in August 2001 and held up by the U.S. government because of concerns about its use. However, the United Nations approved the sale and it was shipped to Iraq last month, said Hasmik Egin, a U.N. spokeswoman. Colloidal silicon... |
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| FBI's Theory On Anthrax Is Doubted (Evidence points to a state sponsor) |
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| Posted by Sabertooth On 10/28/2002 7:09 PM PST with 56 comments Washington Post ^ | October 28th, 2002 | Guy Gugliotta and Gary Matsumoto A significant number of scientists and biological warfare experts are expressing skepticism about the FBI's view that a single disgruntled American scientist prepared the spores and mailed the deadly anthrax letters that killed five people last year. These sources say that making a weaponized aerosol of such sophistication and virulence would require scientific knowledge, technical competence, access to expensive equipment and safety know-how that are probably beyond the capabilities of a lone individual. < snip > "In my opinion, there are maybe four or five people in the whole country who might be able to make this stuff, and I'm... In all, said Niro's Lancos, "you would need [a] chemist who is familiar with colloidal [fumed] silica, and a material science person to put it all together, and then some mechanical engineers to make this work . . . probably some containment people, if you don't want to kill anybody. You need half a dozen, I think, really smart people." For full WP story, go here, then click on the headline, "FBI's Theory On Anthrax Is Doubted." |
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