[Wolfstar]

Tonight on Greta Van Sustern's show, a gentleman by the name of Richard Spertzel was on. He was introduced as a "former UN weapons inspector." He made a remarkable statement that he believes the anthrax used in the 2001 attacks came from Iraq. To the best of my recollection, this is the first time someone with first-hand, authoritative knowledge of Iraq's bioweapons capabilities has publicly linked the anthrax attacks with Iraq.

A quick Google search of his name produced the following:

RICHARD O. SPERTZEL, VMD Ph.D.
FORMER HEAD OF BIOLOGY SECTION, UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMISSION ON IRAQ

LINK TO: Mr. Spertzel's statement before the House Committee on International Relations, 12/5/01.

LINK TO: Mr. Spertzel's statement before the House Armed Services Committee, 9/10/02

[Howlin]

You are correct; that is the first time those words have been spoken on live TV.

[Fred Mertz]

Thanks for the eyewitness reporting.

[okie01]

Spertzel is prominently quoted in FBI theory on anthrax doubted (state source probable), Washington Post

[piasa]

From Bob Woodward's book:

2002 : They turned to the hot topic of anthrax. The powder in the letter mailed to Senator Daschle's office had been found to be potent, prompting officials to suggest its source was likely an expert capable of producing the bacteria in huge amounts. Tenet said, "I think it's AQ -- meaning Al Qaeda."

"I think there's a state sponsor involved. It's too well thought-out, the powder's too well refined. It might be Iraq, it might be Russia, it might be a renegade scientist, perhaps from Iraq or Russia."

"I'm not going to talk about a state sponsor." Tenet assured them.

"It's good that we don't." said Cheney, "because we're not ready to do anything about it."
- Bob Woodward, Bush at War (2002), pp. 248-249.