Of course, my interest in the subject has nothing to do with the fact that silicon and oxygen were detected in the Daschle sample, but no one saw any silica OR poylmerized glass in the sample. And the entire field of Microbial Forensics seems to have been created to determine with scientific accuracy what that silicon and oxygen was and how it got there. If it's "lab contamination" as believed, it would be key evidence in a criminal case.
That may seem unimportant to you, but it seems pretty important to me.
The rest of my interest is simply a matter of showing that Stuart's belief is a lot of hogwash when he tries to suggest that the attack spores were coated with silica and that the entire FBI and thousands of microbiologists are all involved in some sinister plot to keep that information from the American public.
I’ve explained based on the SEMS of the anthrax simulant made by the military lab that makes anthrax simulant for the government (for biodefense testing purposes) why silica was detected but not seen. Now that’s science. His results and conclusions are the subject of testing, measurement, and verification.
Stuart is hung up on the characterization of “super-sophisticated” versus the military scientist’s characterization (and Ken’s characterization) of the method as relatively simple. The difference is that the anthrax scientist has done it. But, of course, it is sophisticated. Everything about the work of the lab is sophisticated.
The suggestion that it was due to lab contamination — as you suggest — well, that’s is not subject to duplication and has not been duplicated. But there was nothing improper about Dwight Adams’ citation of that study to Senate Staffers. No conspiracy here on the science, Stuart. Just on the use of the lethal weapon.
Now as to neither Dwight nor Doug being expert on anthrax weaponization, there is no surprise there. That is why they are contracting with numerous outside labs.