Have Soviet-Era Bio Weapons Infected Afghan Refugees?

Jane's ^ | 11/28/01 | Janes Terrorism and Security Monitor

[gjenkins]

My mind has no problem going conspiratorial, but the implications of aeresolized Ebola is too much for me to take ... after reading 'The Hot Zone'. My mind doesn't even like to think of conspiracies bigger than OBL on this topic. It was pointed out that here could be several possibilities of why OBL could be responsible. He could be killing off the men who he bribed, he could be killing off the few men who are most knowledgeable to weaken our defenses, ... who knows. All I know is that I now feel a bit apprehensive.

In addition, the guy kept mentioning the three phase attack of OBL. He said that the three phases have been mentioned by the Soviets and by the 'Wilson' interview. Wilson, I believe, is the American who was fighting for the Taliban. The three phases were speculated to be Sept. 11, Viral attack after Ramadan, and finally suit-case nukes and dirty bombs.

[riri]

I agree. I think we are hitting a crescendo. OBL´s mantra has been he could take us down in 3 days. Figuratevely speaking, I guess.

But why the killing of the scientists? These guys have had no success in finding a cure for Ebola thus far? My mind is spinning.

[gjenkins]

"These guys have had no success in finding a cure for Ebola thus far?"

As far as you know ... minimally, they are the closest people to finding cures.

[riri]

Right. But correct me if I am wrong in any of this. Ebola is pretty much always fatal, but it is NOT that contagious, am I right? You need pretty close contact with bodily fluids to become infected. Ebola is pretty easily contained and burns itself out fairly quickly.

So, we have a pretty massive outbreak of Ebola, coast to coast cases. The first responders are going to be the most important people initially. To control, treat, whatever the ill and dying and most importantly the burning of the corpses. The scientists may be scrambling to find cures, innoculations or what have you. But I wouldn´t count on that anyway-would you?

I am kinding thinking through this out loud, so forgive me if it is not making a whole lot of sense. But I think you have to agree...something here is very strange, there is a bigger picture, no?

[gjenkins]

In the Hot Zone, there were 3 strains discussed which were 30%, 50%, and 90% fatal. The end of the book left the impression that it seemed transmittable by air ... although they previously thought not.

In addition, one of ther alarming stories out right now is that a Russian scientist who specialized in aeresolizing this stuff is missing. Just like anthrax, aeresolized versions would change the rules a bit.

[gjenkins]

The guy last night was talking a 2 week period of time where the agents are effective. Aeresolized versions could travel a ways in that amount of time .... maybe. They are also destroyed by ultraviolet radiation ... the sun.

I wouldn't count on anything. We don't know if they can deliver it. We don't know how widespread they can deliver it. We don't know anything except some correlated stories.

[FR_addict]

I couldn't find this article on Jane's web site. I did a search for it.

[RCW2001]

I couldn't link to it either although I did hear parts of the broadcast last night.

Must have be yanked???

[RCW2001]

Found this little ditty on a google search:

	EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER Caused by the Ebola Virus, which has origins in the jungles of Africa. Initial infection occurs through contact with an infected animal. The virus is highly contagious, and is then transmitted though direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or semen of an infected person, handling of the dead or infected, and contaminated needles. Symptoms Symptoms differ from patient to patient. Within a few days of infection, symptoms include: high fever, headache, muscle aches, stomach pain, fatigue, diarrhea, sore throat, hiccups, rash, red and itchy eyes, vomiting blood, bloody diarrhea. Within a week of infection, symptoms are: chest pain, shock, blindness, bleeding, and death. Treatment There is no standard treatment. Patients receive supportive therapy, consisting of balancing the patient's fluids and electrolytes, maintaining their oxygen status and blood pressure, and treatment of any complicating infections. HISTORY AND POTENTIAL AS A BIOWEAPON Within the last few years, naturally occurring outbreaks of ebola throughout parts of Africa have drawn international attention to this contagious and often lethal illness. Easily aerosolized ebola could potentially be weaponized though there is no evidence that any country or group has done so. It was believed Aum Shinrikyo tried and failed to develop an ebola bio-weapon in the 1990's. The Centers for Disease Control (cdc.gov) Journal of the American Medical Association Canadian Bacterial Disease Network

[GatorGirl]

It's still there as of 5:45 EST. Just do a simple search of "ebola". I posted the entire text of the article and copied and pasted the link.

[GatorGirl]

This does make me think it's more common than we hear up there. But still, the numbers seem significant. Any info. on the natural incidence in Iran??? Thanks for the info. I think it sounds comforting...

[riri]

The Russian scientist is dead, not missing. Ofcourse what may have happened to him before he died is unknown.

Dr. Vladimir Pasechnik was responsible for viability of plague as aerosolized bioweapon. He came up with polymer coating. He also worked on binary weapons, such as substance A232 and substance 233 Novichok.

On November 23, 2001, the New York Times reported the death, two days earlier, of Vladimir Pasechnik, former director of the Institute of Ultra Pure Biochemical Preparations, a component of the Soviet biowarfare establishment, Biopreparat. Pasechnik had defected to Britain in 1989. In England Pasechnik was employed by Porton Down until he joined in the creation of a private company several years ago. With the exception of the Times obituary Pasechnik's death went unreported for almost a week. Interestingly, the Times was apparently informed of Pasechnik's death by the U.K. Ministry of Defense representative on the team which had debriefed Pasechnik after his defection.

If these guys have any form of aerosolized Ebola, me thinks they won´t be needing a phase 3...

[gjenkins]

You may be right, but I think it would rather hard for them to saturate this country that effectively. They could knock-out a couple/many large population centers. Then follow that by knocking out key military targets. Voila, a severely disabled USA.

[Marie]

It was there. I found it and bookmarked it. When I went back a few hours later I got a "This page is unavailable" type message.

[spycatcher]

Jane's "disappeared the article" from their site after too much publicity when microbiologists started falling like flies, and Ebola victims came up missing.

[Voronin]

What do you think?

Right at this moment I am blowing a loud raspberry. Anything's possible, but everything isn't. How's that for a useless answer ;-> ?

VRN

[tonycavanagh]

re : Right at this moment I am blowing a loud raspberry. Anything's possible.

LOL Better than some I get here .

Cheers Tony