Posted on 08/01/2002 4:56:44 PM PDT by John H K
Edited on 04/29/2004 2:00:57 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
FORT DETRICK, Maryland (CNN) -- FBI agents Thursday searched the apartment of a former researcher at the U.S. Army's biological warfare defense laboratory in Fort Detrick.
The researcher, Steven Hatfill, 48, had previously been questioned in the investigation of last fall's anthrax attacks and had his apartment searched.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
This search was done with a search warrant, which is fairly significant. The idea this is some vast deception to draw out the "real suspect" strikes me as wishful thinking.
I suspect they have something on him. I realize this is wildly unpopular on FR, him not being named Sayed Al-Hatfila and everything.
I predict people will jump all over the Iraq stuff but I suspect it's a red herring. And apparently he hasn't actually been there (though I've seen conflicting reports on that.)
It's unfortunate (and I really mean that, I'm not happy about it either) that this guy actually is apparently a white gun enthusiast with ties to the white Rhodesian government and apartheid South Africa. This is the guy that everyone on Democratic Underground has wet dreams about being connected to the Anthrax attacks.
They don't seem to even have enough evidence on this guy.
1. Maybe they didn't ask him for consent in the first place? Did they ask and he said no? Is he in Louisiana?
2. Why check dumpsters? Did someone see him throw something out?
3. Does he have something else to hide unrelated?
4. "Sources said Hatfill took a polygraph but the results were inconclusive." --- I remember that...and the "lies" he told were about parts of his serving in Rhodessian forces and the like. Maybe there are "lies" related to anthrax, but those weren't leaked ...why not? And "inconclusive" -what does that mean, and about what?
5. "Sources said that while the June search was for traces of anthrax, the focus of the latest search was different, although they did not elaborate. The warrant allowed for a broader search, the sources said." --- Broader? Broader than Anthrax? What did he consent to the three or four previous times? Did he say "just look for anthrax?" Funny, I saw the feds hauling out lots of items from his home. This sentce is posed as if the "warrant" was "broader" than what the guy allowed.
6. He's on the "stand by" roster of persons to go to Iraq. So? Wouldn't most anyone in that business be? Doesn't he need a job? Why would he not apply directly to the group considering circumstances?
I'm not saying this isn't "the guy", but the spin is just spin.
It's not a popularity contest here on FR. We search for truth. Keep up the good reporting. Stop being so worried. If you think you are right, post it. Sometimes you have to go it alone. Be proud. Be strong. Be FRee. Be American.
"Inconclusive" among polygraphers usually means possible deception indicated, but insufficient registration data on the polygraph machine to say "deception indicated" with certainty.
It appears everyone who has worked in that lab and other labs have been asked to take polygraphs. Checking earlier articles...
Not quite. His responses on the box indicated deceptive answers regarding his time spent with the Rhosdesian military. Why is this beginning to sound like the FBI-CIA squabbling back in the days when the CIA was sponsoring the Cuban exile invasion of Cuba, and raids on international shipping going to Castro's island....
-archy-/-
I've searched this one. All I can find in the press is the statement by Hatfill that he passed it. And in one place, Kristof's "Mr. Z" piece in the NY Times, where he "hears" that Hatfill (presumably) was found to be "evasive".
My searches include CNN.
BTW, here's a link to where we discussed that:
Newspaper: Bio researcher whose home was searched commissioned 1999 anthrax mail attack study
"To qualify for this clearance, he was reportedly required to take a polygraph test. Hatfill allegedly told the military official that he failed the polygraph on questions concerning his activities in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The people conducting the polygraph were amateurs, Hatfill allegedly complained to his interlocutor; they couldn't understand what Cold Warriors like himself had to do in Rhodesia. The military official recalls Hatfill as saying that his father-in-law had been killed by rebels in Rhodesia, and that he had consequently undertaken some actions that caused concern when he was given his polygraph test."
The CNN story is thus revealed to be a total lie. No one in Hatfill's present position should undertake ANY futher polygraphs. Even if he did, the results are supposed to be never given out, unless some investigator is trying to play mind games. Who is the source that has access to the inner workings of one of the highest visibility investigations? Visual media professor Dr. Barbara "Anthrax" Rosenberg? Flipping a coin gives better results than the polygraph because the polygraph passes sociopaths but incorrectly 'catches' extremely conscientious, rule-following types of personalities.
BTW, here's a link to where we discussed that:
I think some photographs of Hatfill back in the 1979-80 *Operation Quartz/Hectic/Hatchet* days have surfaced. We'll see.
Watch CNN at ten tonight for an interesting appearance and interview about Hatfill and the Rhodesian anthrax outbreak.
-archy-/-
Interesting that they had search warrants. And they searched the residence of a friend. Assumed there was only one prior search, but couldn't say straight out that Hatfill wouldn't have consented. Also took a "Camaro."
FBI guys in a news conference mostly smiling and confident about the "progress" of the investigation.
A quick reference that he was fired because he took something away from a lab?
Lots on that Rhodesia outbreak that killed 10 farmers and lots of cattle. I've read up on that a litte on the web. The study that says it was human caused depends on unusual "spread" patterns among a population. However, the country was at war, so odd patterns not unexpected. And it was cutaneous. The word of the current govt. is worthless. And why would Hatfill at that young age be linked to "Anthrax"? Later, he had interest in all sorts of diseases.
Funny, and very embarassing picture of him "making plague at home" - some joke now!
At the end, repetitive pictures of letters and receipts showing that CNN requesting interviews, the conclusion being that since he won't talk to CNN, something's wrong.
Oh, and the WOW! revelation that there's a town called "Greendale" in the capital city. Looking at the letters they showed, I remembered "Franklin Park" --hey, the terror mosque in Florida that Padilla went to is on Franklin Park Drive!
Afterwards, interview with reporter Isikoff was interesting. Was quite neutral.
All very interesting. Mostly felt that I knew so much more from FR. :)
All this means is that they were searching trash bins outside his apartment, so, unlike the earlier searches, his consent wouldn't have been sufficient to authorize the search. (They were searching through a mix of garbage, including other people's. Hatfill's consent would be irrelevant to a search which included other people's trash; therefore, they needed a search warrant.)
Well of course you do...
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