FBI to drain pond in anthrax probe

Orlando Sentinel ^ | May 11, 2003 | Marilyn Thompson

[pttttt]

WASHINGTON -- The FBI has developed a new theory on a central mystery of the 2001 anthrax attacks after finding evidence in a Frederick, Md., pond that may suggest how an ingenious criminal could have packed deadly anthrax spores into envelopes without killing or sickening himself, sources close to the investigation said.

[pttttt]

Passed along FYI. I have some questions about this item, which is coming out from several sources at once this morning. This seems to be more along the lines of the unsubstantiated "Hatfill did it" or the "homegrown domestic terrorists did it - no foreign actor could possibly be involved" theory that the FBI has insisted on sticking to.

It's also odd for it to be coming out now. There were ABC News items about the FBI looking in ponds for anthrax evidence in December 2002. The theory is not brand-new.

Hopefully it'll yield some leads, in a troubling case where there's been no progress.

[Normal4me]

Interesting. Something had to point to Hatfill at one time as a possible suspect. They claim they have found a clear box and vials wrapped in plastic in the pond. I guess we'll have to wait to see where the case leads after they drain the pond.

[B Knotts]

FBI to drain pond in anthrax probe

Whoa...just a minute, there.

Do they have the proper permits from the Army Corps of Engineers?

I mean, we can't have them destroying any "wetlands," can we?!? :-)

[Thane_Banquo]

The EPA his going to have a hissy fit.

[eno_]

Of course the simpler explanation is that terrorists who were confident they would be dead soon for other reasons don't need to worry about anthrax exposure. In fact, it would strengthen their resolve in the hijackings to know they are "already dead."

[umgud]

Will they find the center fuel tank?

[philomath]

no, but they're gonna put plastic boxes on the "terrorist parphenalia" list, and only allow use of "preban" boxes....

[VaBthang4]

You know...I havent followed this subject at all because it seems to me that the 9/11 highjackers were the sources of the original anthrax letters [mailed before 9/11] and that any subsequent letters were copycat mailings that killed "0".

Am I off?

[freeperfromnj]

FYI

[John H K]

Am I off?

Yes. None of the Anthrax letters were mailed before 9/18. None of the 9/11 hijackers could have physically mailed them.

The anthrax attacks were actually much later after 9/11 than people remember; I think people probably hazily remember Bob Stevens getting sick a week after 9/11 when it actually was three weeks.

And the FBI spent the entire first two months of the investigation trying to tie the anthrax attacks to the 9/11 hijackers, contrary to the idiotic assertions of most on FR, they didn't instantly decide it was a domestic terrorist and immediately write off foreign involvement.

[eno_]

"Plastic box" is very odd. Was it a glovebox, or not? Improvised, or off-the-shelf? And would a glovebox work under water, or would the gloves "blow out?" They are not designed for more than a very slight pressure differential. Just the weight of water in water-filled gloves would be much more than what they would have to handle in air. There ARE armoured boxes for working with explosives and rocket fuel, but these weigh a lot. Even a high school lab glovebox would weigh more than I'd like to carry by myself.

[steplock]

Unfortunately we have terrorist born here that do not like our republican form of government either and simply use opportunities as they arise to attack.

I believe the FBI had hard evidence that pointed to our "esteemed" scientist --- similarly to the idiot research professor in Texas who used this opportunity to instill terror in the community with his anthrax.

[craig_eddy]

I don't think the person worked UNDER water, but rather just at the surface of the water, like under an overturned canoe. The point was to create an air-tight environment (so the spores wouldn't blow around) which I believe you can do without being "under" water.

[VOA]

Something had to point to Hatfill at one time as a possible suspect.

Maybe so, but I think the main things we actually know pointing to Hatfill were
1. that college professor/activist from New York state who pushed the idea that
the anthrax attack had to be a domestic issue
AND
2. Profiling

Like I say "Profiling -- It's A White Guy Thing. Only."

[George W. Bush]

Yeah, but when they drain the pond, they shouldn't be surprised when some Frogs jump out!

[freeperfromnj]

Like I say "Profiling -- It's A White Guy Thing. Only."

Profiling has nothing to do with this. This case is much too complex and high profile for that. Ashcroft is overseeing this one and he certainly has no qualms about detaining or holding suspect middle eastern men.

[Ditter]

I understad the "glove box" thing but how did he get the anthrax into the box & the letters out & mailed without making contact with the spores? He didn't do either one of those things underwater.

[Alas Babylon!]

Yes, this needs further explaination. If you pulled the spores into a syringe under water, then shot them into an envelope underwater, wouldn't they get wet? So, maybe "he" held the envelope in the air, while drawing the spores into the syringe underwater? Hard not to get everything wet, in any case. It seems pretty stupid. Occam's Razor is needed here. The simplist thing to do in filling the envelopes is to use a biolab. Why complicate the matter where you risk wetting and ruining the spores and/or enveloples, and also risk being caught out in the open?