Investigators have found that the strain of anthrax on the letter mailed to Daschle's office was ``a very potent form of anthrax that clearly was produced by someone who knew what he or she was doing,'' the majority leader said.
Three government sources, all speaking on condition of anonymity, said preliminary testing indicated the anthrax had been refined enough so that it could be easily dispersed through the air. One law enforcement official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the anthrax was in a purified form that could be used as a weapon. Additional testing was being done late Tuesday.
This is not your local yokel's anthrax.
Investigators have found that the strain of anthrax on the letter mailed to Daschle's office was ``a very potent form of anthrax that clearly was produced by someone who knew what he or she was doing,'' the majority leader said.
Three government sources, all speaking on condition of anonymity, said preliminary testing indicated the anthrax had been refined enough so that it could be easily dispersed through the air. One law enforcement official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the anthrax was in a purified form that could be used as a weapon. Additional testing was being done late Tuesday."
Ok, lets get real. It seems the government has been down playing the Anthrax bio terrorist attacks and their coordinated relationship with the events of 911 in order to "not alarm the masses" and to avoid wide spread panic. But let's look at the facts:
1. The Anthrax in FL was inhalation Anthrax, i.e. the weaponized MANUFACTURED form, not found in nature.
2. The Anthrax Daschel received was also (according to ABC and FOX News) "not produced by amatures but very powerful... very refined and very fine." Again, not your garden variety Anthrax. Huge centrifuges costing millions upon millions of dollars must be used in order to refine it. That takes the resources of a State to produce the weaponized Anthrax that has been used. The primary suspect is Sadam and Iraq. Don't forget, Atta, the leader of the 911 attacks, met not once but twice with high ranking Iraqi officials. He also went to a FL Pharmacy asking for something to treat his hands which were very red and itchy. Atta was also the one making serious inquiries into crop dusters in FL.
3. The Attacks, like those of 911 were well coordinated and the targets were all high visibility targets designed to maximize the terror and also provide the perpetrators with information on how successful their attacks were.
Like the first attack on the WTC, these latest attacks made an impact but failed to gain the results they were after = the deaths of thousands and the disruption of American commerce/life.
The terrorists used the results of the first attempt on the WTC to re-think the problem and try again, with devastating results. My question to everyone on FR is this:
What Do You Think Will Be Next On The Terrorist Hit Parade Since The Anthrax Attack Has Failed? Small pox, or will they go in another direction?
Dr. S