Posted on 11/03/2001 7:57:35 AM PST by Jean S
The media seem to be in a rush to pin down the individual or group responsible for the anthrax attacks. But, their accusations vary from day to day as to whether there is a foreign sponsor or whether it is domestic extremists. The media's conclusions seem to be poorly based on fact and neglect an obvious middle ground conclusion.
The media initially promoted the idea that foreign terrorists, bin Laden and possibly even Saddam Hussein where responsible for the anthrax attacks. The Washington Times claimed, "As the number of cases grow, so does suspicion that al Qaeda is involved." However, today, the media endorse the notion that domestic extremists are behind the attacks. The Washington Post reported, "The FBI and CIA officials believe that the anthrax attacks on Washington, New York, and Florida are likely the work of one or more extremists in the United States."
The Post reported that many domestic possibilities are being considered, including associates of right-wing hate groups and U.S. residents sympathetic to the Mideast. The use of 'right-wing hate groups' is typical language used at the Post to draw attention to its sensational story. Yet, while a source told the Post that the FBI and CIA officials believe the anthrax case is domestic, this does not rule out a middle course where local extremists are tied with bin Laden or even Saddam.
Bin Laden had been planning the terrorist attacks against the U.S. for many years. It is not too far-fetched to imagine that he had foreign terrorists in the U.S. trained as microbiologists, working in private labs, domestically producing anthrax.
The media's new focus on domestic extremists developed from the notion that the anthrax most likely is U.S. made, could have been produced in a small laboratory, and most likely does not contain bentonite. None of these new assumptions prove foreign extremists are not behind the anthrax attacks.
The Washington Times has noted that, "the U.S. is the most likely source of the anthrax because it would be simpler to get the bacteria here then import it." This reasoning makes logical sense but this does not eliminate any of the original foreign suspects. Recall that the terrorist involved in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon attended flight school in the U.S. and had been in the U.S. many years before September 11th.
The Times also reported that the anthrax sent to Mr. Daschle proved that someone could have produced the anthrax in a small laboratory with a Ph.D. in microbiology. "That expanded the possible perpetrators of the anthrax attacks to individuals or groups not linked to foreign governments." The Times left out that this discovery also means microbiologists could still be networking with bin Laden and foreign governments. The microbiologists could have their own private lab and produce anthrax undetected.
In fact, it is known that bin Laden has at least one microbiologist working for al Qaeda. Recently, a Yemini microbiology student in Paskistan, who is an active member of the al Qaeda terrorist organization, was turned in to the U.S. for connection with the USS Cole bombing.
The latest media reports exploit the information from chemical tests that bentonite is not found in the anthrax. Since Iraq has used bentonite in previous years then the media claims that Iraq is less likely to be responsible. The Washington Post began a story titled, "Germ Tests Point Away from Iraq." Germ tests do not point away from anything. Iraq has not been inspected for three years and could be no longer using bentonite. Also, Iraq and bin Laden could still easily be sponsoring foreign terrorists inside the U.S. The media was going for the 'catchy story' rather then reporting that the new information is barely significant.
No 'breaking news' has ruled out Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein as suspects in the anthrax cases.
There is a large possibility that Saddam Hussein is part of the anthrax attacks. The London Telegraph noted, "Saddam Hussein has relocated his chemical weapon factories after the first case of anthrax poisoning in the U.S. in apparent preparation for the bombardment by the U.S. led coalition." Saddam may have been nervous about the U.S. checking his biological weapons. According to the Washington Times, Iraq has used its technology to produce anthrax for itself and various terrorist organizations. Until concrete facts have shown that Saddam is not involved, he is still a suspect.
Bin Laden is also a prime suspect. Besides the obvious timing with the terrorist attacks, bin Laden is suspicious since the anthrax had to be prepared before September 11th. Dr. Craig Smith, director of infectious disease at the Phoebe Center for Infectious Diseases in Albany, Georgia, commented that the anthrax must have been prepared before the terrorist attacks.
"To assemble the equipment, to assemble the expertise, set up the laboratory and produce something to the quality they had, it had to be pre-existing 9-11. It is impossible to have done that in a 2 or 3 week period."
Since the resources and expertise could not have been put together after the 11th, the anthrax could have very easily been part of bin Laden's plan. Many have claimed that if this were the work of bin Laden then he would have set out to kill more people. Yet, possibly the anthrax is meant to simply be a distraction in preparation for his next plan.
For now, the idea that bin Laden, Saddam, domestic extremists, or even domestic terrorist connected with bin Laden or Saddam are guilty is just speculation.
The media must watch how they report new information. A slight development does not change the big picture. The big picture is that the individual or group responsible for the anthrax attacks has not been found and no facts have been found to eliminate foreign terrorists or Saddam. As Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge commented, "There are a lot of theories out there. We just need some facts to turn into reality."
Kellie Donovan is an intern at Accuracy in Media.
I don't mean that Bush should address the issue personally, but he should be seeing to it that his appointees don't hand the liberals an opportunity to demonize their favorite conservative villains on a silver platter.
When did this happen? Wasn't it reported that bentonite was discovered in the spore samples? There has been no change that I'm aware of.
or that bentonite would be an indication of Iraqi origin. I don't think bentonite was found, however, although there were false reports that it was. The USA used a liquid surfactant (and did not pursue the bentonite method) and then dehydrated the whole batch--spores, surfactant and all--so that milling was not required to reduce the particle size to "weapons grade."
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No. Some of it, they're making up...
Among other things, yes. It swells as it absorbs moisture, so that it makes an excellent sealant.
It is employed in weaponizing anthrax as an ionizing medium -- so that the spores are similarly charged (ionized) so as to repel each other.
A not unlikely assumption. There is a great deal of misdirection going on. It's so easy to do with the mainstream media, because they are so ignorant of so many areas of knowledge...and totally devoid of common sense. Add arrogant, as they are unwilling to acknowledge their ignorance.
Thus, easy to "spin". As they so amply demonstrated for the past eight years...
Since it's pretty much a given that almost all so called right wingers are white males, it allows the media to put the blame for all crimes where they believe it belongs.
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