Engaging the Irritating Europeans

Opinion Journal ^ | 04/22/2002 | ROBERT L. BARTLEY

[Pokey78]

America must tell the world that the rules have changed.

From afar, European attitudes toward American policy in the Middle East seem a pastiche of rationalizations for inaction, resentment at being supplanted in world leadership, fear of their own Muslim populations, and cowardice political and personal.

[Navy Patriot]

That's not what kept the peace and there wasn't "peace".

An accurate observation of a crucial factual misrepresentation in the article. There is no point in "engaging" European politicians that believe that states like Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Zimbabwe, Somolia, ect. (incomplete list) or their leaders deserve respect, consideration or deference.

The U.S. should simply inform them that the U.S. WILL be nationally sovereign, and act in the best interests of the U.S. and its citizens. Any attempt to oppose this will be dealt with. The Euros can get on board now or when their Muslim immigrants force their hand, their choice.

[Medium Rare]

That is not the only factual misrepresentation in the article.

Despite earlier dismissals, the latest reports on the anthrax sent to the U.S. Capitol suggest a sophistication exceeding anything seen in now-defunct U.S. and Soviet biological weapons programs. And the FBI has been sitting on evidence that one of the hijackers was treated for what the physician now believes was cutaneous anthrax

First, the U.S. bioweapon program is not defunct. It has been proceeding apace since Nixon's public and hypocritical announcement we were ending it.It is not reasonable to assume that the U.S. state of the art has not progressed since 1970.

We have only one unconfirmed news report (repeated ad nausium in the media) that the mailed anthrax is any more technilogically advanced than the one trillion spores per gram the U.S. (alone) had in 1970. And that report was deliberately vague about how it was more advanced.

Also one would have to believe that our best testing methods were not used in the orignal assay that announced the anthrax was identical to the 1970 U.S. military anthrax. Or did we suddenly in several months upgrade our testing ability ?

Secondly, the Florida physician, after coaching and coaxing by government officials, finally relented and said it might have been anthrax.

In my opionion, this is disinformation intended as part of the propaganda campaign to generate public support for attacking Iraq. There may very well be good reasons for a preemptive strike against Iraq, but the anthrax attack is not yet one of them.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for sharing your views!

Do you have any sources we can explore further for the part about the U.S. bioweapons program not being defunct - i.e. as it would concern manufacturing an offensive weapon and not a defensive measure or for testing a defensive measure.

[Medium Rare]

From your response it is obvius you have seen the numerous articles admitting the U.S. has continued production of "weaponized" anthrax and other biowar agents. Of course the claim is that this is only for purposes of testing defensive measures (as permitted by the treaty).

The only difference between offensive and defensive production is the quantity.

Some government "experts" have said it would take eight to ten thousand spores of inhaled anthrax to fatally infect a person. However, one expert at Ft. Detrick said it could take as few as 100 to 200 spores.

Even at 10,000 spores, the envelope addressed to Sen. Leahy had enough anthrax to kill 250 million people with optimum delivery capability. The envelope contained 2.5 grams at one trillion spores per gram.

Since the quantity produced by the U.S. program is a closly held secret, we don't know how much has been produced, and they are not about to tell us.

Maybe someone should ask Gov. Ridge. He seems to be a fount of information (sarcasm).

[EternalHope]

Even at 10,000 spores, the envelope addressed to Sen. Leahy had enough anthrax to kill 250 million people with optimum delivery capability. The envelope contained 2.5 grams at one trillion spores per gram.

It is impossible to have anywhere near all the spores actually get into someone's lungs. In a practical sense, almost all the spores get "wasted."

In the published portion of a recent government disaster response exercise it was assumed it would take 55 kilograms to cover the core of a typical metropolitan area. They assumed dispersal by a small airplane in optimal atmospheric conditions.

That's a lot more than used in the letters, but apparently not actually that hard to come by. The person who sent the letters taped 'em up and warned us what was in 'em.

Unless you believe the "lone radical right wing nut" theory, it was too advanced to make in a bathtub (no electrostatic charge, and very small particle size).

In other words, whoever made it knew what they were doing. That means they probably already had plenty stockpiled and ready for use, and they could make more.

Whoever did it has not been caught. Presumably they can attack anytime they want, and the next time will not be with taped envelopes sent through the mail.

[okie01]

"I wouldn't be surprised if the information were withheld (if not otherwise needed for justification) - due to the economy, so that people wouldn't become unnecessarily fearful. It is an election year and to the benefit of Democrats to squash the economy."

Interesting point. Which raises a couple of interesting questions.

Do you suppose the Bush administration has shared any evidence concerning Iraqi sponsorship of the WTC and anthrax attacks with the Democrats?

If it was your decision, would you trust Daschle and the Democrats with this information?

[okie01]

"Unless you believe the "lone radical right wing nut" theory, it was too advanced to make in a bathtub (no electrostatic charge, and very small particle size)."

Be assured M. Rare does not support the "lone radical right wing nut" theory. His theory would be of the "government black psyops" cum X-Files persuasion.

Cigarette Man did it...

[Alamo-Girl]

I figured that was what you were talking about. Obviously I don't know the quantity made either, but I'm glad they are working on defensive methods.

To me, the most horrific form of biochem is the genetically targeted one that was being developed (as I recall) in South Africa. I hope they are working at a fast clip on identifying and defeating those.

IMHO, the CDC should have been on top of this for a decade or more - instead of silly things like gun control. But it appears the DoD went forward where the CDC did not...

[Alamo-Girl]

No, if it were me, I would not trust Daschle with the information in an election year. The early leaks to the press indicate to me that Bush probably wouldn't either. It is sad when a politician cannot be trusted to keep national security secrets.