http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/archives/display_detail.htm?StoryID=25736

Sept 21, editorial

Technological terror

Originally published September 21, 2001

The biggest problem in defending against such destructive technologies as biological agents like anthrax and smallpox, and poisonous gases like sarin is that the technology to create, package, transport and deploy them is either here or could be developed. The packages could be small, and an ordinary suitcase might hold enough anthrax bacteria or sarin gas to sicken or kill tens of thousand or more. A small nuclear device, also believed to be developable, could, well, we'd rather not think about it. Of course, we have to.

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/opinion/display_columnist.htm?StoryID=78516

or click on signature.

"Whether you believe the FBI got its man or there's more to the story, a review of the investigation is in order. If in fact Ivins was the country's own Dr. Evil, what does that say about our ability to be victorious in the "war against terror?"

The killer targeted government and the media and the FBI embarked on its most costly and exhaustive investigation in history. Fear helped catapult us into the Patriot Act and a war that's cost the lives of thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of civilians. This deserves more than pinning it on a dead man and walking away."

DATE= 10/15/01

TYPE= CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-281812

TITLE= MALAYSIA / ANTHRAX (L ONLY)

BYLINE= SCOTT BOBB

DATELINE= KUALA LUMPUR

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Malaysian officials are expressing dismay over reports that a letter containing anthrax discovered in the United States (state of Nevada) was mailed from Malaysia and are asking for more information. Southeast Asia correspondent Scott Bobb reports from Kuala Lumpur that it is but one of several cases that have prompted fears of biological terrorism.

TEXT: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad Monday said he wants the United States to provide information about the incident so that his government can launch an investigation. He told reporters so far he has not received any information but pledged full cooperation with the U-S government in investigating the case.

The Malaysian prime minister made the remarks before meeting U-S Special Trade representative Robert Zoellick, who expressed appreciation for the pledge.

/// ZOELLICK ACT ///

The Malaysia government promptly pointed out that this was a dreadful turn of events. I think that is an excellent description of it. And so we have to get to the bottom of it. There're various reports of where these things may or may not have come from. And I think we will try to do that because we have a common interest in not letting people use disease to kill innocent people.

/// END ACT ///

The U-S trade representative also met Monday with Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, who later said he does not believe the letter came from Malaysia. The foreign minister said he expressed concern to Ambassador Zoellick that unverified reports could tarnish Malaysia's image at a time when its economy is already reeling from a drop in tourism and the global economic downturn.

/// REST OPT ///

Officials in the western U-S state of Nevada are investigating a letter contaminated with anthrax that was received at an office of the Microsoft software company. The letter contained a check that had reportedly been sent to a company vendor in Malaysia. But the letter was returned. The check and envelope reportedly were not contaminated, but pornographic material that had been placed inside was. Four people were tested for anthrax contamination but the results were negative.

It was the third case of anthrax exposure in a week. One person died last week in the southern state of Florida and several people were hospitalized after reportedly being exposed to anthrax. (signed)

NEB/SB/FC

Source:

VOA news

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2001/10/mil-011015-20c92759.htm

or click on signature.

Two rounds of tests for anthrax on the letter to Microsoft from Malaysia were inconclusive.

October 14, 2001

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0110/14/sm.01.html

"And in Nevada, a third round of tests now confirms a suspicious letter delivered to a Microsoft office in Reno, Nevada contained anthrax bacteria."

To recap:

1. The postmark and the mailbox clearance times make it necessary that the first letters were put in the mailbox between 5:00 pm Monday, September 17, 2001 (earlier in the mailbox and it would have an earlier postmark) and noon, Tuesday, September 18, 2001.

2. As per the leak to the WaPo, Ivins made it to an appointment at 4 or 5 PM in Frederick on September 17, 2001, after having taking some hours of administrative leave earlier that day.

3. Therefore Ivins could not have used the administrative leave period to post the letters.

However, we do not know - we are not told what Ivins did after his evening appointment in Frederick. In principle he could have left Frederick say at 6PM and returned by 1:00AM.

Is there anything in the records released that gives Ivins's schedule for the 17th evening and 18th morning? (I imagine there is something there which keeps the authorities from pinning it onto him in that interval, but if it was revealed, I missed it.

What "died a natural death"? in the Suskind transcript?

Sophisticated anthrax - let us remember also

Wallingford mail center retested

By Associated Press, 4/21/2002 15:26

WALLINGFORD, Conn. (AP) The Wallingford postal sorting center was retested Sunday for signs of anthrax, months after tests turned up positive for the deadly bacteria.

About 3 million spores were found late last year during an investigation into the anthrax death of a 94-year-old Ottilie Lundgren of Oxford.

The Wallingford center process mail for Oxford and surrounding towns.

http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/ap.html

-----

At trillion spores a gram that is a few milligrams but how it jumped from Trenton/New York or D.C. to Connecticut!