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• Tuesday, August 5, 2008 12:14 PM

  -- wingspan_too way back 10:37 AM (and calling Jim White)

  Actually every account I've read about the anthrax used in the attacks states that it was unmilled. But that doeasn't clear anything up really because while weaponized anthrax is unmilled it really is unclear if the mailed anthrax was weaponized or just very potent, as L.W.M. pointed out.

  The problem with making antrhax viable as a weapon is keeping it from clumping, and I'm talking about dry anthrax. That's why it's treated with silica to keep it from clumping so it will float. Without the ability to disperse in the air it is an ineffective weapon, although obviously still dangerous and deadly.

  Jim White pointed out something yesterday which I had reservations about but may be true; that this anthrax didn't contain silica but was able to float without it because of how small the anthrax spores were.

  Some people seem to think that the anthrax contained in the first letters was less potent than the second batch, but from what I've read that isn't the case. The first anthrax was clumped and therefore less effective. At the time there was speculation that the letters had gotten wet somehow during the trip through the mail.

  It seems possible that if someone were drying wet anthrax and didn't do a thorough job, or for some reason rushed the process, that could account for the clumping of the first batch, rather than the letters having gotten wet during the postal trip. And given more time the second batch could be completely dried. Also the anthrax used for making vaccine -- which is what Ivins worked on -- is very pure which was true of the anthrax in the letters.

  Does that mean that I believe Ivins did it? I'll need alot of facts lined up before I even entertain that. But as we could see in the last few days and as Glenn points out, the behavior of the FBI is probably the biggest reason to give Ivins every benefit of the doubt. I know if the FBI really had the goods on me they wouldn't need to find my ex and have her tell the public at large (those she hasn't already gotten to) that I'm eight different kinds of shitheel.

  Maybe when Jim White shows up he can add something about this. He's done some serious digging on this.

  —Reilly Read Reilly's other letters
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