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."

(like my practice wife). In my state only one party has to be aware that there is a recording being made.

Do I dare ask exactly what a "practice wife" might be?

The laws vary from state to state. Hence, Linda Tripp, Monica and the blue dress and there were even some controvery and questions about that. But that article at Boing Boing does suggest that for some interviews, back-up recording systems, like redundancy in flight controls, is not a bad idea. That guy got an interview with Martha Stewart, prolly on her insider trading scandal, that he would never have been granted twice. His two primary recording methods failed him.

Glenn calls for an independent commission, which is quasi-governmental in that it would no doubt have subpoena powers and so forth, but it would still be a creature of the Government with (likely) an interest in preserving, protecting, and defending that Government (as opposed to the Constitution, oaths or no), and -- like so many other commissions set up to investigate this or that matter, might well obscure matters more.

Che, there is some overlap, but also some unwarranted conflation or even confusion between the three, don't you think? The lines get blurred. WE the people are the government (democracy) and it is a government of laws (constitution) not men. Very confusing. And the state and the government are not one and the same, any more than the country is the same as the state, or the government.

Al Loomis....this idea is crap, and the creators are dim, if not fools as well.

the rule of money is the problem, not the solution.

the solution is rule "by the people."

the establishment of effective and accessible citizen initiative would immediately improve the behavior of politicians out of simple fear of retribution. over time it would lead to policies and legislation directed toward the well-being of the nation rather than the enrichment of the political class.

when power is in the hands of a few, those few will use power for their own purposes. when power is in the hands of all, it will benefit the majority.

if you don't like the idea of majority rule- the alternative is minority rule. if you're not a member of the ruling group, where is the charm in that?

the great advantage of majority rule is that we all are in the majority most of the time. every citizen is a part of every decision, and usually on the winning side. by itself this creates a sense of community and civic pride which is very obvious in switzerland, and missing in the usa. it may also lead to peace and prosperity, as aggression and corruption are hard to accomplish when public activities must be discussed publicly.

mike gravel has a plan to achieve democracy on his 'initiative' site, have you seen it?

There are rarely simple solutions to complex problems. The Framers knew this and did their level best to design a system of government for us all that tries to prevent both the tryanny of the majority over a minority or the minority over the majority. Since then both minorities and majorities have tried to circumvent their wise counsel. I can tell you for a fact, having lived under the awful effects of a the direct democracy ballot initiative process in California that even that noble sounding process can be subverted and distorted by money and propaganda making the majority vote against their own economic interests. I've been somewhat critical of Glenn's efforts, but like Ari Melber, who is critical for some of the same reasons, think it is a practical method for achieving these goals. Glenn linked to his article but only quoted the second sentence in his final conclusions, Perfectly acceptable and I would do the same. I have other criticisms than Melber, but I would never make such a spurious criticism as you have. Your thinking makes Mencken's dictum come to mind.

For every problem, there is one solution which is simple, neat and wrong.

H.L. Mencken

Same can be said for Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich and most politicians. If they were forced to go into the complexities of all the difficulties inherent in effectively governing the modern nation state, we'd all fall asleep or shoot ourselves.

Simple solutions to complex problems are usually just for simpletons.