ZKEA

Biological Terrorism : Emerging Diseases : Biological Warfare

Anthrax, 9/11 Attacks

In brief, in October of 2001 the United States realized that it was under biological attack by unknown terrorists. Here is the precise sequence of events:

1) The anthrax was genetically identified as being the Ames strain. All the anthrax came from this strain. Ames is a very potent variety developed in American germ labs. This strain has since been distributed to about 20 labs. It is always possible that other labs in the world may have attained access to it illicitly. However, to the best of knowledge, this is a specifically American anthrax.

2) The anthrax was expertly weaponized. Some of the letters contained anthrax equal in quality to the best attainable by American labs. More revealingly, the process by which this quality was attained appears to mirror that used by American bioweaponeers. Specifically, the anthrax was not milled, used a very particular form of silica and had a special coating. All of these trains are unique to the state-of-the-art used by American labs. In contrast, the anthrax definitely did not use the inferior processes used by some rogue states, such as Iraq.

3) About 10g of anthrax was used in the attacks. Weapons scientists and experts testified that it would be extremely difficult for 10g of anthrax to be stolen from a weapons lab by outsiders, given the extraordinary security layers at these labs. However, these same experts testified that it would be easy for an insider to take a miniscule sample and then grow the anthrax himself at some other location.

4) Working with anthrax is dangerous. In particular, the process of placing the spores in an open letter is extremely hazardous. Therefore it is highly probable that the terrorist had been vaccinated for anthrax. As of 2001 only a very few people received this vaccine, all of them workers in American labs.

5) A classified report from 1999 discussed the possibility of an anthrax attack through the mail. In the scenario this report described, 2.5g per letter was modeled as optimal (assuming anthrax somewhat less potent than American weaponized anthrax). The actual attacks used more potent anthrax, at 2g per letter. Thus in general the actual attacks eerily paralleled the model described in this report. Did the attacker read this report, thus implying he had a U.S. security clearance?

6) The attacker worked hard to cast suspicion on others. The letters blamed Islamic terrorists - thus conveniently riding on the post 9/11 hysteria. Another anonymous letter sent to authorities blamed an Egyptian scientist recently terminated from a weapons lab. Obviously someone had close connections to the U.S. system and was working hard to misdirect attention elsewhere.

From all this five facts can be deduced:

1) The terrorist was an expert. He was also an insider. He was either a member or had connections within the US biowarfare community. All the evidence points in this direction.

2) The intent of these attacks were not to kill. If murder had been the intent, then the best tactic would have been to mail the letters without any enclosed warnings. Without these warnings far more people would have died. Those deaths that did occur appear to have been unintentional byproducts of the means of delivery.

3) The terrorist wished maximum publicity. The choice of high-visibility targets with powerful media connections was obviously intended to facilitate rapid and maximum publication of the attacks.

4) Therefore the goal of these attacks was to instill fear - and raise the alarm of a possibility of a real biological attack. In other words, the terrorist was a patriot who used these attacks as a way to warn Americans of the broader dangers they faced.

5) He succeeded. Since the attacks biodefense spending has increased by a factor of 20. Biological warfare and terrorism has passed from the realm of science fiction to that of clear and present danger.

As of February 2003 no one has been arrested for these attacks. Further, no suspects have been named. At one time the FBI named a Dr. Steven Hatfill as a "person-of-interest" and has therefore interviewed him and searched his property on several occasions. However, no evidence was produced and Hatfill has not been charged with any crime.

Finally, it is hard to escape the sense that this case presents a deep dilemma for some. If the perpetrator does turn out to be an insider, could there be unintended ramifications? Such as exposing secret American weapons programs? Perhaps this is one reason why this situation is particularly difficult for the United States government.

Link: FAS: Anthrax Attacks, Complete Analysis
Link: Anthrax Attacks Q&A
Link: Genetic Evidence In The Anthrax Strains
Link: Rense: On The Trail of the Anthrax Attack Conspirators (Conspiracy, Overview)
Link: Anthrax Attack Linked to United States Biological Weapons Plant
Link: BBC: It Must Be An Insider
Link: BBC: Anthrax Investigation Stalled
Link: Monitor.net: Excellent Overview of The Anthrax Case