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While the flame war resumes in that other thread, let's discuss anthrax here...

More than likely it's a terrorist attack, but we'll never know for sure... Opinions please.

Well, there is some thought that the Anthrax scare has been targetting liberal institutions. Liberal news sources, a Liberal politician etc... That because of this it may be a political gambit by an ultra conservative group. But, this is just a theory being passed around...

[ 10-16-2001: Message edited by: Vivien ]

I've heard the same. There are some far right extremists in our country who would just love to commit mayhem under the cloak of appearing to be foreign terrorists. We've already had a case of the Oklahoma Bombing, by one such person. It's not necessarily a conspiracy, but could just be several different people with a similar perspective.

Perhaps a more peaceful discussion. I hate getting into arguments but doing what she does annoys me, but no matter.

I think it would be difficult to say whether this is terrorist or not. I have a feeling it may be Liberal haters in South Dakota (someone sent such a parcel to a Dakotan statesmen) and I believe it could be anyone. How many people know about Canada's problem? A similar thing happened there at a government office.

I am going to bed now so night all!

posted by vivian

Well, there is some thought that the Anthrax scare has been targetting liberal institutions. Liberal news sources, a Liberal politician etc... That because of this it may be a political gambit by an ultra conservative group. But, this is just a theory being passed around...

Do you consider ABC and NBC to be liberal institutions? Tabloids and media were targeted first. The whole thing, IMHO, seems to have gone amiss as long as the perpetrators were looking for a high body count. It has further served to install fear and somewhat disrupted the economy. The stock markets in the US will probably take another hit.

If cases show up in the UK and Canada, then perhaps we may be looking at terrorist involvement.

However, this Anthrax scare could just a front for spreading a different disease, small pox for example. If in fact this is terrorist related and has ties to September 11th, then we know these people aren't idiots. Therefore, one would gather they would know they could not mass spread anthrax nor kill many. However, you can cause a scare with a few cases of anthrax and force most of the nation/CDC/gov't/etc.. to devote resources to isolating and treating anthrax all the while preparing for a small pox epidemic. I know I'm really reaching out here but who knows what people so full of hate are capable of carrying out. My last statement is of course, presumptutous on terrorist involvement related to september 11th. I'm not trying to point any fingers or offend anyone.

It could be even from us Americans... some people don't agree with what they are doing and are launching an attack of their own. It could be anybody.

Damn hoaxes. There seems to be a bunch of idiots here that are mailing letters containing white powder. All have been false alarms.

Originally posted by josh:
<STRONG>Damn hoaxes. There seems to be a bunch of idiots here that are mailing letters containing white powder. All have been false alarms.</STRONG>

Baby powder nonetheless... great motive... woohoo

posted by Josh

Damn hoaxes. There seems to be a bunch of idiots here that are mailing letters containing white powder. All have been false alarms.

Here, meaning Austrailia. Not trying to insult, but wouldn't be surprised to see such things happening in the US. If it is happening in Austrailia, then that is just sick. What the H. E. double hockey stix is wrong with people.

Germany has had a scare as well - a powdery substance was delivered to the chancellor's office. The last I heard, they're still testing it.

Apparently the anthrax sent to Tom Dashell's office (ranking Democrat in the Senate) was pure anthrax. It was, so the newscasters say, a very professional job, pointing to something more than just a disgruntled rightwinger who hates "all them liberals."

Don't give in to the fear.

The man who died in Florida had it for two to three weeks. If he had gotten medical attention early he would be alive.

If you recieve a letter with white powder..get checked. It takes time for this virus to kill you. Don't panic.

Like I posted in the "old" Anthrax thread, it isn't as bad a disease as it has been made out to be. Like Weasel says, medical treatment is almost always successful, especially before symptoms appear.

Next: small pox


I might be wrong...but I believe I had shots to cover this when I was little (between 71 and 76)

Am I thinking of something else??

(I had chicken pox when I was little)

What's going on is rediculous, imo. We got a letter today that was in a non-descript envolope with no return address and on the back it said to open it imediately. My mom grabbed a wal-mart bag to handle the letter with and went outside to open it. It had no white powder or anything like that in it. It was just one of those "Feed The Children" things. The fact that it is considered necessary to take these precautions when opening your mail upsets me.

Originally posted by Weasel:
Next: small pox


I might be wrong...but I believe I had shots to cover this when I was little (between 71 and 76)

Am I thinking of something else??

Smallpox vaccinations are usually good for a few years. Typically, they give them to kids because children are most likely to be killed by the effects. A smallpox epidemic we do *not* need.

Still, it's as Weasel said. Panic is ridiculous. Clearly, some people would love to see us panic. We would do far better to take logical precautions, and go about our business.

Aleistair Cooke, now in his 90s, on his weekly Letter from America (BBC), said that the odds against being in a hijacked plane in the US on a commercial domestic flight were 100,000:1. But if he crossed the street a block down from his apartment near Madison Avenue and 79th Street (I believe), the odds were much, much greater of getting killed.

[ 10-16-2001: Message edited by: fable ]

Originally posted by Josh:
Damn hoaxes. There seems to be a bunch of idiots here that are mailing letters containing white powder. All have been false alarms.

It may very well be that the hoaxes are done on purpose from the actual terrorists. Alot of resources are allocated for each of these false alarms. The intent might be to overload the "system" and expose other areas. This is a very scary theory. We have to respond quickly to any alarms. I hope we are still vigilant on all fronts and do not focus too much on the letter virus' only.

Originally posted by McBane:
<STRONG>Alot of resources are allocated for each of these false alarms. </STRONG>

Yes they are. Plus I found out today...to pull a hoax like this could cause you to serve 18 months in jail.

Originally posted by Weasel:
<STRONG>Yes they are. Plus I found out today...to pull a hoax like this could cause you to serve 18 months in jail. </STRONG>

Or double the cost of the response to the event. The guy that has been charged faces up to a $3 million fine. Ouch.

Originally posted by der Moench:
<STRONG>Or double the cost of the response to the event. The guy that has been charged faces up to a $3 million fine. Ouch.</STRONG>

3 million (I feel sick just thinking about this)