|
|
|
|
lpetrich
Skeptic Friend
USA
74 Posts |
 Posted - 11/03/2001 : 06:19:10
|
It's been difficult to determine who they might possibly be; however, the FBI is now leaning to what others have suspected -- that these are homegrown terrorists.
The letters used the American style of writing dates (month-day-year instead of day-month-year), but one of them had "penicillin" misspelled. Aside from that, they are too short to yield much useful information; a long rant might have given something away.
Furthemore, the targets are not whom Al Qaeda or other Islamic terrorists might want to target. One imagines them having a big grudge against President George II, on account of what his father had done. It's hard to imagine them being very interested in Senator Tom Daschle or abortion clinics or the news media. However, various home-grown right-wingers have made villains out of these three, so these could be reasonable targets for them.
|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2001 : 08:34:18 [Permalink]
|
I am inclined to agree: there's good odds that these terrorsts are some of ours - the difference between a Christion sociopath and an Islamic one has long eluded me.
One, small fly in the ointment, though: The other day, I saw on, I think, CNN where a news organization in Pakistan recieved a little, viral gift in the mail. I only saw it once and have heard nothing about it since. There was no mention of where the letter came from.
Did it indeed happen? Was it a case of 'monkey see, monkey do'? Or was it all just more of the sort pasture pie we've almost become used to?
Hmm.
f
The more I learn about people, the better I like rattlesnakes. |
 |
|
|
Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2001 : 10:55:07 [Permalink]
|
How someone writes out a date isn't too much to go on. Yes, most Americans write month-day-year. The military uses day-month-year. ie 03 Nov 01. We also use a 24 hour clock.
I don't know if this is homegrown or not. If the goal is to make the general public fearful and suspecious, I'd say its working.
Lisa
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room. |
|
|
|
@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2001 : 11:59:20 [Permalink]
|
I think it's safe to say that whoever is doing this Anthrax mailing is smart enough to engage in some subterfuge. The date could have been written that way to be deliberately misleading. The anthrax release must have been planned for some time and in that time I'm sure the letters were carefully thought out.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
|
|
|
ktesibios
SFN Regular
USA
505 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2001 : 02:55:51 [Permalink]
|
Even though the writer probably made an effort to be deceptive, isn't it possible that analysis of the handwriting could reveal some clues about where and when they learned to print?
Also, it occurs to me that the terrorists had to have some means of handling the stuff without infecting themselves, which would probably mean loading up with antibiotics during and for some time after preparing the letters.
Their need to have obtained quantities of appropriate antibiotics might provide investigators with another point of attack.
Boris Karloff died for your sins. |
|
|
|
lpetrich
Skeptic Friend
USA
74 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2001 : 05:57:51 [Permalink]
|
ktesibios:
Even though the writer probably made an effort to be deceptive, isn't it possible that analysis of the handwriting could reveal some clues about where and when they learned to print?
LP:
That's certainly possible; however, there isn't much to go on, since there simply isn't much text.
But it might be possible to guess which of the anthrax letters had been written by the same person.
The Unabomber was identified with the help of his voluminous manifesto; however, there simply isn't very much verbiage in those anthrax letters.
ktesibios:
Also, it occurs to me that the terrorists had to have some means of handling the stuff without infecting themselves, [possible antibiotic usage...]
LP:
However, would there have been much to distingush them from someone who works with cows or sheep who became concerned about contracting anthrax from those beasts? |
|
|
|
Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2001 : 22:50:51 [Permalink]
|
http://www.miami.com/herald/digdocs/076378.htm
quote:
CHRISTMAS, Fla. -- (AP) -- The resident Santa Claus in this central Florida town has been answering children's letters for 33 years.
But this season the man with the white beard and jolly disposition is getting ready for mail call -- with gloves.
The U.S. Postal Service sent Jeff James a box with rubber gloves and surgical masks to aid him as he answers an expected 6,000 letters this holiday season.
``I had some fear, but we talked about it and decided to go ahead,'' James said.
Postal officials and volunteers like James and his wife Alice are keeping up a strong front, vowing not to let the season's bioterrorism fears end a beloved tradition.
Many of the letters have no return address, extra postage and lumps -- a cookie or candy crammed in as a goodwill offering.
James' letter writing has earned him the name Santa, and the letters have poured in since area postal officials discovered James' rosy-cheeked charm in 1986. Now he answers letters from around the world from his home on Fort Christmas Road.
He replies with a postcard, with a picture of himself as Santa on the front. Alice addresses them.
THIS is what its come to?
Lisa
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room. |
|
|
|
ZaphodBeeblebrox
Skeptic Friend
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2001 : 12:14:01 [Permalink]
|
quote:
I am inclined to agree: there's good odds that these terrorsts are some of ours - the difference between a Christion sociopath and an Islamic one has long eluded me.
You know Filthy, it needn't be an either, or, proposition. I know, I know, the chances of such Diverse Groups getting together, is almost nil. Then again, as we've been trying to explain to D'Alogos, without any success, Rendom Chance isn't the be all, and end all, not if it's in these groups' self-interest, to cooperate.
After all, just look at the Northern Alliance, Victorious in Battle, and Positively Itching, to take Kabul!
If you Ignore Your Rights, they WILL, go away. |
|
|
|
gezzam
SFN Regular
Australia
751 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2001 : 17:24:52 [Permalink]
|
We had alot of Anthrax scares over here in Australia, most of the perpertrators arrested were from Australia.....not very funny for the guys that work for the postal service.
It caused scenes never seen here before, postal workers getting cleaned by water cannon.
It is a shame that the world has come to this. Why can't people put all this energy into something good for the planet instead of destroying it. We don't deserve what we have.
"Damn you people. Go back to your shanties." --- Shooter McGavin |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
