And the “practice theories” that I’ve been studying over the past few years have practical consequences.
The case of Dr. Steven Hatfill, for example, was aggravated by the “theories-in-use” by the FBI and others regarding who was responsible for the famous “anthrax letters”….
I’d posted back in August about the FBI’s case against Bruce Ivins, and finally new evidence about the anthrax analysis and the research lab’s problems with adequately tracking and safeguarding its inventory of anthrax is coming to light. I wonder how the whole false notion that this anthrax was “weaponized” could have trumped all norms of scientific standards for seven years at the behest of the FBI: just who benefited from the failure to publicize the truth to the public? I wonder what Steven Hatfill is thinking. I wonder what Bob Stevens’ widow is thinking.
is the name of another blog, not this one, but since the news broke that the Frederick County Public Library director chose to hand over the two public-access library computers allegedly used by anthrax suspect Dr. Bruce Ivins to the FBI without even asking them to provide a warrant, it may be appropriate here too. John LeCarre often used the term “honey trap” in his spy fiction to refer to setting out temptations that seem “safe” but aren’t: should library computers be part of the government’s new “honey trap” technology in our brave new world?
I’ve been following the “anthrax letters” story since 2001, since I once worked at the National Enquirer building in Boca Raton (then occupied and owned by one of its competitors, The Globe, where I managed the library or, in newspaper terms, “the morgue” after having left the Enquirer, which was still located in Lantana back then) where the initial “anthrax letter” was received, and knew photo editor Bob Stevens, the first victim. The building was so contaminated by anthrax that it was closed for years, and was later sold for a fraction of its original value.
Anyway, having worked in the Enquirer’s “Story Control” department and had my natural skepticism well-honed there, I have my doubts about this too. Can we trust the new science backing up the FBI’s identification of the specific anthrax spores? Where’s the proof as to Dr. Ivin’s intention to profit from the anthrax vaccine and VaxGen by simulating a bioterrorism attack? However, I can easily believe that he was driven to suicide by the allegations…. since an earlier suspect, Dr. Steven Hatfill, had his career and personal life destroyed in a way for which not even over five million dollars is ever likely to compensate.
