Guilty or Innocent?
Army scientist Bruce E. Ivins, age 62, a biodefense researcher at Fort Detrick, died this week of a reported suicide [with a prescription painkiller, Tylenol mixed with codeine]. Now we hear he was on the verge of indictment in the anthrax mailings cases. If guilty, what was his motive??? Publicity? Attention?
His attorney, Paul F. Kemp, says, "“For six years, Dr. Ivins fully cooperated with that investigation, assisting the government in every way that was asked of him,” ... “The relentless pressure of accusation and innuendo takes its toll in different ways on different people, as has already been seen in this investigation. In Dr. Ivins’ case, it led to his untimely death.”"
... apparently killed himself with a drug overdose as the FBI ratcheted up the pressure against him.
As a microbiologist at the Army's main lab for studying bioterror agents, Ivins labored for years on the development of anthrax vaccines and had access to various strains of the anthrax bacteria, including the one used in attacks on media outlets and Congressional offices in the fall of 2001. Because of his unusual expertise, he was even tapped by federal investigators to help with the technical analysis of the fine, wispy powder used in the attacks.
At the time, he was relatively unknown in the bioweapons community, even among the small circle of American experts specializing in anthrax. Colleagues described him as quiet, socially awkward and emotionally sensitive. [snip]
Ivins tested dozens of samples from a changing room, his own office and a passbox through which anthrax was sent into a secured laboratory. He reported that he found heavy growth of Ames-strain anthrax, a disease-causing form of the agent that had been found in the Daschle letter, in the passbox. He said he also found it in his personal office.
The men's changing room also tested positive for Ames spores as well as another strain used at Detrick, Vollum 1B. (continue reading at Washington Post)
Many questions surround this person and the entire investigation. No suicide note was found, according to Fox News. His friends and co-workers seem to have nothing but good things to say about him. The investigation documents are sealed.
In other news: The blog The Thunder Run has been blocked by Blogger/Google, just one more blog in a long line. Probably someone was offended at something the author wrote. Until he gets things straightened out, David will be posting at ARRRRGH!
Other reading:
ACLU Continue to Enable Terrorists, Stop the ACLU,
Video: Dems Won’t Drill Even at $10 Per Gallon, Stop the ACLU,
Trackposted to Nuke's, Rosemary's Thoughts, Political Byline, third world county, Woman Honor Thyself, McCain Blogs, Adam's Blog, The World According to Carl, Shadowscope, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Cao's Blog, Democrat=Socialist, and Conservative Cat, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
It is a sad situation. I am not taking sides, just unhappy with the lack of knowledge on our part.
It would be nice to have the full story.
Posted by: Jack | August 02, 2008 at 02:57 PM
The anthrax scare was created as an excuse to install mail surveillance, once they got what they wanted the incidents stopped.
60-70% of the CIA and NSA budgets are paid to private contractors, some of them are corrupt.
When Hatfill wouldn't fall they pinned it on Ivins.
The harassments Ivins endured are classic CIA / NSA tactics to discredit, disgrace and destroy. It reads like a bad remake of Arlington Road.
Posted by: Anonymous Source | August 02, 2008 at 11:07 AM
The anthrax scare was created as an excuse to install mail surveillance, once they got what they wanted the incidents stopped.
60-70% of the CIA and NSA budgets are paid to private contractors, some of them are corrupt.
When Hatfill wouldn't fall they pinned it on Ivins.
The harassments Ivins endured are classic CIA / NSA tactics to discredit, disgrace and destroy. It reads like a bad remake of Arlington Road.
Posted by: Anonymous Source | August 02, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Perhaps he was on the verge of spilling the beans on someone. And that's the second blog i've heard about that's been blocked off in the last day.
Posted by: MK | August 01, 2008 at 04:47 PM
Sounds like he is quilty to me IF he took his own life, but don't think we will ever know the truth.
Posted by: Old Soldier | August 01, 2008 at 03:23 PM