This blog began in 2007, focusing on anthrax vaccine, and later expanded to other public health and political issues. The blog links to media reports, medical literature, official documents and other materials.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
More details revealed
A local Maryland paper provides new information from a colleague who worked at USAMRIID with Ivins through 2007, and published USAMRIID's official response to questions.
I've been thinking about how the FBI should have approached the case.
It's pretty simple: look for spores. The perp unavoidably left a trail of spores: a ton of spores where the anthrax was made (and/or where the envelopes were filled), likely spores in the perp's car, etc. We know that the letters were leaking spores like crazy, despite being sealed with tape.
There are a limited number of likely places where the anthrax could have been made, a limited number of people who could have done it. The FBI could have checked every likely place (including USAMRIID of course) and every likely person's car for spores and cracked the case within a matter of days.
The only thing the FBI still has right now is that Bruce Ivins was in mental health treatment and the public's ignorance about that.
Bruce Ivins showed good insight into his situation and did exactly what you're supposed to do when you realize that your thinking is off. He sought treatment and he reached out to friends.
He's not the type of person that was so unaware of his challenges that he could just act out all over other people. The FBI can't have it both ways, although they do try.
I've been thinking about how the FBI should have approached the case.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty simple: look for spores. The perp unavoidably left a trail of spores: a ton of spores where the anthrax was made (and/or where the envelopes were filled), likely spores in the perp's car, etc. We know that the letters were leaking spores like crazy, despite being sealed with tape.
There are a limited number of likely places where the anthrax could have been made, a limited number of people who could have done it. The FBI could have checked every likely place (including USAMRIID of course) and every likely person's car for spores and cracked the case within a matter of days.
As they say in the comic books, "that would have been too easy".
ReplyDeleteThe only thing the FBI still has right now is that Bruce Ivins was in mental health treatment and the public's ignorance about that.
ReplyDeleteBruce Ivins showed good insight into his situation and did exactly what you're supposed to do when you realize that your thinking is off. He sought treatment and he reached out to friends.
He's not the type of person that was so unaware of his challenges that he could just act out all over other people. The FBI can't have it both ways, although they do try.
FBI had, then tossed anthrax type used in attacks
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/18/AR2008081801274.html