theorywatch

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.

“Enquiring minds want to know.”

anthrax