* DXer: Here is an A-Z directory and sample reporting from some of the dozens of excellent reporters who have covered Amerithrax and related issues.

from DXer … Here is an A-Z directory and sample reporting from some of the dozens of excellent reporters who have covered Amerithrax and related issues.

A

ANDERSON, CURT

“FBI Checking Crop-Dusting Planes, Pilots,” Associated Press, April 22, 2004
http://www.policeone.com/terrorism/articles/85144-FBI-Checking-Crop-Dusting-Planes-and-Pilots-Still-Worried-About-Possible-Terror-Use/

ARGETSINGER, AMY

“GMU Bioterrorism Center Unites Former Foes,” Washingon Post, February 14, 2002
http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/GMUformerfoes.html

AUGENSTEIN, NEAL

WTOP.com – Feb. 10, 2009 – “Lawyer: Evidence against Bruce Ivins ‘Undercut'”
http://www.wtop.com/25/1597836/Lawyer-Evidence-against-Bruce-Ivins-undercut

B

BARRETT, JENNIFER

“Newsweek Poll: Bin Laden to Blame For Anthrax,” MSNBC.com

BARTHOLET, JEFFREY

Jeffrey Bartholet, “Terrorist Sleeper Cells: A U.S.-Based Al Qaeda ‘Sleeper Cell’ Was Poised to Launch a Post-Sept. 11 Attack on a Major Washington Target; Would-Be Terrorists Went Underground or Fled U.S. Evidence Indicates Al Qaeda Had Russian Help Developing Anthrax; Al-Zawahiri Believed Involved in Bin Laden’s Biological Weapons Program.” Newsweek, December 9, 2001.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-us-based-al-qaeda-sleeper-cell-was-poised-to-launch-a-post-sept-11-attack-on-a-major-washington-target-would-be-terrorists-went-underground-or-fled-us-74535997.html

BHATTACHARJEE, YUDHIJIT

Science Magazine – Oct. 11, 2011 – “New Challenge to FBI’s Anthrax Investigation Lends an Ear to Tin”
http://news.sciencemag.org/2011/10/new-challenge-fbis-anthrax-investigation-lends-ear-tin

BERNSTEIN, RICHARD

The New York Times – Feb. 24, 2010 (opinion) – “Haste Leaves Anthrax Case Unconcluded”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/us/25iht-letter.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

BORGER, JULIAN

“Cropdusters grounded in poison alert: Toxic threat Pesticide planes could be used to spray cities,” Guardian, September 24, 2001
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/24/afghanistan.terrorism9

BRENNAN, PHIL   [Phil was a friend of Robert Stevens and had a very notable 6-part series in Newsmax as I recall]

“Alibek Doubts FBI Claims on Hatfill,” Newsmax, October 3, 2002.

BROAD, WILLIAM (with Scott Shane)

The New York Times – Oct. 9, 2011 – “Scientists’ Analysis Disputes F.B.I. Closing of Anthrax Case”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/10/science/10anthrax.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

BROWN, PETER J.

Asia Times – Feb. 25, 2010 – “Doubts cloud closing of anthrax case”
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/LB25Aa01.html

C

CADWALLADER, BRUCE (with Catherine Candisky)

“Anthrax Probe Story Is Baloney, FBI Says,” Columbus Dispatch, December 21, 2001  [Ed Lake’s theory was first to be debunked; but he persisted for 7 years, denying Hatfill was a suspect and reasoning the FBI suspected this POI]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/911timeline/2001/columbusdispatch122101.html

CELIZIC, MIKE

MSNBC – Apr. 16, 2010 – “Exonerated anthrax suspect: FBI harassed me”
www.today.com/id/36565308

CONNOLLY, CECI (with Steve Fainaru)

Experts Debate Theory Hijacker Was Exposed
http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/memoroilsanthraxprobe.html

CORN, DAVID

Does an Al Qaeda “Anthrax Operative” Own New York Pharmacies?

A detainee assessment released by WikiLeaks identifies a Pakistani pharmacist suspected of ties to terrorism.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/04/al-qaeda-anthrax-operative-new-york-pharmacies

COSCARELLI, JOE

Village Voice (blog) – July 19, 2011 – “Bruce Ivins Maybe Didn’t Send Anthrax, Government Admits in Court Papers”
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/07/bruce_ivins_anthrax_fbi_pbs_documentary.php

COUTTS, SHARONA

“Warrantless Wiretapping Used In Terrorist Trial,” ProPublica.org, December 8, 2008
http://www.propublica.org/article/warrentless-wiretapping-used-in-terrorist-trial-128

CRATTY, CAROL

CNN – Feb. 15, 2011 – “Scientific review reaches no conclusion on source of anthrax”
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/02/15/anthrax.source/

CULLISON, ALAN (with Andrew Higgins)  [what Mr. Cullison and WSJ colleagues did was some amazing Pulitzer-deserving sh**]

“Computer in Kabul holds chilling memos,” Wall Street Journal, December 31, 2001.
http://www.culteducation.com/reference/alqaeda/alqaeda36.html

D

DAKSS, BRIAN

“Al Qaeda-Anthrax Link?,” CBS News, March 23, 2002
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-224_162-504460.html

DALEY, PAUL

“Report Says UBL-Linked Groups Possess ‘Deadly’ Anthrax and Plague Viruses,” Melbourne Age (Internet version), June 4, 2000

DANCE, AMBER

“Silicon highlights remaining questions over anthrax investigation,”Nature, Sept. 29, 2008
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080929/full/news.2008.1137.html

DUFFY, ERIN

The Times of Trenton – Feb. 26, 2010 – “Holt: Last word not in on anthrax case”
http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-19/126716676555360.xml&coll=5

E

ECKSTEIN, MEGAN  (Adam Behsudi and the other FNP reporters also did good work but I didn’t have time to grab AB articles)

Frederick News-Post – Feb. 23, 2010 – “FBI report fails to end questions about Ivins’ guilt”
http://m.fredericknewspost.com/archive/article_43e2ef3b-ad51-5567-9c22-db1b002889c1.html?mode=jqm

Frederick News-Post – July 19, 2011 – “Justice Department filings poke holes in Ivins’ case”
http://www.wtop.com/209/2461171/Justice-Department-Filings-Poke-Holes-In-Ivins-Case

The Frederick News-Post – Dec. 10, 2010 – “Amerithrax review delayed after FBI releases more docs”
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/archive/article_b7513b51-f526-5a50-8f8d-bf1fe1b35fe8.html

ENGELBERG, STEPHEN   (if you need to be told too often of incredible work done by ProPublica, McClatchy and Frontline, you just aren’t paying attention)
Their work is all the more impressive because they invested the resources to make documents and transcripts and raw interviews available.  Donate to public interest journalism today.

Stephen Engelberg et al., The Macon Telegraph – Oct. 11, 2011 – “Was FBI’s science good enough to ID anthrax killer?”
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/10/11/126584/was-fbis-science-good-enough-to.html

F

FLAM, FAYE

“For Decades, Mailing Germs Was Routine,” Philadelphia Inquirer, October 2, 2002
http://articles.philly.com/2002-10-02/news/25350883_1_germ-warfare-biological-weapons-anthrax-bacteria

FRANTZ, DOUGLAS (with David Rohde)

“2 Pakistanis Linked to Papers on Anthrax Weapons,” New York Times, November 28, 2001
A NATION CHALLENGED: BIOLOGICAL TERROR; 2 Pakistanis Linked to Papers on Anthrax Weapons

FREED. DAVID

The Atlantic – Apr. 16, 2010 – “The Wrong Man”
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/05/the-wrong-man/308019/

G

GANNON, KATHY     [Her book “I is for Infidel” should be put on your list of books to read; she has deep experience in that part of the world; she was there at the Taliban vaccine lab with the photographer taking pictures of the brown slurry harvested June 2001 that Yazid wouldn’t identify for me.]

“Taliban Showed Interest In Anthrax Research Lab. Scientists Say An Official Paid Frequent Visits” in The Boston Globe, November 22, 2001

GARRETT, LAURIE   (at book sales, when I’m in the relevant section people more than once have commented that her past books were very good).  She worked at Newsday previously.

Council on Foreign Relations – Oct. 12, 2011 – “The Anthrax Letters”
http://www.cfr.org/terrorist-attacks/anthrax-letters/p26175

NPR (Laurie Garrett interview) – Aug. 26, 2011 – “A look back at 9/11 in ‘I Heard the Sirens Scream'”
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/26/139972661/a-look-back-at-9-11-in-i-heard-the-sirens-scream

GETMAN, ROSS

Zawahiri’s Plan To Obtain the Ames Anthrax Strain
http://www.globalpolitician.com/print.asp?id=612

I switched from words to pictures because people are too busy to read.  A federal undercover did the graphics; I don’t even know photoshop.
http://www.amerithrax.wordpress.com

GILLIAN, AUDREY

“Biological weapons link to al-Qaida,” Guardian Unlimited, October 16, 2001
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/oct/16/september11.anthrax

GILMORE, JIM (with Gordon, Engelberg and Wiser)

The Miami Herald – Oct. 12, 2011 – “Newly released files cloud FBI’s anthrax finding”
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/10/11/126585/newly-released-files-cloud-fbis.html

GORDON, GREG (with Engleberg)

ProPublica.com – Oct. 24, 2011 – “Secret Reports: With Security Spotty, Many Had Access to Anthrax”
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/10/24/128012/secret-reports-suggest-ivins-and.html

GORDON, MICHAEL R.

“U.S. Says It Found Qaeda Lab Being Built to Produce Anthrax,” New York Times, March 23, 2002
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/23/world/nation-challenged-weapons-us-says-it-found-qaeda-lab-being-built-produce-anthrax.html

GREENWALD, GLENN

Salon.com (Glenn Greenwald) – Apr. 21, 2010 – “Unlearned lessons from the Steven Hatfill case”
http://www.salon.com/2010/04/21/hatfill/

The Sacramento Bee – July 20, 2011 – “Justice Dept backtracks on anthrax claims”
http://www.salon.com/2011/07/19/anthrax_25/

GUGLIOTTA, GUY (with Gary Matsumoto)

“FBI’s Theory On Anthrax Is Doubted, Attacks Not Likely Work Of 1 Person, Experts Say,” Washington Post, October 28, 2002.

H

HEERBRANDT, KATHERINE

The Gazette – Oct. 12, 2011 – “Questions remain 10 years after anthrax mailings”
http://www.gazette.net/article/20111012/NEWS/710129418/1009/questions-remain-10-years-after-anthrax-mailings&template=gazette

HERRIDGE, CATHERINE           (The Terror Pixie may find that she ends back with anthrax by pursuing her Awlaki-Al-TImimi-Wade Ammerman leads).

“FBI Focusing on ‘About Four’ Suspects in 2001 Anthrax Attacks,” FoxNews, March 28, 2008
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2008/03/28/fbi-focusing-on-about-four-suspects-in-2001-anthrax-attacks/

FoxNews.com – Mar. 7, 2009 – “FBI’s Evidence in Anthrax Case Leaves Puzzling Scientific Questions”
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2009/03/09/fbi-evidence-in-anthrax-attacks-case-leaves-puzzling-scientific-questions/

HESS, PAMELA

“Anthrax, ricin detected in Afghan labs,” United Press International, March 25, 2002
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2002/03/25/Anthrax-ricin-detected-in-Afghan-labs/UPI-11631017095729/

HOSENBALL, MARK  (like Isikoff, a heavy hitter on intel matters)

“A Germ Warfare Guru Goes Free”
Why did Malaysia release Al Qaeda’s bioweapons expert?
December 16, 2008

“Interrogation: Al Qaeda and Anthrax,” Newsweek, April 12, 2004
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NEWSWEEK+PERISCOPE%3A+INTERROGATION+-+Al+Qaeda+and+Anthrax.-a0114903244

J

JADRNAK, JACKIE    (why on earth did Bruce send to UNM long before their BL-3 was up and running)?

“UNM Anthrax May Be Twin To Strain in Attacks,” Albuquerque Journal, December 19, 2001
http://www.abqjournal.com/terror/anniversary/542878news12-19-01.htm

JOHNSON, CARRIE

“Hair Samples in Anthrax Case Don’t Match,” The Washington Post, August 14, 2008
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2008-08-14/news/36826106_1_bruce-e-ivins-ivins-s-paul-f-kemp

The Washington Post – Aug. 1, 2009 – “Lawmaker ‘Skeptical’ of Anthrax Results”
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-08-01/politics/36855996_1_bruce-e-ivins-anthrax-attacks-fbi-s-washington-field-office

JOHNSTEN, LAUREN

“Is Al Qaeda Making Anthrax?” CBS News, October 9, 2003
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-577395.html

K

KELLY, JACK

“Their Faraway eyes”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 14, 2002

L

LENGEL, ALLAN

TickleTheWire.com – May 26, 2011 – “Rep. Nadler Criticizes the FBI in Letter to Director Mueller Over Anthrax Probe”
http://www.ticklethewire.com/2011/05/26/rep-nadler-criticizes-fbi-in-letter-to-director-mueller-over-anthrax-probe/

LITTWIN, MIKE

“Anthrax trail on wrong path?” Rocky Mountain News, September 5, 2002

LLOYD, ANTHONY (with Daniel McGrory)

“Poison trail that started in al-Qaeda safe house,” TimesOnline, January 8, 2003
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/article1984825.ece

Commission: Al-Qaida made surprising advances on biological weapon

LUMPKIN, JOHN J.
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Published, April 1, 2005
http://www.ocala.com/article/20050401/NEWS/204010349

M

MACASKILL, MARK (with Nicholas Rufford)    what does cleric al-Bakri say about the Fall 2001 anthrax mailings?

“Muslim Calls for Bio-Weapon Holy War,” Sunday Times, September 5, 1999
http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/msg23183.html

MACKENZIE, DEBORA   (a heavy hitter on science issues)

New Scientist – Feb. 16, 2011 – “Scientists critical of FBI’s anthrax conclusions”
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/02/who-was-the-anthrax-attacker-s.html

MARKON, JERRY   (a heavy hitter on intel matters)

Jerry Markon, “Government Secrecy May Lead to New Trial In Va. Terrorism Case,” Washington Post, November 21, 2007; Page A08
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/20/AR2007112001913.html

MECKLER, LAURA

“Federal advisers say U.S. unprepared for biological attack,” Associated Press, August 27, 2002.

MILLER, JUDITH
“Lab Suggests Qaeda Planned to Build Arms, Officials Say,” New York Times, September 14, 2002
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/14/international/asia/14LAB.html

MULLER, RICHARD  (a physics PhD as I recall)

“Al Qaeda’s Anthrax: Osama bin Laden behind the mail attacks?” Technology Review, April 16, 2002
http://muller.lbl.gov/TRessays/03_Al_Qaeda_Anthrax.htm

O

OUAGRHAM-GORMLEY, SONIA BEN

Ouagrham-Gormley, Sonia Ben
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists – Nov. 1, 2011 – “Amerithrax review: Lessons for future investigations”
http://thebulletin.org/amerithrax-review-lessons-future-investigations

OZMENT, KATHERINE

“Who’s Afraid of Aafia Siddiqui?” Boston Magazine, October 2004

P

PARASCANDOLA, ROCCO   (a true crime guy; a still fascinating lead over a decade later)

“Guilty Plea in Fraud Case But Feds Fear Pakistani’s Purpose for buying Food Mixer,” Newsday , July 15, 2002.

R

RAUCH, JONATHAN

“Does Al Qaeda Have Anthrax? Better Assume So,” National Journal, June 1, 2002.

RAZAK, AIDILA   (the reporter I most would like to have over for dinner; the series she and her colleagues did was Yazid Sufaat was amazing journalism; I don’t have a link to the one explaining Sufaat was a member of a since abandoned Malaysian biological weapons program.  But IMO it is the single most important article that has been done.  A subscription is required for the articles)

Yazid hails 9/11 attackers as ‘marketers of Islam’   (Yazid is actually a very nice guy; he should just be a truth-teller and let Allah sort out his secular concerns).
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/192681

ROBERTSON, NIC

“Disturbing scenes of death show capability with chemical gas,” CNN, dated August 19, 2002.
http://edition.cnn.com/2002/US/08/19/terror.tape.chemical/

S

SCHACTMAN, NOAH        (this was an important and influential article)

Wired Magazine – Mar. 24, 2011 – “Anthrax Redux: Did the Feds Nab the Wrong Guy?”
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/03/ff_anthrax_fbi/

SCHUSTER, HENRY

“Walker Lindh: Al Qaeda planned more attacks,” CNN, October 3, 2002

SCROGGINS, DEBORAH          (the world’s expert on and author of a  book on Aafia Siddiqui, she is an experienced journalist)

“The Most Wanted Woman in the World,” Vanity Fair, March 2005

SHARAF-AL-DIN, KHALID       (if you don’t understand the reports of the defendants in the trial relating to the Albanian Returnees, then you weren’t going to be informed in profiling the Fall 2001 anthrax mailings).

“Bin-Laden Men Reportedly Possess Biological Weapons,” Al-Sharaq al-Awsat, March 6, 1999 (FBIS/FTS 19990306000273)
http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1999/03/990306-bin-ladin-bw.htm

SHANE, SCOTT   (influential throughout the course of the investigation; previously at Baltimore Sun; informed and insightful over the range of issues; overworked)

“Hijacker’s lesion deepens mystery,” Baltimore Sun, March 24, 2002
http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/hijackerslesionmystery.html

“New methods trace anthrax source by water,” Baltimore Sun, March 12, 2003
http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/bioter/newmethanthraxwater.html

“Scientist says he’s anthrax ‘fall guy’,” Baltimore Sun, August 12, 2002
http://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-te.hatfill12aug12,0,326233.story

SHANNON, ELAINE   (the mass spec on the toner is more important than the tracks)

“The Kinko’s Connection,” TIME, December 17, 2001
http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1001477,00.html

SHERIDAN, MARY BETH    (Wade Ammerman is the FBI Agent who could explain a lot if allowed to speak to GAO)

“Hardball Tactics in an Era of Threats,” Washington Post September 3, 2006
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/02/AR2006090201096.html

STEIN, JEFF   (AUSA Lieber’s treatment of the polygraph issue illustrates overzealous prosecutorial approach that substitutes rationalization for evidence)

The Washington Post – Feb. 15, 2011 – “Ivins case’s inconvenient issue: his polygraph”
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/spy-talk/2011/02/ivins_cases_inconvenient_quest.html

T

TAVERNISE, SABRINA

“U.S. Letter Tries To Establish a Doctor’s Links to Terrorists,” New York Times, dated November 6, 2004
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9500E2DE123CF935A35752C1A9629C8B63

TELL, DAVID       (David wrote extremely influential early pieces)

Remember Anthrax?
Despite the evidence, the FBI won’t let go of its “lone American” theory.
APR 29, 2002, VOL. 7, NO. 32
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/147vnjgh.asp

“Who is Syed Athar Abbas,” Weekly Standard, July 17, 2002.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/470lfsdb.asphttp://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/470lfsdb.asp

The Hunting of Steven J. Hatfill
Why are so many people eager to believe that this man is the anthrax killer?
SEP 16, 2002, VOL. 8, NO. 01
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/623rbipi.asp

U

UNKNOWN, OFFHAND (what can I say, some of the very most important articles were written by unknown;  I was short of “U’s” and am short of time)

“Taliban spokesman caught ‘with anthrax’: Afghan governor,” Nation (Pakistan) January 17, 2007
http://www.aaj.tv/2007/01/taliban-spokesman-caught-with-anthrax-afghan-governor/

“Bio-terror strike ‘is inevitable’,” BBC News, November 21, 2005
The world must face the inevitability of a bio-terror attack by al-Qaeda, the head of Interpol has warned.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4457514.stm

“Suspect in Pearl’s killing dies after interrogation; report,” AFP via Yahoo! News, November 11, 2007 (” Memon was helping al-Qaeda develop anthrax strains, the newspaper said.”)
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/-suspect-in-pearl-killing-died-after-interrogation-/238499/

“F.B.I. to question suspect in Malaysia,” New York Times, September 18, 2002
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/18/world/threats-and-responses-fbi-to-question-suspect-in-malaysia.html

“Al Qaeda anthrax lab tech says he had been part of Malaysian Armed Forces biological weapons program”
https://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/al-qaeda-anthrax-lab-tech-says-he-had-been-part-of-malaysian-armed-forces-biological-weapons-program/

“Sketches of anthrax bomb found in Pakistani scientist’s office,” Rediff.com, November 28, 2001
http://www.rediff.com/us/2001/nov/28ny5.htm

“Evidence of Anthrax Labs Near Kandahar,” March 25, 2002, ABCNews
http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=80052

“Bin Laden group ‘has bio-weapons,” BBC News, October 9, 2001
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1589104.stm

“US says al-Qaeda weapons lab found,” BBC News, March 22, 2002
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1890484.stm

“No Threat to Canton, Mayor Says Egyptian Man Who Researched City Water System, Parasitic Diseases at Library ‘Just Had Conversations,” Akron Beacon Journal, October 6, 2001

“Terrorist Investigation Heads To Local Library,” Clickondetroit, October 5, 2001

“Al Qaeda: Anthrax Found in Al-Qaeda [Zawahiri’s] Home,” Global Security Newswire, December 10, 2001

“Pakistan: Scientists Questioned About Anthrax Plans,” Global Security News, November 28, 2001

“Word for Word/Jihad Lit: Beware of Hidden Enemies And Their Wolves and Foxes,” New York Times, December 9, 2001

V

VERGANO, DAN

USA Today – Oct. 2, 2011 – “Al Qaeda lab lingers in anthrax story”
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/science/columnist/vergano/story/2011-10-02/anthrax-terror-lab/50633496/1

USA Today – Aug. 3, 2009 – “Anthrax case not closed: Panel reviews Bruce Ivins, mail probe”
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/science/2009-08-03-anthrax-ivins_N.htm

W

WARRICK, JOBY     ( a personal favorite of mine for his environmental investigative work in an earlier life; we’ll have to forgive him for his article with the CSI pose of the FBI’s lab people).

Suspect and A Setback In Al-Qaeda Anthrax Case
October 31, 2006
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/30/AR2006103001250.html

“Report Sounds Alarm Over Bioterror: Bipartisan Study Finds Insufficient Laboratory Safeguards, Loose Regulations,” Washington Post, November 30, 2008
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2008-11-30/news/36831924_1_anthrax-attacks-biodefense-nuclear-terrorism

WHITE, MARK

(Chertoff interview) “Bio Terror ‘Next Threat’ For US,” SkyNews, October 31, 2008
http://news.sky.com/story/644706/bio-terror-next-threat-for-us

WILLIAMS, LANCE (with Erin McCormick)              great early reporting

“Did Bin Laden buy bioterror: trial testimony says he did,” San Francisco Chronicle, October 21, 2001.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Did-bin-Laden-buy-bioterror-1999-testimony-2866900.php

WILLIAMS, PETER

MSNBC – July 19, 2011 – “Government lawyers backtrack on anthrax case”
http://www.today.com/id/43814463/ns/us_news-security/

WILLMAN, DAVID            Great access to the investigators looking to spin Ivin as a creepy guy who must be guilty.

“U.S. attorney’s office accused of anthrax case leaks,” Los Angeles Times, January 12, 2007
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jan/12/nation/na-anthrax12

WISER, MIKE  (and Gordon and Engelberg)    (It would take a long time just to gather up all the important work done by this team; I cite only a few of their articles)

The Kansas City Star – Sept. 2, 2011 – “Sen. Grassley asks Justice Department to explain contradictory acts on anthrax”
http://www.wvgazette.com/ap/ApPolitics/201109021523

Y

YAMKOVENKO, STEPHANIE

“Broken Justice,” Frederick Gorilla, January 2012
http://www.frederickgorilla.com

Z

ZAKELB, GWYNETH

Nature – Feb. 15, 2011 – “Science falls short in anthrax investigation”
http://blogs.nature.com/news/2011/02/science_falls_short_in_anthrax.html

ZURAWIK, DAVID

The Baltimore Sun – Oct. 9, 2011 – “Frontline’s ‘Anthrax Files’ takes hard look at FBI role in suicide of Ft. Detrick scientist”
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-10-11/news/bal-frontline-anthrax-files–fbi-suicide-fort-detrick-scientist-20111009_1_detrick-scientist-bruce-ivins-fbi-role

* Trentonian (10/20/13) … Congressman Rush Holt: “Myriad questions remain about the anthrax attacks and the government’s response to the attacks.

Congressman Holt is Dr. Bruce Ivins only chance for a deserved exoneration

***

http://www.trentonian.com/general-news/20131020/state-watch-ready-for-anthrax-sequel

By Dave Neese, The Trentonian … POSTED: 10/20/13, 7:21 PM EDT

 ***

• The anthrax probe at first came to focus intensely on government scientist Stephen Hatfill. The federal government eventually awarded him $5.8 million to settle a lawsuit charging that the massive investigation had violated his constitutional rights.

• The investigative chase in 2005 started down a new trail, this time in pursuit of Bruce Ivins, another government scientist. In July 2008 he committed suicide with an overdose of Tylenol. A month later the FBI declared him the sole suspect behind the anthrax letters. On Feb. 19, 2010, it officially closed the investigation, declaring Ivins the perpetrator.

• The FBI said psychological profiles, damning unrefuted circumstantial evidence, and Ivins’ own evasive or false statements to agents all pointed to his guilt. Most damning of all, said the FBI, was the fact that Ivins had access to anthrax identical to that dropped in the Princeton mailbox. Other scientists who had access were able to fully account for their whereabouts and their handling of anthrax in their labs. But Ivins, according to the FBI, never gave a straight story on why in the nights leading up to the attack he logged late hours in his government lab at Ft. Detrick, Md.

LMW NOTE: The FBI’s pathetic case against Dr. Ivins

has been thoroughly refuted on this blog and elsewhere.

• The skeptical Holt, however, balks at signing off on the official conclusion to the investigation.

• There were no fingerprints, no witness accounts, no physical evidence linking Ivins to the incident, says Holt. The case against him was “entirely circumstantial,” and the FBI director personally acknowledged as much to him, the congressman says.

• The FBI “arbitrarily” closed the case based on evidence that “would not, I think, stand up in court,” he adds.

• In 2011, after reviewing the anthrax analyses in the case, the National Academy of Sciences reported that it was “impossible to reach any definite conclusion about the origins of anthrax in the letters based solely on the available scientific evidence.”

• Going on the fifth year now, Holt has tenaciously, but futilely, advocated the creation of a blue-ribbon commission to review the anthrax attack. With subpoena power and “such appropriations as necessary,” Holt’s panel authorized by the “Anthrax Attack Investigation Act” would seek to determine:

• Whether “all credible leads and information regarding the potential perpetrator of the attacks were pursued with due diligence by federal investigators.”

• The “full range of individuals who could have had access to the type of anthrax used in the attacks….”

• The “full extent of the federal government’s preparedness for and immediate response to the attacks …”

LMW NOTE: The GAO has been promising a report

on its ongoing review of the FBI’s investigation for years.

Where is their report? What/who is holding it up?

• Despite bipartisan backing, however, the Democratic Holt’s legislation has never progressed beyond the confines of the House Judiciary Committee.

• Staff sources of both parties say there’s a reluctance on Capitol Hill to be seen as second-guessing law enforcement, especially the FBI, and a dread of unwittingly encouraging endless conspiracy speculations such as the assassination of President Kennedy inspires to this day.

“Myriad questions remain about the anthrax attacks

and the government’s response to the attacks,” insists Holt.

***

LMW NOTE … There are only three possible explanations for the FBI’s continued unsupported assertion that Dr. Ivins was the sole perpetrator of the anthrax attacks (or that he was involved at all).

1. The FBI has more evidence against Ivins that it has so far refused to make public … VERY UNLIKELY

2. The FBI has not solved the case and has no idea who perpetrated the 2001 attacks … POSSIBLE BUT NOT LIKELY

3. The FBI knows who perpetrated the attacks but won’t say who it was … MOST LIKELY

***

* DXer once again demolishes the FBI’s investigative conclusions … there is no case against Ivins … why is the GAO report not finished?

former FBI Director Mueller presided over and covered up an abysmally flawed investigation

***

DXer writes …

I did not post in this thread until after I had corresponded with Dr. Vahid Majidi. He confirmed in writing that his speculation about what Dr. Ivins was doing in the lab was based on his (mistaken) supposition that the experiment with the 52 rabbits was done “at some other facility.”

The proof that Amerithrax was screwed up is established by two simple factually verifiable issues.

First, Vahid Majidi did not understand that the two person rule was not implemented at USAMRIID until January 2002. Thus his analysis in closing the Amerithrax investigation was inexcusable crock. He relied on his experience at Los Alamos rather than bothering to inform himself about the timing of a 2-person rule at USAMRIID, which was first implemented in January 2002.

Second, if as a reporter you were to ask him, you will find that Dr. Majidi cannot provide or cite any document indicating that the 52 rabbits experiment was done any place other than in Bruce Ivins’ B3 suite. There are thousands of pages uploaded and yet he cannot cite a single contemporaneous document in support.

Those two things alone demolish the FBI’s Amerithrax theory. There was no reason to convene the NAS review or even GAO review. All that was needed was for AUSA Lieber or FBI Official Majidi to be pressed for the documents on the 52 rabbits. Reporters haven’t done that and it is time that they do.

AUSA Lieber told me — in a written email — that I would never be getting any documents under FOIA on the subject.

Amerithrax represents the greatest failure in counterintelligence analysis in the history of the United States.

Failure is not an option.

http://www.amerithrax.wordpress.com

* DXer points to numerous flaws in Dr. Majidi’s new analysis of the FBI’s investigation of the 2001 anthrax case

***

In dozens of posts over the past week or so, DXer has commented on Dr. Majidi’s book, and found numerous significant flaws.

The FBI has utterly failed to make a coherent case against Dr. Ivins, who it implausibly accuses of being the sole perpetrator of the 2001 anthrax attacks.

Meanwhile, the GAO, which is reviewing the FBI’s investigation and is the last hope for the truth in this matter, a truth which the FBI has worked hard to keep hidden, has yet to issue its report or even a progress report with a date when the report can be expected.

Here are some of DXer’s comments (all of which are found in their entirety on this blog) …

• Although Dr. Majidi claims that the FBI produced all scientific reports, to the contrary, Dr. Majidi WITHHELD all forensic reports on the photocopy toner, ink, paper etc. Why? They were exculpatory of Dr. Ivins. Such selective production of documents is totally inexcusable.
•  Dr. Majidi’s nonsensical approach to the distribution of Ames is right up there with his failure to address the 52 rabbits explaining why Dr. Ivins was in the lab — which is nowhere mentioned in the Amerithrax Investigative Summary or by Dr. Majidi. His manuscript unintentionally serves as a clear road-map of how Amerithrax was so badly botched.
•  Vahid Majid in his new manuscript attempting to defend the FBI’s investigation of the Fall 2001 anthrax mailings — and falling far short — he says that the FBI selectively culled documents that it did not think needed to be provided to the NAS. In addition to the documents that he considered “owned” by other agencies, for example, they withheld anything that they found to be “hyperbole.” In producing documents, it is not for the party producing the documents to do such culling. Such selective production in civil discovery would be sanctionable and subject to an award of monetary damages.
•  In failing to swab suspect labs for the contaminating subtilis — which Vahid Majidi admits in his new manuscript — the FBI relied upon on-the-book labs and formally retained and archived strains voluntarily submitted by the institutions. By its nature, the approach pretty much excluded off-the-books, surreptitious production. The approach assumed that the perpetrator would cooperate.
•  In the 12,000 pages of declassified FBI documents on the case, there is little indication of testing conducted on other anthrax scientists’ laboratory areas or their caches of the bacillus subtilis material. The federal investigator would not answer how many researchers’ work spaces were analyzed.
•  Subpoenas went out early — in 2001 — to LSU and Michigan…. well in advance of the subpoenas sent more widely several months later. There is every reason to think that others were not as clueless as Dr. Majidi seems to be in his book.
•  Dr. Majidi was relying on self-submission of samples — which is curious. Why would a perp send in something that might incriminate him or her?
•  Dr. Majidi should have swabbed the labs of the scientists supplied virulent Ames by Bruce Ivins. That was a no-brainer. In comparison, Dr. Majidi’s reliance on an interview of a brother who had not spoken to his brother in a quarter century (and was resentful of Bruce’s education) is an embarrassment to all forensic science.