* Dugway’s “Chief, Life Sciences Division” and the “Requesting Investigator” both likely would know the disposition of the 340 ml. virulent Ames shipped June 27, 2001 that USAMRIID cannot track
Posted by DXer on October 22, 2015
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CASE CLOSED ... what really happened in the 2001 anthrax attacks? 
DXer said
Comment: What carrier did Dugway use if not a DPG courier, UPS or FedEx?
Background:
FBI uncovers US military production of anthrax powder
Duncan Campbell in Los Angeles
Thursday 13 December 2001 20.37 EST
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/dec/14/anthrax.uk
The US army has been producing anthrax in a powdered form suitable for use as a weapon, it was discovered during the FBI’s investigation of the spate of letters containing the deadly spores. But the army denied yesterday that the strain it had developed was the one that has so far caused five deaths.
Officers at the army’s Dugway proving ground in Utah confirmed in a statement that scientists there had been turning wet anthrax into a powdered form.
It is unclear how much anthrax has been produced and whether it exceeded the amount allowed by international treaties banning the development of weapons of germ warfare.
It is the first time the army has acknowledged that it has been producing anthrax powder. Officers said that the powdered form was produced for testing defences against the spores in the event of a biological warfare attack.
The army said that it had shipped live anthrax in paste form between its facilities but the “stringent federal regulations governing transfer of hazardous materials” had been followed.
“Anthrax in paste form cannot be the source of contamination for the anthrax letters mailed after September 11 and Dugway has never shipped any dry anthrax by commercial carrier,” the statement said.
The facility is well protected with robust physical and personnel security systems.” The statement said that anthrax had also been developed in aerosol form.
Dugway, which is assisting the FBI in its investigation, is the US army’s main testing station and has been able to produce the powdered form of anthrax since 1992.
The US officially renounced biological weapons in 1969 and destroyed about 90kg (200lb) of anthrax. It remains unclear whether European states were aware that the US had been experimenting with anthrax.
The army’s link to anthrax became apparent as the FBI widened its investigation into the infected letters to government and university laboratories. It is thought that someone with access to the laboratories may have sent the infected letters. So far, however, nothing has come to light.
At first the anthrax letters were linked to the events of September 11, and Iraq was named as a possible suspect, but now the FBI believe that it is more likely to be an American who is responsible.
The FBI said that no individual associated with Dugway was being investigated. The anthrax sent by mail is a type known as the Ames strain, but its characteristics are such that it could have come from many potential sources, including Dugway.
Anthrax, Al Qaeda and Ayman Zawahiri: The Infiltration of US Biodefense
http://www.amerithrax.wordpress.com
DXer said
12 years later Tony Blair has apologized for his role in invading Iraq.
Maybe Caree Vanderlinden, USAMRIID Public Relations, could now explain who REALLY made the dried powder that Bruce Ivins was told from Iraq.
DXer said
Dr. Friedlander helpfully confirms today that he knows nothing about this issue.
DXer said
Dr. John Ezzell, dashing and distinguished, answered all the questions he was asked at conference held in DC. That’s Lew moderating. I was asking the questions. That Dr. Meryl Nass to my side. Then Dr. Ivins’ attorney. And then a learned military and intelligence analyst, James, a longtime friend of mine, who has variously worked for the DOD and CIA. The Q and A was filmed. I did not know to ask him about this shipment of 340 ml. virulent Ames shipped in June 2001 (or the earlier August 2000) shipment because those shipments of Ames from Dugway had not been disclosed. A former CIA analyst, Ken, organized the event.
Questioning was cut short when an equally distinguished UCLA professor on the panel (out of sight) noted signs of physical distress. Dr. Ezzell was taken to the hospital during break.
On the screen was a graphic done by a federal undercover and dear friend who does this blog’s graphics.
Events now are almost 15 years old. It would be helpful and serve to “get people on the same page” if USAMRIID, Dugway, the CDC, DOD, or Congress filled in the gaps as to whether this 340 ml. of Ames was ever irradiated — and, regardless, where it was then shipped. With the CDC report due out on its probe of Dugway, USAMRIID, Aberdeen, there is only a downside to claiming not to have proper records — claiming not to be able to track the 340 ml. virulent Ames that arrived at USAMRIID shortly before the Fall 2001 anthrax mailings. By Ivins’ estimate, 300+ ml. would have been the amount used in the mailings and would have been noticed if missing.
USAMRIID suggests that the FBI may have taken the only records. My advice: Look hard, to include the log associated with the irradiator.
At one point, Ivins was told by a superior to shut up and told that if samples turned up missing, justifications could be provided. He was told the FBI was under control. Who told Ivins to shut up?
Separately, there was a rumor that a shipment from Dugway to USAMRIID had gone missing or had been misdirected.
The DOD report this summer said Ames was usually irradiated at USAMRIID for use by DSD (which was the group headed by Dr. Ezzell). But the DOD report, led by former FBI officials, only addressed post-2002 shipments.
Does the person who told Ivins to shut up about any missing sample still have the FBI under control? Does that person have the CDC under control also? (Don’t bet your career on it by not coming forward with the documents).
the Nov 29 anthrax letters seminar
DXer: John Ezzell forthrightly (to my way of thinking, heroically) answered all my questions relating to the DARPA research in which Flask 1029 (the “murder weapon” to borrow US Attorney Taylor’s term) was used to make a dried powder Ames aerosol.
Posted by Lew Weinstein on December 10, 2010
Posted by Lew Weinstein on December 5, 2010
Anthrax, Al Qaeda and Ayman Zawahiri: The Infiltration of US Biodefense
http://www.amerithrax.wordpress.com
DXer said
Who told Ivins on December 17, 2006 not to tell anyone about missing samples — that the FBI situation was under control — and that “justification” for missing samples could be provided if necessary?
Posted by Lew Weinstein on October 7, 2015
DXer said
Dr. Bruce Ivins on Dr. Ezzell’s making dried powder at USAMRIID (first irradiated, Ivins believes, as a liquid slurry before being dried)
Posted by Lew Weinstein on April 8, 2010
https://caseclosedbylewweinstein.wordpress.com/tag/john-ezzell/
DXer said
Terry Abshire in a document produced this week under FOIA explains that the genetically matching sample she had in her lab was not submitted in the initial set ; instead, wasn’t her lab provided genetically matching material in August 2000 for DARPA research in which Dr. Ezzell made a dried powder out of the Ames and gave it to the DARPA researchers?
Posted by Lew Weinstein on October 6, 2011
DXer said
DXer said
What’s wrong with being complicated?
Ayman Zawahiri, Anwar Awlaki, Anthrax, and Amerithrax: The Infiltration Of US Biodefense
Posted by Lew Weinstein on April 12, 2011
DXer said
More on dried aerosol project: Was it Southern Research Institute in Frederick, MD that was considered for the contract? Who thought he was above the investigation?
Posted by Lew Weinstein on April 19, 2011
DXer said
If the plan was to have it shipped back to Dugway, it is public record the many legitimate biodefense uses to which it might have been put.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&biw=&bih=&q=+ADA394741&gbv=2&oq=+ADA394741&gs_l=heirloom-hp.12…1100.1100.0.1772.1.1.0.0.0.0.94.94.1.1.0….0…1ac.1.34.heirloom-hp..1.0.0.OPLj1Nw5ZY4
Accession Number : ADA394741
Title : U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground, UT and the West Desert Test Center
Corporate Author : ARMY DUGWAY PROVING GROUND UT
Personal Author(s) : Glass, Michael
PDF Url : ADA394741
Report Date : 30 APR 2001
Pagination or Media Count : 27
Abstract : This report, comprised of viewgraphs, describes the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground and the West Desert Test Center.
Descriptors : *ARMY FACILITIES, *DESERT TESTS, LOGISTICS SUPPORT, BIOLOGICAL AGENTS, FIELD TESTS, CHEMICAL AGENTS, ARMY OPERATIONS, TEST FACILITIES, MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.
Subject Categories : Test Facilities, Equipment and Methods
Military Forces and Organizations
Distribution Statement : APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
DXer said
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer (Official)
DXer said
Was the courier “World Courier”? (I don’t know).
This summer when FedEx announced that they would no longer be transporting Select Pathogens, that was a company that was identified as being in the business.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/07/29/fedex-no-longer-transport-bioterror-germs-wake-anthrax-lab-mishaps/30850671/
DXer said
Or in those days were there more options. DHL? USPS?
DXer said
Dr. David Franz advises me that when he was commander (up to 1998, I believe), he had shifted shipments over to FedEx.
So it seems that outgoing FedEx records could be checked by USAMRMC FOIA for early July 2001.