Conspiracy Theories: Us Anthrax Scares

In late 2001, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a number of anthrax filled letters were mailed to key media and political targets in the United States. Five people eventually died and 17 others were infected. The perpetrators were never caught and the source of the attacks remains a mystery.

What the Theorists say:

In the absence of any actual explanation, accusations and suspicions have filled the vacuum. Paranoid suspicions were inflamed by an agency report that claimed that some White House staff were given Cipro, the anti-anthrax antibiotic, on September 11. No explanation has been forthcoming and the Bush Administration obstructed any attempts under the Freedom of Information Acts to find out more. A number of leads suggest links to Al-Qaeda or Saddam Hussein. The Iraq connection was first suggested by Larry Wayne Harris, a man with far-right links arrested in 1998 for possession of Anthrax. He claimed that a prominent Iraqi had warned him that Saddam was using Iraqi women to smuggle Anthrax into the US in order to attack the government. Several Iraqis were supposedly arrested and tested positive.

Most theorists, however, regard these observations as smokescreens because the real culprits were American far right-wing extremists, possibly working with government insiders. The strain of anthrax used in the attacks was identified as coming from the US military’s own stocks, although the CIA have vehemently denied this. The targets of the mailings were liberal politicians or the media. Far-right groups are known to have made efforts to get hold of anthrax stocks via Harris. Adding to the stew are allegations that vaccine manufacturers with government links have attempted to profit from the climate of fear after the attacks. How did the mailers get their hands on such high-grade, professionally prepared anthrax and why has no one been caught?

The Official Story?

‘They’ say remarkably little, supposedly because not much more is known about exactly what happened and how. There is no official confusion over the likely source of the anthrax and the mailings. The investigation is presumably ongoing.

Should you be paranoid?

The Bush Administration was happy to let circulate rumours connecting the anthrax mailings to Al-Qaeda and/or Saddam, knowing it would strengthen public support for their plans in the Middle East. On the other hand, allowing public focus to shift to domestic right-wing extremists did not fit their agenda, and perhaps this explains the lack of success of the official investigation. Then there is still that mystery of White House staff taking Cipro on 9/11.