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Anthrax crisis - is this state terrorism? |
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What is Military Grade Anthrax?
Check out the Situation in the US
Is this State Terrorism?
Investigate the Pathology
The recent cases of anthrax in the United States have raised fears that the bacteria could be used in a terrorist attack. Investigations are continuing into the likely source of the bacteria, but US Vice President Dick Cheney has said there could be a connection between the cases and Osama bin Laden's terror network. There have also been suggestions they might be linked to state-sponsored terrorism.
State Terrorism
Preliminary tests suggest that anthrax sent to a New York television station is the same strain as the bacteria which caused an outbreak in Florida.
Two people are being treated for skin anthrax after a letter containing the bacteria was sent to NBC TV in New York. In the Florida outbreak - which centred on the offices of newspaper group American Media Inc - one man died and another was treated for respiratory anthrax.
Officials said a matching strain did not necessarily mean the anthrax came from the same source, but the match may help investigators narrow in on the individuals or groups responsible.
US law enforcement officials have said there is no hard evidence linking the anthrax scares with foreign terrorists.
But with nerves on edge since the 11 September terror attacks on New York and Washington, the two threats are being increasingly linked.
On Wednesday, reports in the American media claimed that the strain of anthrax found in the office of Tom Daschle, leader of the majority Democrats in the senate and one of the country's most powerful politicians, was "professional grade". That increases the likelihood of it being a terrorist attack, but it also plays into the hands of hawks in the Washington administration who want to widen the war to take in Iraq. They say only a national government would have the technology to develop such a quantity of the deadly bacteria.
Richard Perle, a Bush adviser and assistant defence secretary under Ronald Reagan, shares Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz's view that the Iraqi regime should be overthrown quickly with military force. 'This has never been a fringe issue, he said'. However Scott Ritter, the former head of UN weapons inspection in Iraq, told Today that the international coalition would be wrong to assume Iraq is responsible.
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Listen - American doctors warn against taking too many antibiotics following Anthrax scares. Roger Harrabin reports. October 22 |
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Listen - As new cases of anthrax are confirmed the scare takes on a new dimension Dr. David Heymann of the World Health Organisation. October 17 |
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Listen - Dr. Donald Henderson the former UN weapons inspector in Iraq, on who might be responsible for the spate of Anthrax scares. October 17 |
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FBI agents with the special investigation unit testing for Anthrax |
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Listen - Dave Joyce of the Postal Worker's Union in Britain. October 16 |
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Listen - Chief Medical Officer Prof Liam Donaldson on preparations in Britain against an attack. October 15 |
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Listen - Mike Donkin on the New York Anthrax case and Prof. Brian Duerden of the Public Health Laboratory Service. October 13 |
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A microscopic view of the Anthrax bacteria |
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Workers gather outside the American Media Inc. building |
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