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If I Were a Betting Man, I'd Wager that Cheney Was Behind the Anthrax Attacks

By Mark Karlin, BuzzFlash. Posted August 12, 2008.


You'd have to be a terribly cautious and willfully blind person not to think that the Bush Admin was capable of orchestrating the anthrax attacks.
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You'd have to be a terribly cautious and willfully blind person not to think that the Bush Administration was capable of orchestrating the anthrax attacks. You'd almost have to be a fool.

Years after the anthrax attacks were aimed at Democratic senators who were necessary to pass the "spy on Americans," cynically named "Patriot Act," suddenly the latest "prime suspect" commits suicide without leaving a note or anything, but then the FBI makes claims about how they "got their man" after how many seasons of incompetence in their investigation had passed?

Anyone who doesn't believe that an administration that had the CIA (or perhaps Douglas Feith's "manufactured evidence" Defense Department office) forge and backdate a letter to link Saddam to Osama to help justify the war with Iraq is not capable of using army-produced weapons grade anthrax, out of a Defense Department facility in Fort Detrick, Maryland … anyone who doesn't believe that an administration that forged Niger uranium documents to falsely link Saddam to a purchase that could facilitate a nuclear program that had been shuttered … anyone who doesn't believe that an administration that lied about knowing where WMDs were hidden in Iraq (as Rumsfeld and Cheney claimed), when those weapons didn't exist … well anyone who doesn't believe that such people who believe that they are "masters of the universe" and above the Constitution and the law would be concerned about "collateral damage" in a domestic anthrax attack is naive and incapable of understanding the heart of darkness that lurks within Cheney and his puppet in the White House. (George W. Bush ever in need of finding ways to prove his manhood through being indifferent to the deaths of others.)

BuzzFlash was around, as we have said many a time, since May of 2000.

We reported on the suspicious domestic terrorism anthrax attacks when they occurred, and how odd it appeared that the Bush Administration never appeared concerned about domestic terrorism, even after the attacks. In fact, as Ron Suskind's book reports, the Bush Administration pushed ABC News and others to link the anthrax attacks to Saddam Hussein. Suskind reveals much more, including that the WH rejected overtures from Iran to help clamp down on Al Qaeda, who is no friend to them (being a Shiite vs. Sunni match up).

The best analysis on the highly questionable "resolution" of the multi-year Keystone Cops FBI investigation (by design BuzzFlash believes -- how can the Bush Administration investigate itself; it couldn't in the Valerie Plame outing or the Katrina failure, because Bush would have had to find himself guilty) is coming from Glenn Greenwald at Salon.com. Greenwald is taking the Ivins suicide and anthrax attacks on with a sense of detail and passion that is unmatched on the Net or in the corporate press.

But BuzzFlash was online when it happened, and we took note of how ineptly the FBI handled the case of domestic terrorism that not only resulted in the deaths of people, but was aimed at senior Democratic senators (and some "liberal" members of the press). There was something worrisome about an anthrax attack that emanated from a Department of Defense facility -- and there still is.


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See more stories tagged with: dick cheney, anthrax attacks

Mark Karlin is the editor and publisher of BuzzFlash.

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I wouldn't take that bet.
Posted by: Libsrule on Aug 12, 2008 2:04 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Cheney and Rove are the epitome of evil. Pure evil. They would have fit very well in the movie CONSPIRACY. (Go read about it at imdb.com)

So if it ever came out that he was indeed the architect of the evil behind the anthrax attacks I would not be even a little surprised.

Vindicated yes.

Surprised....no.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I wouldn't take the bet either
Posted by: Miki on Aug 12, 2008 2:13 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
But, I also think that Scooter Libby may have been involved too. Remember they nicknamed him "Germ Boy." Now why is that?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Senators
Posted by: kepstein7777 on Aug 12, 2008 2:23 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Either it's a conspiracy theory, or Cheney grossly overestimated the resolve of Democratic senators to fight for our right to privacy.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Senators Posted by: weathered
Criminals Yes - Masterminds Not at All
Posted by: Mister_PsyOps on Aug 12, 2008 2:35 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"9/11 happened on Bush's watch...but they did nothing -- absolutely nothing."

You not only lose the bet but the entire shooting match. BushCo did far more than "absolutely nothing". Their NeoCon machine stonewalled and obstructed even the official DC 9/11 whitewash that Kean and Hamilton don't stand behind.

GW BushCo starring Cheney and the rest of that sordid NeoCon crew were certainly capable of aiding and abetting any number of treacherous acts including the Anthrax business and (of course) a 9/11 coverup directly responsible for utterly false 9/11 "war on terror" that has turned the globe upside down for blood money genocide on the public nickel.

HOWEVER, Bush/Cheney remain temp mid-level players in or out of Washington. Hence the weekly visits by Henry Kissinger and others for their ruling class playbook.

The last genuine president that occupied the White House was JFK and anyone with a remote clue well understands no magic bullet brought him down.

Here's the official JFK stand on the subject of conspiracies:

“For we are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy that relies primarily on covert means for expanding its sphere of influence, on infiltration instead of invasion; on subversion instead of elections; on intimidation instead of free choice…It is a system which has conscripted vast human and material resources into the building of a tightly knit, highly efficient machine that combines military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific and political operations. Its preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried, not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned. No rumor is printed. No secret is revealed.”
President JFK (address before the American Newspaper Publishers Association 4/27/1961)

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Man, You're Crazy
Posted by: pinnacle on Aug 12, 2008 3:56 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Obviously we have a considerable number of pure "nuts" within the US. One of them has written this article. If I were Bush or Cheny I'd ask you to meet me out by the woodshed where I'd just pound you to dust. What an idiot!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Man, You're Crazy Posted by: Lauren
» Pot Meet Kettle Posted by: EinMD
» What if you were you? Posted by: leafsong1
» RE: Man, You're Crazy Posted by: mnstra
» RE: Man, You're Crazy Posted by: orwellturns
» RE: Man, You're Crazy Posted by: mclame01
It was all a cover...
Posted by: djnoll on Aug 12, 2008 4:04 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I have always contended that the anthrax attacks were designed to do one thing: Bug the Congressional Offices of all the members of Congress. If I had any doubt of that, you only need to see how people from both parties caved in to BushCo over the years, against their otherwise sane judgments. It would only take one breakfast or working lunch in private with Bush and Cheney and the next thing you know, impeachment is off the table; torture bills and surveillance bills are passed; war funding bills are passed. And, lest we forget, John McCain sells out on every bill that BushCo wants! Gee, think there is a pattern here!?!

BushCo has bugged DC and is blackmailing half of Congress, and they used the lives of those who died from anthrax exposure not only to test a WMD, but to cover up their Congressional surveillance. Maybe that is why the Congress has no problem passing surveillance bills - they want everyone to feel like they do now!

It is time to arrest these madmen, and let the Congressional skeletons fall where they may. If not, count on the November election either being stolen or nullified with a declaration of martial law when this Administration causes another man-made disaster that kills thousands!

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» RE: It was all a cover... Posted by: Taylor Siluwe
» RE: It was all a cover... Posted by: Lauren
» RE: It was all a cover... Posted by: JSquercia
» RE: It was all a cover... Posted by: Lauren
» Who needs martial law... Posted by: photon's feather
» stormy7 Posted by: STORMY78
Hat in hand apologies to 'Cheetos eating Tin Hats'?
Posted by: Purple Girl on Aug 12, 2008 5:15 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Hindsight and Logic are a few of the Of Our species unique abilities- it's time we use them.
so there is irrefutable proof they lied about Iraq, Corp record breaking profits,numerous Constitutional rights & freedoms revoked, economic drain circling,too many to count politicians indicted or implicated in corruption, another (Oil) drum beat towards two more military interventions (Iran & Russia)...Need I go on? and of course this convenient Suicide of the 'mad Scientist'- who apparently the military could not idenitfy and had no protocals in place to avoid such a possiblity.
Isn't it time we take the yellow brick road back a few more miles ...to 9/11.
I have no idea if this admin (CheneyCorp) worked directly with his old buddy Binny for the attack which began this 7 yrs of criminal activities- this quest for a New World Order, but it sure came in handy to get the ball rolling. Also the FACT that the reason we suffered those attacks were a direct result of Corps flying our flag in the M.E. with the help of the Royals who have also benefited greeatly fromthis business venture.I distinctly remember Americans Screaming to get out of that region in the '70's. I was shocked but not surprised on 9/11. But instead of admitting the targets were PURELY the MIC's the admin and their minions mantra was "They hate US forour freedoms"- Who has shown they have hated US for our way of life more than this admin with their actions since.
If you can finally admit to yourself this admin had something to do with the Anthrax attacks, logic dictates they may very well have been involved with the 'ground zero' event too.
The first time I ever heard "New World Order" it came out of Cheneys old puppet 41, H.W.- a slip, a confession , a Warning?
I was creeped by W & DICK as soon as I laid eyes on them together and have spent the last 7 yrs having my worst fears realized and vindicated.When it comes to this admin the 'Tin Hats' explaination adds up far more easily then any 'logic' they have claimed
KISS- Keep it simple stupid- these guys have committed crimes against US & Humanity. Hitler was just a Man too- History has given us all examples of these diabolical tendencies- it's time to admit it - we have home grown Evil men in Power and we have inflicted them on the rest of the world.

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» You go, girl! I'm with you! Posted by: rockpicker
» No, it wasn't Norman Minetta, Posted by: rockpicker
I'm not into conspiracy theories but...
Posted by: beautifulady2003 on Aug 12, 2008 5:17 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I always thought it was rather interesting that the politicians who received anthrax powder in the mail were all Democrats. The only people who died, however, were innocent civilians.

I am still questioning why it took until the end of Bush's second term to "close" this case.

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of course he was!
Posted by: bannelee on Aug 12, 2008 5:22 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Cheney is capable-and has proven willing,to do whatever is "necessary" to further his own agenda.This white house has no scruples,no morals,no regards for human life,etc. As Cheney said "it's our due". They should be impeached,and when found guilty,put in prison where they belong.
This,from the party that was "outraged" that the Clinton's lost $$ on a land deal,and that Bill had an affair? Horrors!

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» RE: of course he was! Posted by: Lauren
PNAC vs USA
Posted by: mcq on Aug 12, 2008 5:56 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
PNAC has pushed for the use of bioweapons as a
"politically useful tool" since 1997. The 2001
attack via spore laced letters were not the last
time it was deployed. In September '05
tularemia was released on an antiwar march on
the mall in DC. The neocons will use them again.

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» RE: PNAC vs USA Posted by: Lauren
» RE: PNAC vs USA Posted by: undrgrndgirl
Nothing New
Posted by: navy-vet on Aug 12, 2008 6:08 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Has the FBI pinpointed their man--after hounding him to suicide? No way! As soon as the anthrax attacks occurred it was obvious that the attacks were aimed at killing public figures perceived as liberals.

Who does that sort of thing? Only fanatically NeoCon(federate) domestic terrorists with connections to the DOD. As for connections, we all knew that Bush, Cheney, Rummy and our sweetly-singing Attorney General Asscrap--sorry, spelled that wrong, I think--adored the militia mentality. Other than the bloated super-rich, the religious nuts and paranoid fanatics are their most avid supporters.

If Obama is elected, watch out! Domestic terrorists, fearing the end of their 8-year coddling, will set off terrorist episodes to make Oklahoma City look like a picnic in the park.

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» Domestic terrorists . . . Posted by: dustdevil
Bravo to Alternet . . .
Posted by: dustdevil on Aug 12, 2008 6:18 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This is the kind of article progressive alternate media should be presenting. It is about time.

This type of analysis about the anthrax attacks and 9/11 have been kept from the public by our traitorous mainstream media.

Maybe other news sources will now muster the courage to follow Alternet's lead.

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» Bravo to Buzzflash Posted by: leafsong1
» RE: Bravo to Alternet . . . Posted by: helenwheels
» Unless I've missed it . . . Posted by: dustdevil
Anthrax was developed in a US military lab and was used against Americans
Posted by: PakiBoy on Aug 12, 2008 6:18 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
How about calling it what it is:

The first terrorist attack using WMD against Americans by the American government.

American media is complicit in the Anthrax attack.

As published in Counterpunch:

"If the now-deceased Ivins really was the culprit behind the attacks," Greenwald writes, "then that means that the anthrax came from a U.S. Government lab, sent by a top U.S. Army scientist at Ft. Detrick. Without resort to any speculation or inferences at all, it is hard to overstate the significance of that fact. From the beginning, there was a clear intent on the part of the anthrax attacker to create a link between the anthrax attacks and both Islamic radicals and the 9/11 attacks."

Greenwald continues: "Much more important than the general attempt to link the anthrax to Islamic terrorists, there was a specific intent -- indispensably aided by ABC News -- to link the anthrax attacks to Iraq and Saddam Hussein."

ABC claimed it had been told by "four well-placed and separate sources" that the anthrax used in the September attack contained bentonite, which therefore suggested it was produced in Iraq. As Greenwald points out, "That means that ABC News' 'four well-placed and separate sources' fed them information that was completely false." In all likelihood, "the same Government lab where the anthrax attacks themselves came from was the same place where the false reports originated that blamed those attacks on Iraq. ... Surely the question of who generated those false Iraq-anthrax reports is one of the most significant and explosive stories of the last decade."

Yet, Americans are falling for the US government propaganda coming out against Iran.

Hopeless...

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Too much coffee this morning?
Posted by: TKirwin on Aug 12, 2008 6:40 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There is an enormous gap between contending what someone COULD do and proving what they DID do. Mr Karlin doesn't seem able to differentiate the two. I hope he never has the opportunity to preside over a case involving anything I am charged with.

Chaney and Bush are demonstrably ignorant, incompetent, and dishonest in much of their work, but it does not help our cause to adopt their sloppy uses of evidence and logic to make challenging cases against them. So, let's start by getting Mr Karlin's "facts" right.

1. I believe Karlin was referring to Richard C. Clarke, not a Robert Clarke, regarding the briefings warning Rice and Bush about Bin Laden's pending attacks. That may seem small, but if you blow the evidence that can easily be checked, you lose the credibility necessary to believe what is harder to check.

2. The Bush administration was lazy and dishonest in using the yellowcake documents as evidence, but they got them from the Italians. A credible case has never been established that the Bush Administration bothered to create them, just that they were purely selective and opportunistic in their evidence gathering, and unwilling to reconsider their position once the British, Italians, and ultimately the CIA began to question their authenticity.

I recognize that the mere idea that such a dishonest and damaging administration is still in power can generate an acute emotional response, and I personally hold ALL current Representatives and Senators accountable for the fact that they are not already in jail, based on what can be legally established. Having conceeded that, I think it behooves us all to set one standard of justice for everyone (independent of party, rank, or ideology) and then get back to the hard work of holding officials accountable through a consistent system of due process. To get there, we need to be responsible in forming the charges we assert, lest the legitimate chages get thrown out with the fantasy charges.

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» bin Laden? Posted by: GuitarBill
» Wrong. Try again. Posted by: GuitarBill
» Wrong. Try again. Posted by: edgar1
» Oh, BS. Posted by: GuitarBill
» You nailed it. EXACTLY Posted by: GuitarBill
The New Rules
Posted by: BlackbirdHighway on Aug 12, 2008 6:58 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I used to think this sort of stuff was pure nut-cluster tinfoil hat looney.

Then I learned about Operation Northwoods. That sounded absolutely looney too, but it is an official document, signed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and certified by the Dept. of Defense. That's when I realized just what our government is capable of, even before Bush and Cheney.

Now that I know the new rules, I can easily believe this, but it would take an all out revolution on the scale of France in 1789 to uncover the evidence.

So we'll never know for sure.

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I wasn't a conspiracy believer until Bush and Cheney
Posted by: DrSuess on Aug 12, 2008 7:28 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I used to poo-poo all these types of articles. And then Bush and Cheny came to town. Now I accept many conspiracy theories that come by- because I have seen so many things that I now have to believe them. If you had told me 10 years ago that America would defend torture as acceptable and right- and almost no one in the media would challange it- I would have laughed you out of town.

There are so many things that have happened that prove conspiracy- like the missing weapons of mass destructions- that I have to pay attention to them.

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CONSPIRACY FACTS
Posted by: edgeofnowhere on Aug 12, 2008 7:39 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"We don't generally get into conspiracy theories, because by their very nature they are theories for which factual evidence doesn't exist. If the corroborating details are there, then it isn't a theory; it's fact."

How interesting -- if the author would do some reading and watch a couple of DVDs, he would see that the FACTS do not support the administration's explanation of 9/11. Not only that, but the very authors of the official story wrote a book explaining why they couldn't really get at the facts --i.e., the administration withheld both funding and information, as well as actively impeding the investigation itself by destroying crucial evidence. No, the FACTS point towards direct involvement of the Bush administration in planning and implementing the 9/11 attacks. Check it out for yourself -- 9/11 truth. Why is is so hard for Americans to see the Cheney hand in 9/11? Why can't we confront the truth of this event? Until we do, we will not be able to take back this country.

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» I'll second that motion! Posted by: rockpicker
» Say, Prophit, I'm in Chicago... Posted by: photon's feather
I'll Take That Bet
Posted by: dockboy on Aug 12, 2008 7:44 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Just when I thought Alternet could not be more idiotic, an article like this is written. Anyone who believes all the conspiracies you tout here are complete morons.

For one thing, the "conspiracies" you claim, if they were true, are clumsy, ill-planned, and horribly executed. There would have to be far too many people involved to keep these "evil plans" a secret. Take this anthrax case. One man, who was disturbed, carried it out.

You watch to many Dr. Evil movies. No one is sitting around laughing with evil laughs, trying to plot the enslavement of mankind. Get a life, and get a job. Good grief!

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» RE: You forgot "....get educated". Posted by: undrgrndgirl
» And you'll lose that bet Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: And you'll lose that bet Posted by: GuitarBill
» Easy, Dockboy. Baby steps. Posted by: rockpicker
AAHHHHH the Dickster....
Posted by: jeffrey7 on Aug 12, 2008 8:18 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A little history please.... Remember the Reagan/Bush era? As an adult? Then we must recall Arab Scam. The little game of 'both ends anainst the middle' we played with Iran and Iraq. We also remember it was deemed illegal for any American company to dealarm and other death toys to the folks in Iran.
Well.... as head of haliburton,Dick did just that. Commited TREASON and sold arms to Iran making millions i personal wealth. His punisment?? becomming VP.
Now we know from past documentation that better than half of the so-called 'terrorists' learned to fly passenger jets right here in the
good ol' USA, HMMMMM. The anthrax that was allegded to be used as a weapon was made here too,HMMMM. We also know the Dickster has a few underground bunkers to live in,HMMMM. We also know at the height of the anthrax scare the Dickster was no where to be found,HMMMM.
Dickster has a man-sized safe in his office,HMMM As well as making his own topsecret security stamps for ALL his messages,HMMM,and of course the whole shot a top Texas republican in the face thingy.
This asshole thin ks he's above the law,beyond the law ans superceeds the law.
How could we even trust that he's not behind the anthrax attacks or 9/11 for that matter. This slimeball has been in DC for generations,his best friend was head of the CIA, Lil Bush's daddy, and his total 'worth' in over a billion dollars. He worked for and still has his fingers in a corporation that makes gobs of money supplyinggear to the sub- militaries of the world,not just us, They make money off disasters and have a private army.
So tell me again why this grub that's not fit to wear the human costume he's in is still with us. Great protection. This guy is a walking,talking double condom wrapped Dick.
He has the blessings of the RNC and almost blanket immunity. If McCain gets in he'll pardon the whole bunch of them like Ford did to Nixon,and we all know how that worked out for the American people. This Dick is a blight on the American people. If you think he's not involved up to his eyeballs in this anthrax 9/11 scam,then my friend,you're being pissed on and loving it.

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Just the Facts or is it personal attacks
Posted by: christopher_70 on Aug 12, 2008 8:18 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
AlterNet will not tolerate attacks on writers or readers but will tolerate personal attacks on the people they write about.

Is this news or just complaining?
We vote these people into power and complain about it, act as if there is nothing we can do.

Is our government base on having three branches agree in order for bills and laws to pass?

How can one point the finger just at the president when it is our congress and senators voting to pass the laws? so if you blame one blame them all.

If the people in your state will not stand up for you, their own state and/or for the constitution, why are you supporting them?

You are apart of this country so

when are you going to starting acting instead of complaining?

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