# Catching the mysterious "Anthrax Guy" **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 18, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124 "2001-10-18T01:59:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xanakis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/7bcc69/32.png) [@xanakis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanakis)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/1 "2001-10-18T01:59:47Z")
OK, so somebody, somewhere has got themselves a batch of anthrax. We know that two of the letters came from the same town in New Jersey. But actually tracking down the individual person who posted these letters is gonna be difficult. So how bout we try this: We seal off an area of 100 square miles around Trenton. No one comes in, no one goes out. We search each and every square inch of that area. We have three things to look for: - we have handwriting comparisons - we know they’ve got a batch of anthrax so we look for that - they will almost certainly be Arab, (or if not, they will certainly be muslim) so that narrows the search Added to this, I’m sure the police investigation may have turned up a few things by now that we’re not hearing about. Also we interrogate every person in that area. I think the Arab population of this area would be more than willing to go along with it in order to catch the guy responsible. Can dogs be used to sniff out anthrax? I know it’s another one of my “big projects” but I say we go after this guy whatever it takes. Its not just a matter of catching him, its also a matter of the intelligence he could provide if we caught him. Especially regarding possible future operations of this terrorist group. We **really** need to catch this guy. And not just to stop him doing it again. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/2 "2001-10-18T02:17:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xanakis \* > **We seal off an area of 100 square miles around Trenton. No one comes in, no one goes out.** How do you know they’re still there? They’ve probably moved already. > [@](#): > > **we know they’ve got a batch of anthrax so we look for that** How do we know they’ve got the anthrax in the same place they have the letters? They probably don’t. > [@](#): > > **they will almost certainly be Arab, (or if not, they will certainly be muslim) so that narrows the search** I’m not so sure. It could be anyone with an ax to grind or some psychopath who thinks this is funny. > [@](#): > > **I think the Arab population of this area would be more than willing to go along with it in order to catch the guy responsible.** It’s the Arab population that should be worried if this happened. Not only illegal search and seizure here, but racial profiling. Also, consider the violence against Muslims/Arabs/people who vaguely resembled Arabs faced after 9/11. Now imagine what they’ll face after they are the ones getting searched and causing everyone else’s life to be inconvenienced by this. > [@](#): > > \*\*I know it’s another one of my “big projects” but I say we go after this guy whatever it takes. > > Its not just a matter of catching him, its also a matter of the intelligence he could provide if we caught him. Especially regarding possible future operations of this terrorist group. > > We **really** need to catch this guy. And not just to stop him doing it again. \*\* Is it one guy? Is he really a terrorist? Is he with Al-Queda or another organization? Is he some lunatic who thought now would be a good time to be sending out letters? Has he picked up and moved? Is he a he? Is he singular or many hes? There’s too much stuff that you don’t know for this to be workable. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/3 "2001-10-18T02:21:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xanakis \* > > - they will almost certainly be Arab, (or if not, they will certainly be muslim) so that narrows the search I’ve crossposted this to a couple of pertinent threads. I can’t believe that CNN hasn’t touched it and nobody seems to connect it: It seems more credible to me that the anthrax scare is related to [Larry W. Harris](http://www3.cnn.com/US/9802/19/fbi.arrest.pm/), a [Christian Identity](http://www.religioustolerance.org/cr_ident.htm) white supremacist who was charged with **mail fraud** after procuring _bubonic plague_ bacilli by mail? > [@](#): > > In 1995, he was arrested after purchasing three vials of bubonic plague by mail from a Maryland laboratory. > > That was not in and of itself a crime, but Harris was convicted on two counts of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud for misrepresenting the purpose of the purchase, a federal offense. He later was found to have cultivated anthrax, and had talked about releasing plague in NYC and blaming it on Iraq. > [@](#): > > According to an affidavit filed with his arrest warrant, Harris told a group last summer of a 1995 plan to “place a ‘globe’ of bubonic plague toxins in a New York City subway station, where it would be broken by a passing subway train, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths.” > > He told the group, according to the affidavit, that “the Iraqis would be blamed for that event.” > > However, Siller said that there is as of yet no indication as to “what the target might have been or even if there was a target at this point.” > > In New York, Mayor Rudy Giuliani called a news conference to discount any connection between the arrests in Nevada and a plan to attack New York. (The article is from 1998.) These people have been known to cultivate anthrax, and there have already been indications that they intended to attack New York and blame it on the muslim world. Ideologically, these people want a global armageddon, and the current situation would seem very attractive to them. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/4 "2001-10-18T02:51:15Z")
Horse dead, beating continues… On the assumption that the OP is not some kind poorly-presented joke: > [@](#): > > We know that two of the letters came from the same town in New Jersey. But others which apparently contained antrax spores didn’t. > [@](#): > > We seal off an area of 100 square miles around Trenton. No one comes in, no one goes out. Quarantine several million people? With what resources? On the basis of two letters? > [@](#): > > - they will almost certainly be Arab, (or if not, they will certainly be muslim) so that narrows the search We know no such thing. > [@](#): > > Added to this, I’m sure the police investigation may have turned up a few things by now that we’re not hearing about. If so, what is the need to make a concentration camp out of large portion of New Jersey? > [@](#): > > Also we interrogate every person in that area. Again, several million people? It’d take months, if not years. And a quarantine would be maintained during all that time? Oh yeah, of course, by that time, a large number of the quarantined would die of starvation, lessening the workload. After all, “no one comes in, no one goes out”. > [@](#): > > I think the Arab population of this area would be more than willing to go along with it in order to catch the guy responsible. Nonsense. And what do you think the (majority) population, also to be quarantined, would say about being imprisoned in this way? > [@](#): > > I know it’s another one of my “big projects” but I say we go after this guy whatever it takes. I say…Oh, sorry, this isn’t the Pit. Let’s just say that a certain country’s army did something similar with a certain ethnic minority in Warsaw, Poland back in the early '40’s, which is whty I suspect the OP may be a clumsy attempt at satire. > [@](#): > > We really need to catch this guy. And not just to stop him doing it again. Antrax in the mail produces fear, but is a ridiculously inefficient means of mass murder. The perpetrators can likely be found through normal law enforcement means. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/5 "2001-10-18T02:53:26Z")
Er, anthrax, dammit, anthrax. I even previewed… ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/6 "2001-10-18T02:57:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El\_Kabong \* > **Oh yeah, of course, by that time, a large number of the quarantined would die of starvation, lessening the workload. After all, “no one comes in, no one goes out”.** Two words: Food…drops… ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/7 "2001-10-18T03:00:46Z")
Interesting story, **Larry Mudd**. I have also been wondering about an angle like that (although I didn’t know anything about that particular guy). These messages with “pro Muslim”, “anti-Israeli” rhetoric…It all seems a little too “pat” to me. I don’t get the impression that this has been the Al Queda (?sp) style. I also find it interesting that the government has not been jumping to the conclusion that it is them. There must be some reasons holding them back. Maybe time will tell. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/8 "2001-10-18T03:02:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El\_Kabong \* > \*\* If so, what is the need to make a concentration camp out of large portion of New Jersey?\*\* [/Quote] Ever been there? Sorry. Anyway…I’d guess most of the muslim and/or Arab Americans living in NJ would like to see the perp caught just as much as anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/9 "2001-10-18T03:05:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Two words: Food…drops… Hmmm…yes, and maybe some leaflets, saying something like “The partnership of nations is here to help.” ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/10 "2001-10-18T03:12:51Z")
You do realize this is the United States of America don’t you? We do have a little thing called civil rights. Are you ready to give those up? ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/11 "2001-10-18T03:15:01Z")
**I’m** not, but I’m perfectly willing to force the people of New Jersey to. Only in the interest of peace though. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/12 "2001-10-18T03:18:37Z")
Neurotik… I do love great sarcasm…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/13 "2001-10-18T03:29:42Z")
Arrgh. Denzel Washington, Bruce Willis. You know with the woman who married Warren, yeah, Annette Benning. With the Arab dudes. That’s it. The Seige. You forgot torture. We will need to torture somebody. Oh, and camps, lots of camps. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/14 "2001-10-18T03:39:42Z")
How 'bout we just go into everybody’s house (Arabs first, of course) and look through their drawers. The ones in the dressers, silly. I think it’s Robert Durst. Nobody knows where this nutjob is. ---
**Author:** ![Kalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalt)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/15 "2001-10-18T04:01:21Z")
I think Gary Condit did it 🙂 Naw, he’d never kill more than one person at a time. I don’t see how there can be any doubt that this is the second wave of Islamic terrorism. _they will almost certainly be Arab, (or if not, they will certainly be muslim) so that narrows the search_ What a horrible, politically incorrect thing to say. Shame be upon you. Hey, what do you mean by “Arab” anyway? What if they’re from Pakistan? Oh gosh. And surely you mean Arab-American, if nothing else… after all, new jersey is part of america last time I checked, and that’s where they were. [sarcasm off] I’m sure whoever they are, they are far, far away from wherever the letters were mailed from. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/16 "2001-10-18T04:50:16Z")
[QUOTE] > [@](#): > > _they will almost certainly be Arab, (or if not, they will certainly be muslim) so that narrows the search_ > > What a horrible, politically incorrect thing to say. Not so much “politically incorrect” as possibly inaccurate. It still remains to be proven that the anthrax attacks are not the work of domestic rather than foreign terrorists. (See Larry Mudd’s post on the subject.) > [@](#): > > Hey, what do you mean by “Arab” anyway? What if they’re from Pakistan? Actually, most if not all of the [19 men believed to be responsible for the September 11 attacks](http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel01/092701hjpic.htm) _were_ Arabs. Osama bin Laden is also an Arab; he just _lives_ in (the Muslim but non-Arab country of) Afghanistan. > [@](#): > > And surely you mean Arab-American, if nothing else… after all, new jersey is part of america last time I checked, and that’s where they were. AFAIK none of the attackers were American citizens, so “Arab-American” would not be correct. (I am reminded of possibly apocryphal stories of memos being amended by overly PC spell-checking programs to say things like “With the increase in orders, we hope to be back in the African-American by the end of this fiscal quarter.”) ---
**Author:** ![Kalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalt)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/17 "2001-10-18T05:20:22Z")
MEBuckner, I was expecting a much more bitter and hostile response from you… but touché, I respect your reply immensely. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/18 "2001-10-18T12:52:00Z")
How about cross checking against a list of people getting Cipro prescriptions in large amounts in the 3 or 4 months prior to the first mailing? Especially those with “arab” names. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/19 "2001-10-18T13:55:25Z")
I don’t know about you, but it struck me that the handwriting on the letters looked like that of someone copying the text as if it were pictures (i.e. they were not familiar with the Roman alphabet), or is that much so obvious that nobody has said it yet? ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124/20 "2001-10-18T14:51:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*How about cross checking against a list of people getting Cipro prescriptions in large amounts in the 3 or 4 months prior to the first mailing? Especially those with “arab” names. \*\* The problem is that you don’t need Cipro to treat anthrax. Just about any antibiotic will do. So looking for large orders of Cipro might not be an accurate method. The only thing is that Cipro is the only one to be FDA approved specifically for use with anthrax. Most other antibiotics, while useful against anthrax, never bothered to get the formal approval done for it because they figured that there’s not much of a market for anthrax treatments. So why go through the expense and time? All this leads me to believe that Bayer is behind the attacks. They are the ones who own Cipro. Why would they bother to get approval for an antibiotic against anthrax when no one else felt it was worth it unless they knew something? I’m joking of course. But that would make a nice conspiracy thread, IMHO. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catching-the-mysterious-anthrax-guy/88124.md?page=2)