Scientist concedes 'honest mistake' about weaponized anthrax

[sabra]

Source: LA Times

Peter B. Jahrling, who aided the federal probe of the 2001 mailings, says he erred when he told White House officials that material he examined probably had been altered to make it more deadly.

WASHINGTON — An acclaimed government scientist who assisted the federal investigation of the 2001 anthrax mailings said Tuesday that he erred seven years ago when he told top Bush administration officials that material he examined probably had been altered to make it more deadly.

The scientist, Peter B. Jahrling, had observed anthrax spores with the aid of an electron microscope at the government's biological warfare research facility at Ft. Detrick, Md.

On Oct. 24, 2001, Jahrling was summoned to the White House after reporting to his superiors what he believed to be signs that silicon had been added to anthrax recovered from a letter addressed to then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).

The presence of silicon was viewed with alarm because the material, if artificially added to the anthrax, would make it more buoyant in air and more capable of penetrating deeply into the lungs.

"I believe I made an honest mistake," Jahrling said in response to questions e-mailed to him for this article, adding that he had been "overly impressed" by what he thought he saw under the microscope.

"I should never have ventured into this area," said Jahrling, who is a virologist, referring to his analysis of the anthrax, which is a bacterium. Jahrling's initial analysis -- and his briefing of officials at the White House -- was first detailed in a 2002 book by bestselling author Richard Preston.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-anthrax17-2008sep17,0,1753550.story

[libertypirate]

1. Sounds like Jahrling did DICK a favor /nt

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. 2 favors.

1. Implicates Iraq

2. Implicates dead man

[rateyes]

2. Trying a little CYA.

[gratuitous]

3. Don't worry, Mr. Jahrling

Your "honest mistake" served its purpose at the time it was made. Nobody cares anymore. You saw what you were supposed to see, said what you were supposed to say, and now the poisoned fruit of that poisoned seed has come to maturity.

Besides, if you hadn't jumped to an erroneous conclusion, someone else surely would have. Terror must be served.

[Ian David]

4. Oopsies!

[Festivito]

5. But, not particularly BENTONITE?

So, where did the Bentonite story begin? Several families of dead people would like to know.

[Robb]

6. Of course. If it HAD been weaponized...

...then there's no way the dead suspect could've produced it. :eyes:

[yardwork]

8. Right. How convenient that it turns out the scientist "made a mistake."

I'm curious to know what prompted him to come forward now, and what is his basis for deciding now that he was wrong then.

[tom_paine]

10. Oh, I am sure he saw the weaponized anthrax when he looked at the original samples

Then, when he went back later and found the new samples the Bushies at the FBI had swapped out, he "realized" his mistake.

It's that, or something like it.

In either case, always be skeptical of Bushies and Nazis when they tell you "The Corpse Did It."

[yardwork]

11. I agree.

[Nihil]

13. Yes, it's amazing how effective a motivator self-preservation can be ...

... not to mention fear for one's family once the appropriate background
"evidence" changes have been made and loose ends tidied up...

Somewhat reminiscent of the choice "Recant heretic or burn!" that used
to be presented by past corrupt rulers ...

:think:

[Supersedeas]

16. and yet finding it weaponized initially was a basis for the Admin and McRove to blame Iraq

[Nihil]

17. It's perfectly OK for them to change their mind now ...

1) That was *years* ago.
2) No-one will remember the details anyway.
3) No-one has been harmed by the original decision so it's OK.


(PS: If anyone needs the sarcasm smiley then that's their problem.)

[Solly Mack]

7. K&R

ffffffffffff

[Supersedeas]

9. so many 'mistakes' and just one Administration and a domestic terrorist event from within to show

for it

[Doctor_J]

12. ummmmm...yeah

that's settles it for me! :crazy:

[NoodleyAppendage]

15. "Honest Mistake" or we will kill you...

Sounds like he's concerns about being "disappeared" for daring to give a glimpse of the truth. America...what a great country.

J