(Update: aparently this story has been out, but I have not heard it until today, nor have I seen diaries or comments although shirlstars has informed me there have been some. ) I orginally found this story on aljazeera but since found other sites that have the same info which I put as links in my comments below this diary.
Biological Weapons” used against war opponents?
10/5/2005 9:20:00 PM GMTAs huge crowds assembled in the American capital last month to protest the U.S.-led occupation in Iraq, sensors determined the presence of Francisella tularensis on the Washington Mall.
Sensors placed around Washington to detect biological weapons agents were examined and determined to contain amounts of tularemia, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Goes on to say:
District of Columbia Health Director Doctor Gregg Pane told WTOP Radio Saturday that biological agent monitors on the National Mall, an esplanade in downtown Washington, found small amount of tularemia during the time the demonstrations were held on September 24 and 25, however, the results were kept underwraps for almost a week.
The Center for Disease Control was later alerted, and in turn, D. C. health officials, who said that the usual incubation period had passed without any evidence of a significant nature.
“The sensors are operated by the Department of Homeland Security, but officials were not notified of the potential hazard until Friday”, according to Pane.
Virginia Congressman Tom Davis wrote to DHS Director Michael Chertoff and director of the Centers for Disease Control Dr. Julie Gerberding:
“It is alarming that health officials in the Metro area reportedly were only notified six days after bacteria was first detected. It appears that notification of the appropriate state and local officials was delayed too long.”
Also D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton voiced similar concerns.
“This now is a pattern, and a very disturbing pattern.”
The francisella tularensis, also called ‘rabbit fever’ has a long history of manipulation for weaponization purposes. Japan carried out several experiments on tularemia’s effects on human physiology, sacrificing more than 10,000 prisoners to science during their occupation of China.
It is noteworthy that the U.S. military and the CIA have a long history of “testing” biological and chemical weapons on unwitting victims, sometimes through releasing mosquitoes carrying Yellow Fever in Savannah, Georgia, or dispensing a bacillus throughout the New York City subway system.
It remains unclear how the deadly tularemia appeared on Washington’s esplanade, but considering the disdainful history of the U.S. military and intelligence services, a possible biological warfare against Bush’s critics and Iraq war opponents cannot be dismissed out of hand.
Congress is seeking answers as to why the Department of Homeland Security and the Centers for Disease Control delayed informing local authorities about a possible biological threat in Washington last month.
I have copied entire article as I think it is hard to leave anything out, but here is
link.
I looked up tularemia and this is the definition.
tu·la·re·mi·a
An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis that chiefly affects rodents but can also be transmitted to humans through the bite of various insects or contact with infected animals. In humans, the disease is characterized by intermittent fever and swelling of the lymph nodes. Also called rabbit fever.
Is anyone but me concerned that this story was kept under wraps for a week?
