Oct. 15, 2001, is a day I'll never forget. On that day one of my staff members opened an anthrax-laced letter addressed to me, and my office became a part of the deadliest bioterrorism attack in U.S. history. Anthrax was also sent through the mail to a number of other people and organizations -- the National Enquirer, the New York Post, broadcaster Tom Brokaw and Sen. Pat Leahy of Vermont. These attacks killed five people, injured 17 others, disrupted operations all over Capitol Hill and alarmed an entire nation.
Twenty-eight people, including 20 on my staff, tested positive for anthrax exposure. Though relieved that they were spared the horror of the disease, I am reminded every day that the families and friends of five others were not so lucky. Robert Stevens in Florida, Kathy Nguyen in New York, Ottilie Lundgren in Connecticut, and Thomas Morris Jr. and Joseph Curseen in Washington were all victims of the attack.
Five years later, the alarm I and many others experienced on that dark day has been replaced by a deep discouragement and dismay.
The investigation's trail has gone cold. Physical evidence that might have been gathered in the first days and weeks after the attacks is long gone. Meanwhile, if a recent article in The Post is any guide, questions remain in the scientific community about the composition of the anthrax and the level of technological expertise required to manufacture it -- even though there is no question about its extreme lethality.
Every time someone repeats that tired old line about there being no terrorist attacks since 9/11, this comes to mind -- along with the DC snipers. Obviously, the line's untrue.
Like Osama bin Laden, the perpetrator of this attack remains at large. In fact, off the top of my head, I'd say the only people we've convicted of carrying out a terrorist attack since 9/11 have been John Allen Mohammed and Lee Malveaux -- the DC snipers.
As Bushco does so often, they talk a good game, but they don't bring it. They try to convince people that Democrats are 'soft on terrorism', but the fact of the matter is that the administration's record on terrorism sucks -- a lot. If you're a terrorist and you want to get away with a terrorist attack, then Bush's your guy.
Tags: news politics terrorism crime congress Bush anthrax Tom Daschle
