Bio-terror in U.S.

Further to Andrew Murray (The Jakarta Post, March 5), the politics of the anthrax terror in the U.S. and preparations for war on Iraq are more serious than even he suggests, if various sources are to be believed. Writing in The Free Lance-Star of Fredericksburg, VA., American journalist Rick Mercier says, "It appears the culprit in this continent's latest bio-terror incident is linked to ... the U.S. military."

Mercier quotes the prestigious British magazine New Scientist as saying investigators are certain that last fall's anthrax attacks were carried out from within the U.S. Biodefense Establishment. Mercier then goes on to say, "The military connection may explain why the investigation is proceeding so slowly."

The Feds, it would seem, have been concentrating on one suspect, likely a former employee of the Fort Detrick, Md., military lab who is now working for a contractor in the Washington area.

If true, all of this suggests collusion at the highest level. The results of the FBI's work are probably already with the Attorney General at the very least. Having been subject to unfounded rhetoric that Saddam Hussein was behind the anthrax attacks, can we now look forward to an extension of the "axis of evil" rhetoric to Washington itself?

Bush, Rumsfeld and co. should remember that a far greater American than any of them once said, "You can't fool all of the people all of the time."

DAVID JARDINE

Jakarta