Anthrax in the Korean War

[<Jhk789@aol.com>]

FYI

An interesting testimony on anthrax by a US Col.
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Anthrax Dangerous, Difficult Weapon

By CAROLYN SKORNECK
.c The Associated Press

  
WASHINGTON (AP) - Anthrax generally is fatal if inhaled and not treated promptly, but it isn't particularly easy to use effectively as a weapon, the commander of the Army's lead biological defense lab told Congress on Thursday. 

Although anthrax spores can be sprayed from crop-dusters, ``It's not as simple as it's made out to be in the newspapers,'' Col. Edward Eitzen testified before the House Intelligence terrorism and homeland security subcommittee. 

``The old-timers from the old offensive program back before 1970 tell us that these particles tend to stick together,'' Eitzen said. ``So there are certain additives that are required ... to make the particles not clump. If they clump, they'll just fall to the ground, and they won't provide a good aerosol.'' 

Although Eitzen, who heads the Army's Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Md., was testifying at an open hearing, he said: ``It really bothers me sometimes when things like this are talked about in the open press....

Eitzen then refused to say which countries are thought to have experimented with bioterrorism weapons. 

But Rep. Chris Shays, R-Conn., pointed out that the Defense Department openly lists them on its Web site: Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Laos, Libya, North Korea, Russia, South Africa, Syria, Taiwan, and Vietnam. 

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Well,

Wasn't there a scare about anthrax outbreak
during the Korean War?

When the Col. said, "``The old-timers from the old offensive program back before 1970 tell us that these particles tend to stick together, ''  who is he
referring to? Could the "old-timers" refer to US officers involved in the
bio program during the Korean War?
Does anyone have a better idea who he is referring to?

John 2