World News

U.S. strikes escalate; American public gripped by fear of biological warfare

U.S. warplanes unleashed their heaviest strikes so far on the Taliban front line on Oct. 25. The strikes came ahead of the Afghan winter as America moved to safeguard a postal system that has become the front line in a biological warfare offensive.

The ruling Taliban, who are sheltering Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the Sept. 11 suicide attacks in the United States, said they were arming villagers to resist future retaliatory U.S. ground attacks.

But it was the fear of anthrax, a potent germ warfare weapon contained in contaminated letters, that preoccupied Americans more than news from distant Afghanistan. Three people have died from anthrax and nine others have been infected.

Although no hard evidence has emerged linking the anthrax outbreak to bin Laden, U.S. officials were operating under the suspicion it was tied to the September attacks.

"I have no direct evidence, but there are some links," U.S. President George W. Bush said.

U.S. Postmaster General John Potter warned there was no guarantee U.S. mail was safe. His statement came after traces of anthrax were found in an off-site White House mail screening center.

Preliminary tests of some 120 workers at White House mail facilities showed none had been exposed to anthrax.

Twelve people have been confirmed infected with anthrax, three of whom died from the inhaled form. Two more Washington postal workers were seriously ill with inhalation anthrax.

Shukan ST: Nov. 2, 2001

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