The NYT Gets A Powder-Filled Envelope

“We’re not saying that those crazy “conservatives” did it. We’re just throwing the idea out there:”

The New York Times said on Friday it had received in its mailroom an envelope containing white powder, raising fears of a possible recurrence of anthrax-tainted letters sent to newsrooms and other offices in late 2001.

“At about 12:30 p.m. (1630 GMT) this afternoon … an employee opened an envelope that contained a white powdery substance. The envelope was handwritten and addressed to the New York Times, not to any individual. The postmark was from Philadelphia with no return address,” said Times spokeswoman Catherine Mathis.

Emergency vehicles and an ambulance were parked outside the newspaper’s offices on 43rd Street. The New York Police Department confirmed it was investigating the incident.

Conservatives have criticized the Times in recent weeks for writing about the Bush administration’s covert efforts to stamp out terrorism financing.

This week protesters rallied outside the newspaper to object to its decision to publish details about terrorism financing and secret government programs to monitor phone conversations of U.S. citizens. (my emphasis)

Come on. It’s just a little curious, right?

FILED UNDER: Terrorism, Uncategorized, , , , ,
Greg Tinti
About Greg Tinti
Greg started the blog The Political Pit Bull in August 2005. He was OTB's Breaking News Editor from June through August 2006 before deciding to return to his own blog. His blogging career eventually ended altogether. He has a B.A. in Anthropology from The George Washington University,

Comments

  1. But the organization involved in such an attack clearly points to this being a Pakistani intelligence operation.

  2. Anderson says:

    The Paks would’ve found some *real* anthrax.

    OT, moving to Egyptian intel, did I post this bit here from Suskind’s book? The FBI has been delivered what’s purported (falsely, it turns out) to be Zawahiri’s head (in a box, like Gwyneth Paltrow’s in Seven), but needs to perform DNA analysis:

    The CIA was brought in, and moved into action. Unmatched DNA can determine sex and age, but for specific identity they needed a DNA match from a family member. Zawahiri’s brother, Mohammed, was in custody in Cairo. A CIA operations manager called a chief at Egyptian intelligence.

    He explained the situation.

    The Egyptian listened. “No problem,” he said. “We’ll get his brother, cut off his arm, and send it over.”

    “No … Christ!” the agency man stammered. “No, just a vial of blood. A vial of blood’s all we need.”

    The Egyptian sighed. “Fine. Whatever you want. You want blood? We’ll send blood.”

  3. dr. jeff says:

    The NYT is probably making this up to gain sympathy.

  4. Herb says:

    When did the NYT hire Dan Rather ?

  5. Zelsdorf Ragshaft III says:

    It was just a mistake. The guy who normally delivers their coke had car problems so he sent it by mail. As sometimes happens when too many things go better with coke, he forgot to call to tell them and it caused a panic.

  6. ob1 says:

    Payback from Wal Mart!

  7. Len says:

    Everything you emphasized in the Reuters quote in true, is it not? What’s your point?

  8. Come on, Len. You’re being intentionally obtuse. Lot’s of things happened in recent weeks and not all of those things are listed.

  9. SoloD says:

    I think that this is hardly out on line in light of the fact that the letter that containied the poweder also had a copy of their recent editorial defending the Times’ recent news coverage. (Of course, it would also have been helpful to include that little tid bit in the story.)

  10. bindare says:

    It isn’t hard for the liberal mind to leap to Conservative perp becauuse every one knows how evil Conservatives are. Using the same logic we can safely conclude that the Slimes from the Times work for a Al Khyda front organization.

  11. floyd says:

    would a true conservative send a fake??

  12. McGehee says:

    Shouldn’t the Times’ editors be asking, “Why do they hate us?”