The mass media and politicians have consistently linked the anthrax scare with Osama bin Laden. But over a month after envelopes containing anthrax spores started turning up at media and government offices, even top US officials concede that militia groups and other ultra-right forces are the likely culprits. "Homeland Security Director" Tom Ridge, for example, said on Oct. 25 that the spores from all five tainted envelopes at that point were from the Ames strain of anthrax, widely available in the US. The FBI's domestic terrorism unit is investigating the possible role of militia groups in the latest anthrax outbreaks.

For years, abortion clinics have received similar mail threats from fanatical anti-choice groups. The National Abortion Federation says 80 anthrax hoaxes were received between October 1998 and January 2000. On Oct. 16, letters claiming to contain anthrax were sent to 170 abortion clinics around the US.

As the Miami Herald reported on Oct. 16, "In January 1999, police and security forces responded to 30 anthrax hoaxes in southern California alone. Since then, there have been thousands of false alarms across the country. Many aimed at government buildings, including deliveries of envelopes containing suspicious white powder, were militia inspired."