Does the U.S. government know who is behind the anthrax attacks on America? Readers of today's New York Times can take their pick of which article to believe.
One Times news article today reports, "Though more tests remain to be completed, some scientists involved in the investigation, and others familiar with testing techniques involved, said it was likely that the authorities knew much more than they were saying publicly. They spoke on condition of anonymity."
Another Times article, a news analysis that begins on the front page, reports, "In 10 days, investigative agencies have made almost no progress in pinpointing the origins of the anthrax contamination." That Times article does not attribute the source of the information about the "almost no progress" claim.
These two claims appear to contradict each other. If the investigators have "made almost no progress," how then can they know "much more" than they are saying publicly? "More," perhaps, but "much more"?
This is particularly intriguing in light of Michael Barone's latest column arguing that "even if the government determines that Iraq was behind the anthrax attacks, though, it probably will not -- and should not -- say so." Such a determination would justify an American attack on Saddam Hussein, Mr. Barone writes, "and we should not give Saddam advance notice. Let him wonder what we are going to do next."