The way the story is spun, one is invited to infer that it was the policy of the Reagan administration to export deadly bacteria to Iraq with the intention that Iraq would use it to develop bioweapons.
This may be the case but the evidence I have seen so far does not support that inference.
Most of the samples of bacteria were purchased from a private non-profit organization, ATTC (American Type Culture Collection). From their website:
>>Mission
ATCC is a global nonprofit bioresource center that provides biological products, technical services, and educational programs to private industry, government, and academic organizations around the world. Our mission is to acquire, authenticate, preserve, develop, and distribute biological materials, information, technology, intellectual property, and standards for the advancement, validation, and application of scientific knowledge.
Research
Along with maintaining and distributing biological materials, research is a key part of ATCC's science program. Staff scientists conduct research on both collection-oriented and grant-supported topics, including improved storage and characterization methods, authentication of standards, descriptions of new species, genomics, in vitro cell biology, and disease diagnosis and prevention.
The bioinformatics (BIF) program carries out research in various areas of biological information management relevant to the ATCC mission. BIF scientists interact with laboratory scientists in microbiology, cell biology, and molecular biology at ATCC and other laboratories throughout the world. It has strong collaborations with a large number of academic institutions, including IB3 and CSI of George Mason University and the Australian National University. Currently BIF scientists have grants and contracts from governmental agencies (NSF, EPA, NIH), industrial and academic institutions.
History
ATCC was established in 1925 when a committee of scientists recognized a need for a central collection of microorganisms that would serve scientists all over the world. The early years were spent at the McCormick Institute in Chicago until the organization moved to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., in 1937. As research in the biosciences expanded, ATCC began to diversify its holdings, and as the collections grew ATCC occupied a series of sites, each providing more storage space. ATCC moved to its current state-of-the-art laboratory in 1998.
Facility
Our 106,000-square-foot facility has nearly 35,000 square feet of laboratory space with a specialized air handling system and Biosafety Level 2 and 3 containment stations. The repository area houses 8,200 square feet of storage space, which Includes 55 ultra-low mechanical freezers and space for 65 vapor-phase liquid nitrogen freezers. A multi-level security system is in place throughout the facility featuring card access and continuous in- person and electronic monitoring of critical building and equipment functions.
ATCC also occupies space in a nearby building shared with George Mason University. Research laboratories and bioinformatics staff are located there.
Governance
ATCC is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of 14 members drawn equally from scientific leaders and the community at large who advise the president on organizational business matters. A Board of Scientific Directors composed of representatives from affiliated scientific societies advises the collections.
Links to affiliated societies
Status
ATCC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. The culture fees paid by purchasers support the curatorial functions of our mission. Contributions are tax deductible. (SIC Code #2836 - Biological Products, excluding diagnostic substances)<<
atcc.org
As far as I can tell, the other samples were obtained from universities.
Until recently, there were no export controls on biologicals that could be used for bioweapons. There are many legitimate reasons to study deadly bacteria, such as developing antibiotics and other cures. A researcher recently developed a new way to cure anthrax. This could not be done without access to anthrax bacteria.
Until recently, anybody could order anthrax from ATCC, no questions asked. 60 Minutes had a show about it in 1998. |
