November 2, 2001 Diary: America Strikes Back

House turns back federalized airport screeners
Friday, November 2, 2001
The House passed aviation security legislation Thursday after rejecting a Senate version that would have turned airport screening operations over to federal employees. The vote was a major victory for the White House and its Republican allies.
The bill, which takes steps to make airplanes and airports safer from attack, passed 286-139.

Across U.S., concern spreads with anthrax
Friday, November 2, 2001
The discovery of anthrax at a Kansas City postal center — the farthest west the germ has been found in the nation's monthlong outbreak — sent a chilling message to Americans watching the story unfold on the East Coast: It can happen here, too.
"If it's infected the mail system, who knows how far it's gone?" said Jenny Infortuno, a clinical researcher for the biotech company CTI in Seattle.

Americans seek spiritual comfort
Friday, November 2, 2001
By Jim Baker

In a trend seen across the country, Americans are flocking to houses of worship and seeking the counsel of spiritual leaders since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
It's a shift that can be felt in Lawrence, too.

Religious foolishness
Friday, November 2, 2001
J-W Editorials

A moratorium for Ramadan would be a terrible mistake for America and its allies.
Muslim friends of the United States and its allies in the current war against terrorism are pleading for our forces to observe a moratorium for the upcoming Ramadan holiday. That would be a serious mistake and would allow our opponents more time to move around and to plot and plan new trouble.

U.S. resumes airstrikes on Kabul
Friday, November 2, 2001
American warplanes raided Kabul on Thursday for the first time in four days, striking targets in the northern edge of the capital. The strikes came after U.S. jets pounded Taliban front lines and other strongholds.
Three loud explosions, which appeared to be in the Khair Khana district, could be heard before midnight Thursday. Taliban gunners responded with bursts of anti-aircraft fire.

Threat hits home for Lawrence philatelist
Friday, November 2, 2001
By Mike Belt

Shlomo Ginsburg never thought collecting cartoon stamps might be hazardous to his health.
But news Wednesday of anthrax contamination at a Kansas City, Mo., U.S. Postal Service Stamp Fulfillment Center had him thinking his seemingly safe hobby might be mortally dangerous.

17th U.S. anthrax case confirmed
Friday, November 2, 2001
(Web Posted Friday at 5:28 p.m.) Officials confirmed the nation's 17th case of anthrax on Friday and the Bush administration, its bioterrorism probe stymied, issued an appeal to the public to help identify the culprits behind the attack.

Turkey first Muslim nation to join U.S.
Friday, November 2, 2001
Turkey, NATO's sole Muslim member, said Thursday it would dispatch special forces trained to fight guerrillas in mountainous terrain to Afghanistan to work with U.S. troops and anti-Taliban fighters.
With opinion surveys showing Turks are against sending troops to fight in an Islamic land, the decision by the pro-West government was a bold one, which could pay off in badly needed financial aid in one of Turkey's bleakest economic moments.

Women not a side issue
Friday, November 2, 2001
By Ellen Goodman
The Boston Globe

There's a photograph on my desk that's been there for a week now. It's a newspaper portrait of Afghan tribal leaders gathered at a Pakistan border town to plan for a post-Taliban government.
The picture shows a diverse group of elders, colorful in their turbans and varied in the robes of their clans. The caption that I have scrawled across the bottom reads: What's wrong with this picture?

Lawmakers seek delay for late fees
Friday, November 2, 2001
Consumer advocates and some lawmakers want a nationwide temporary moratorium on fees for late payments of credit card bills because of mail delays resulting from the terror attacks and the anthrax scare.
"Consumers should not face penalties for late payments caused by acts of terrorism," Frank Torres, legislative counsel for Consumers Union, said at a hearing Thursday by a House Financial Services subcommittee.

Bush says war unraveling terrorist network
Friday, November 2, 2001
(Web Posted Friday at 2:58 p.m.) A defensive President Bush, saying the war in Afghanistan is unraveling the al-Qaida terrorist network, chided critics clamoring for more action. "This is not an instant gratification war," he said Friday.

Bin Laden: Dead or alive?
Friday, November 2, 2001
By Jack Anderson and Douglas Cohn
United Feature Syndicate

An 11-year-old girl called CSPAN. She wondered, with the innocence of childhood, what we will do with Osama bin Laden if we get him.

B-52s pound Taliban headquarters
Friday, November 2, 2001
(Updated Friday at 9:34 a.m.) B-52 bombers pounded the front line north of Kabul on Friday in one of the strongest attacks yet, blasting a Taliban field headquarters. Opposition forces said the bombing appeared directed by U.S. forces on the ground.

Expert: Anthrax source hard to find
Friday, November 2, 2001
By Dave Ranney

At first glance, the recent rash of anthrax-related deaths appears to be the work of a deranged loner, somebody like Ted "Unabomber" Kaczynski.

Troops remain stationed at Wolf Creek power site
Friday, November 2, 2001
Long before this week's increased security at the nation's nuclear power plants, Kansas National Guard troops were on duty at the Wolf Creek facility.

Terrorists may be targeting suspension bridges
Friday, November 2, 2001
The FBI has alerted law enforcement agencies in eight Western states that it has unconfirmed information that terrorists may be targeting suspension bridges on the West Coast.

Thursday's major anthrax developments
Friday, November 2, 2001
• Investigators establish the bacteria that killed a New York hospital worker were virtually identical to germs found in letters to New York news outlets and the Senate majority leader. Anthrax tests at the hospital where the woman worked come back negatives, as do tests on a coworker's lesion.

Nation/World briefs
Friday, November 2, 2001
• Bush seeks updated pact regarding biological arms
• Envoy to Venezuela recalled after U.S. strikes criticized
• Emergency meeting slated to discuss nuclear terrorism

Despite anthrax, some normalcy returns to Washington
Friday, November 2, 2001
(Updated Friday at 3:12 p.m.) Investigators have found anthrax in the office mailbox of a New Jersey woman with skin anthrax, suggesting she was exposed through the mail like other victims, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson told The Associated Press on Friday.

No illness reported from KC postal center
Friday, November 2, 2001
(Web Posted Friday at 3:14 p.m.) Health workers quizzed more than 200 people who worked at or visited a postal center where a small amount of anthrax was detected, and reported with relief that none had any alarming symptoms.

6News video report: Some local stamp collectors not worried
Friday, November 2, 2001
Kim Hall reports on a local stamp collecter who received a shipment from the stamp fulfillment center in Kansas Center where traces of anthrax were found.

6News video report: Lawrence postal workers to receive gloves and masks
Friday, November 2, 2001
Josh Garber reports on the Lawrence postmaster's order of gloves and masks for Lawrence postal workers.

6News video report: Mail from infected facility sent to Haskell
Friday, November 2, 2001
Marta Costello reports on mail to Haskell University that was processed at the Brentwood mail facility.