Because of Ivins’ research position and specialty, he had extraordinary knowledge of the threat of anthrax attacks on the USA. He must have seen and read the most informed studies on the subject. He apparently thought the threat deserved much more attention, and he tried to warn the USA in a totally misguided manner.

His several decades of trying to foresee, prevent and counter-act anthrax attacks on the US population unhinged him. Research managers should pay much more attention to the mental health of people doing such research.

Our best evidence about the perpetrator was the powdered letters, which were warning — muc more than threatening — the US population.

It would be reasonable to argue that this one deranged unknown loner, Bruce Ivins, caused the Iraq War and changed world history.