Wretchard: In a sense the exact provenance of the actual attack was less important than the strategic and bureaucratic opportunities it provided.
It also might have provided extra lubrication to loose up any obstructions (constitutionally mandated or not) that might have remained standing even in the wake of 9-11.
Oct 2, 2001 – USA Patriot Act anti-terrorism bill is introduced in Congress.
Oct. 3 – Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle says he doubts the Senate could take up the anti-terrorist legislation before next week, as the administration had asked.
Oct. 4 – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy accuses the administration of reneging on an agreement on the anti-terrorist bill.
Oct.9 – Identical anthraxed letters are postmarked in Trenton, N.J., with lethal doses to Senators Daschle and Leahy.
Oct.13 – President Bush says: “The anthrax attacks might be tied to Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaida terrorist network.”
Oct.26 – President Bush signs the USA Patriot Act.
