(NaturalNews) Deadly anthrax bacteria has been shipped to at least 192 different chemical laboratories over the past decade, according to new reports. But it wasn't terrorists that were responsible (at least not the terrorists the news media would have us believe are responsible for nearly every tragic event that occurs these days) -- it's the Pentagon, in fact, that's been shipping out live anthrax to facilities all across the globe.

And the military defense headquarters continues to send this deadly substance through the mail as a result of "major protocol problems," according to the agency. Labs in all 50 U.S. states, as well as Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C., have reported receiving live anthrax virus on "accident" due to "ineffective sterilization methods for killing the deadly bacteria." Labs in Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea and the U.K. all say they've received anthrax shipments as well.

An internal Pentagon investigation claims the anthrax shipments were all a "mistake," as were previous figures that estimated only half the amount of accidental anthrax shipments. It's a massive "oops!" moment that, had these shipments come from somewhere in the Middle East, for instance, or from someone who supports the Confederate battle flag, would have likely resulted in charges of terrorism.

"It's deja vu all over again," stated Representative Tim Murphy (R-Penn.), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, about the Pentagon's revised numbers, which somehow doubled from earlier figures released in June. "What we have here is a pattern of recurring issues, of complacency, and a lax culture of safety."

US Army's Dugway facility near Salt Lake City responsible for sending activated anthrax to facilities worldwide

In the spotlight is the U.S. Army's Dugway Proving Ground facility in Utah, which "accidentally" sent live anthrax samples to labs in some nine states, as well as to South Korea. Following reports of this from back in May, another 51 labs in 17 states, as well as three in foreign countries, all say they received anthrax on "accident" as well.

The Pentagon says it doesn't know how these live samples are continually being released without first being sterilized. If exposed to the deadly pathogen, humans can develop severe pneumonia, blood infection, or death, according to health authorities.

"The development and implementation of ineffective irradiation and viability testing procedures took place over the last decade," explains the report, admitting that the U.S. military has failed to protect Americans against anthrax. "[T]his represents an institutional problem at [Dugway] and does not necessarily reflect on any one individual."

Records at Dugway, the Pentagon found, show a 20 percent failure rate for inactivating anthrax specimens, which helps explain where the problem lies. This facility is a major production site and testing area for military chemical and biological defense programs, including the testing of anthrax, but top-level officials have clearly dropped the ball.

"We believe there were indicators that people should have known there was a problem," stated Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work, who instructed Secretary of the Army John McHugh to conduct a full accountability assessment of the Dugway facility, as quoted by USA Today.

Officials are urging the development of standardized biosafety procedures to avoid further "accidental" shipments of non-irradiated, live anthrax samples. Other labs besides Dugway have had fewer problems with live anthrax, suggesting that this particular facility needs a regulatory overhaul.

"We are shocked by these failures," added Work. "I want to stress to you that DoD (Department of Defense) takes full responsibility for these failures."

Read other interesting articles on bioterrorism at bioterrorism.news

Sources:

thedailysheeple.com

rt.com

http://www.usatoday.com