Alibek Revisited. In "Selling the Threat of Bioterrorism," the LAT publishes an important investigation of Soviet bioterror-evangelist Ken Alibek, who, with some well placed Congressional earmark help, has profited from promoting the threat, although many of his claims have turned out -- sound familiar? -- to be discredited:

... Officials still value his seminal depictions of the Soviet program. But recent events have propelled questions about Alibek's reliability:

No biological weapon of mass destruction has been found in Iraq. His most sensational research findings, with U.S. colleagues, have not withstood peer review by scientific specialists. His promotion of nonprescription pills — sold in his name over the Internet and claiming to bolster the immune system — was ridiculed by some scientists. He resigned as executive director of a Virginia university's biodefense center 10 months ago while facing internal strife over his stewardship.

And, as Alibek raised fear of bioterrorism in the United States, he also has sought to profit from that fear.

By his count, Alibek has won about $28 million in federal grants or contracts for himself or entities that hired him.

He has had well-placed help. Some of the money has been allocated because of a Southern California congressman's "earmarks," controversial budget maneuvers that direct federal agencies' spending. Moreover, two senior aides to a New Jersey congressman who also provided crucial help to Alibek left government and promptly joined his commercial efforts. ...

Among Alibek's congressional benefactors, Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ) on the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), former chair of the House appropriations committee, and former House speaker Newt Gingrich. And Alibek's Washington promotion was aided along the way by a spooky former aide to Florida Republican Bill McCollum, Vaughn Forrest.

Alibek made his first network-television news appearance in February 1998, and three months later testified at a congressional committee hearing on terrorism and intelligence. A news release said Alibek would "provide new information on Russia's offensive biological weapons program."

The only contact listed was a committee staffer named Vaughn Forrest, a onetime candidate for Congress. Forrest in the 1980s had traveled to Afghanistan to support the Muslims who ultimately drove out the invading Soviet Union. In helping Afghanistan's mujahedin, Forrest had developed a productive relationship with the CIA. Forrest introduced Alibek to the chairman of the Senate-House Joint Economic Committee. Forrest took the lead in arranging the hearing.

He and Alibek formed a lasting bond. ...

Forrest introduced Alibek to others who could help, including Florida Republican Bill McCollum, then-chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Forrest had once been McCollum's chief of staff....

(First I heard of Vaugh Forrest is here, when Larisa reported that he recently accompanied Hoekstra to meet an Iranian contact in Paris). If Weldon who never met a hyped-up for-profit Russian-linked threat opportunity he didn't like isn't part of the picture, I am sure he is disappointed he missed out.

Update: Reader RS writes, "Hyping security threats is a standard MO for many people in security industries. Sometimes reality actually lives up to the hype. I thought this article was a bit harsh on Ken. ..." Hyped to the tune of $28 million in federal earmarks? He responded, "The computer anti-virus business rakes in billions of dollars a year. It regularly hypes security concerns (real and imagined) to sell more software."

Posted by Laura at July 1, 2007 10:20 AM