ABCNews.com has an article up on Dick Cheney and an anthrax-attack false alarm that supposedly led to his “hard-line” attitudes towardfighting terrorism. An excerpt from the article, which is reporting on a new book out that details the story:

White House insiders from that white-knuckle time told author Jane Mayer, who authored “The Dark Side, The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals,” that the scare contributed to Cheney’s insistence on hard-line tactics for fighting terror. Mayer, a writer for the New Yorker, claims that the vice president became the driving force in pushing for tougher interrogation tactics that critics charge went over the legal line and constitute torture. In the days after the horror of 9/11, the country seemed to be under assault from many sides, with anthrax letters showing up in Congress and newsrooms. On Oct. 18, 2001, a White House alarm went off indicating that sensors had detected dangerous levels of radioactive, chemical or biological agents. According to Mayer, anyone who had entered the White House situation room, including Cheney, had been exposed. “They thought Cheney was already lethally infected,” said a former administration officer who had kept the White House secret until now, according to the book. Despite the unnerving news. Cheney calmly reported the emergency to the National Security Council. It turned out that the detection system had a malfunction and there was no hazard.

Really? Dick Cheny was in NYC on October 18, 2001. From the NY Times:

By MICHAEL COOPER AND JENNIFER STEINHAUER Published: October 19, 2001Vice President Dick Cheney made the pilgrimage yesterday to the rubble pile that was once the World Trade Center, and then, in his first public appearance since the attacks, declared that the nation’s war against terrorists ‘’can only end with their complete and permanent destruction.’’
Mr. Cheney reported that the war ‘’is proceeding on course.’’ But he warned Americans to prepare themselves for further attacks, and he said that the increased security that is beginning to alter life in the United States will be a lasting change.
’’Americans reasonably wonder ‘How long will it last?’ ‘’ he said last night at the 56th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. ‘’The answer is that many of these changes we have made are permanent, at least in the lifetime of most of us.’’
It was a somber speech at a dinner that is usually a revue of political wit. But though the evening was clearly transformed — from the heightened security that delayed its beginning to the flag pins seen on the lapels of dinner jackets to the standing ovations given to Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen, Police Commissioner Bernard B. Kerik and Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani — there were some of the lighter moments it is known for.

And this from the ABC News piece:

But in the days after the incident, Cheney was taking no chances. Eleven days later, Cheney insisted on leaving the White House and retreating to one of his “secure, undisclosed locations,” the book claims.

Actually, this was not a surprise at all. President Bush was in NYC for the World Series starting on October 30th. and the news that Dick Cheney was in his “secure, undisclosed location” was disclosed. Maureen Dowd on Oct. 31, 2001:

President Bush went to the Yankees game with 1,200 police officers as Dick Cheney headed back underground and John Ashcroft warned us to watch out for every single thing.

I expect the rest of the book is as well-researched as these excerpts.