Use army for bird flu: Bush.

October 05, 2005

US President George W Bush has suggested using the military to contain any epidemic of avian flu, saying the US Congress needs to consider the possibility.

He said the military, perhaps the National Guard, might be needed to enforce quarantines if the feared H5N1 bird flu virus changes enough to cause widespread human infection.
"If we had an outbreak somewhere in the United States, do we not then quarantine that part of the country? And how do you, then, enforce a quarantine?" Mr Bush asked.

"It's one thing to shut down airplanes. It's another thing to prevent people from coming in to get exposed to the avian flu. And who best to be able to effect a quarantine?" Mr Bush said.

Article

I'm looking for a full transcript.

Sanc'.

Bush proposes using military in bird flu pandemic

He noted that some governors may object to the federal government commandeering the National Guard, which is under state command in most circumstances.

"But Congress needs to take a look at circumstances that may need to vest the capacity of the president to move beyond that debate. And one such catastrophe or one such challenge could be an avian flu outbreak," Bush said.

Article

He noted that some governors may object to the federal government commandeering the National Guard, which is under state command in most circumstances.

How exactly does this 'red tape' work?

[edit on 4-10-2005 by sanctum]

I just read this article and it sent shivers down my spine. Very scary indeed. And, its not the flu I'm scared of, its the misuse of power that the flu may become an excuse for.

Freaking A.

Originally posted by sanctum
October 05, 2005

US President George W Bush has suggested using the military to contain any epidemic of avian flu, saying the US Congress needs to consider the possibility.

He said the military, perhaps the National Guard, might be needed to enforce quarantines if the feared H5N1 bird flu virus changes enough to cause widespread human infection.
"If we had an outbreak somewhere in the United States, do we not then quarantine that part of the country? And how do you, then, enforce a quarantine?" Mr Bush asked.

Go to foxnews.com and click on press conference, it is a video, but a source.

"It's one thing to shut down airplanes. It's another thing to prevent people from coming in to get exposed to the avian flu. And who best to be able to effect a quarantine?" Mr Bush said.

Article

I'm looking for a full transcript.

Sanc'.

If this is true then scary stuff indeed, though I can understand it to an extent, it seems the military are starting to police a lot of things at any excuse, or it is at least being discussed.

Here in the UK, if the fuel protests the other week had gone ahead, there were plans to have armed military escorting tankers to stop the same repercussions as a few years back pre-911 (here in the UK).

If there is a full outbreak the military will be needed to maintain quaranteens and the like. Also to move food and water, keep order etc.

Think NOLA but on a national scale.

However, this is if there is a severe outbreak

With a 55% fatality rate you better pray the military is there to help your local officials out. Not only is this virus extremely contagious, but like I said, it is 55% lethal.
The 1918 Great Influenza Pandemic which was only at the most 5% lethal still killed 50+ millions of people, at a time when the global population was only 1.8 Billion.

[edit on 4-10-2005 by WestPoint23]

Originally posted by sanctum

"It's one thing to shut down airplanes. It's another thing to prevent people from coming in to get exposed to the avian flu. And who best to be able to effect a quarantine?" Mr Bush said.

Somehow I think there's a basic flaw in his logic...the carriers of the disease are birds. How does he intend to keep them from spreading across the continent?

Every time there's someone getting sick from H5N1, he thinks the military will be able to enclose the area with a ring of Humvees but when the outbreak happens everywhere on the continent, what can the military do then?

WTF is the army going to do wrt bird flu?? Force people to wash their hands? Shoot anyone on the street with the sniffles? Or are they going to be bringing along their dogs and doing a lot of this:


Seriously, what the heck is the federal military supposed to be doing in the event of an outbreak of avian flu? How is giving central control of the national guard going to stop it?

This is more stupidity of the highest sort. In a global pandemic, we'd need to have factories within the US to create the flu medications, and labs to work on the vaccinations. Oh, wait, we've slashed the basic science budget, and have a president who thinks that the big scientific issue is whether we're related to monkeys or not! Thats why if there's an epidemic millions more are going to die than need to. I'd bet that he wouldn't think that anti-viral medications and the evolution of the flu virus is 'just a theory' then eh?

Honestly, this is insance. This guy is talking about seizing control of the military? TO FIGHT A VIRUS!!!????


This is as good a time as any to reiterate these papers:
www.foreignaffairs.org...

www.foreignaffairs.org...

www.foreignaffairs.org...

www.nature.com...

www.nature.com...


And lots of others along with an interview with one of the people who's working on this here
www.abovetopsecret.com...



[edit on 4-10-2005 by Nygdan]

[edit on 4-10-2005 by Nygdan]

This is irrational and non-sensical. Exactly how do intend to atrophize a virus with the military; and what's more, that the senate cannot accumulate the proper funds to fight the virus not only before it strikes in the west, but more fundamentaly in the east asian countries where it has become a devastation to the populace. Containment of this virus must start in those countries with the help of wealthier countries providing the proper support. To plan to use the military in the near future is a defeatist agenda, not one of rationality and reason.

Luxifero

I just saw the corn-cob make this statement myself on the evening news.

WHAT IN PSYCHODELIC PSYCHOSIS IS GOING ON HERE???

What in blue-blazes is happening?

What in tarnation?

WTF???

Originally posted by Nygdan
WTF is the army going to do wrt bird flu?? Force people to wash their hands? Shoot anyone on the street with the sniffles? Or are they going to be bringing along their dogs and doing a lot of this:

No he said how Nygdan. He's stating it upfront and personal. To keep people from getting in to the quarantined area and then went "and"....pregnant pause...and didn't say the rest.

To stop the movement of people.

Not sure which is the first, but there are like 5 of these threads by different names.

Ok sorry to have to close one of these but as this one was posted just after www.abovetopsecret.com...

I will have to close this,

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