Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 09:15:08 -0700 From: whigdout@theriver.com (Robert Bushkin) Subject: [lpaz-Pima] Bioterrorism To: lpaz-Pima@yahoogroups.com Reply-To: lpaz-Pima@yahoogroups.com
> > While the bioterror threat is very real...To accomplish [drastic
> > depopulation] ...would require ...a biological agent with all
> > of the following properties:
> > - highly contagious
> > - high mortality rate among healthy people
> > - a very long, symptom free but contagious incubation period
> > - no currently available cure or vaccine
> > I have not heard of or seen any evidence that such a "doomsday"
> > biological agent actually exists; have you?
>Ever heard of HIV?
>***\
The virulence (i.e. contagiousness) of HIV is very low. It's vector is easily defeated with simple behavioral changes. Also, based on my limited knowledge of epistemology, long symptom free incubation periods and high virulence are alternative survival strategies for pathogens.
That of course doesn't rule out the possibility of a super-bug with both qualities.
Also, such serenity over the absorbability of bioterrorism by a free society, so free it has no central authority to respond to it, reminds me of General Buck Turgitson (George C. Scott) in "Dr Strangelove" telling President Mukle that "We could take a fist strike Mr Presiden. By my calculations it wouldn't be that bad: 10 to 20 million casualties; 50 millions tops."
President Muckle (Peter Sellers) explodes: "General Trugitson, I will not go down in history as the greatest mass murderer since Adolph Hitler!"
"Mr President," replies Turgitson cooly, "Perhaps, if you were less concerned about your place in history, and more concerned with the American people, we could win this thing."
Pax Not Pox vobiscum bob bushkin
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