Not even killer flu to shut U.S. border

WorldNetDaily ^ | May 2, 2006

[Man50D]

While nationwide demonstrations focus America's attention on the issue of illegal immigration and U.S. borders, the federal government will apparently not close the border even in the face of deadly bird flu or a super strain of influenza.

That according to a draft of the national response plan obtained by the Associated Press.

The report says a major outbreak of disease could prompt the government to limit international flights, quarantine exposed travelers and restrict movement in and around the country, with the exception of the border.

It notes "a complete shutdown of the border would not be likely, nor would it do more than slow the pandemic's spread by a few weeks," according to AP.

"While we will consider all options to limit the spread of a pandemic virus, we recognize complete border closure would be difficult to enforce, present foreign affairs complications and have significant negative social and economic consequences," the draft report says.

With estimates of up to 40 percent of the American workforce off the job in the case of a pandemic, government officials are preparing for a worst-case scenario of up to 2 million deaths in the U.S.

Since 2003, the H5N1 strain of bird flu has impacted more than 200 people, killing about half. Almost all of the victims had come in close contact with infected poultry or droppings.

The goal of the report is to prepare the private sector, as 85 percent of critical systems such as food production, medicine, and financial services are privately run.

"While a pandemic will not damage power lines, banks or computer networks, it has the potential ultimately to threaten all critical infrastructure by its impact on an organization's human resources by removing essential personnel from the workplace for weeks or months," the report says.

The response plan forecasts possible breakdowns in public order, with state governors deploying National Guard troops or even requesting federal troops to maintain order.

[Dallas59]

The answer we've all been waiting for.

[saganite]

"While a pandemic will not damage power lines, banks or computer networks, it has the potential ultimately to threaten all critical infrastructure by its impact on an organization's human resources by removing essential personnel from the workplace for weeks or months,"

No problem! We'll just get replacement folks from those displaced workers down south. /sarc/

[mkjessup]

Hey, no sweat on bird flu or any of those deadly bugs out there, they're just coming to America to do the job that American viruses won't do.

Next week, they'll be organizing a boycott.

[kingattax]

when are people going to wake up and realize we need to remove the current government and congress before we can effectively eliminate the illegal alien problem ???

[backhoe]

...when are people going to wake up and realize we need to remove the current government and congress before we can effectively eliminate the illegal alien problem...

Know what?

I agree:

Time to Reinstall Congress

...and at Federal, State, and local level. Time to renew.

See tagline...

[PBRSTREETGANG]

The open border is sacrosanct for both parties.

Apparently nothing can close it.

[gafusa]

When are people going to wake up and realize our government is willing to destroy our country? No wonder traitors are allowed to walk free, because if we jailed them we would have to jail our government. If we do not throw out our government there will be no America shortly.

[Idisarthur]

An al Qaeda attack, reminiscent of the terror attack in the Russian town of Beslan, in Arizona, New Mexico or any other state would close the borders. We would then be like Israel.

All the stupid women and men of our country will take their heads out of their yoga, their house keeping, their golf game and their hunting to pay attention. Then they will demand a border closure.

We would stop this silly talk about the impossibilities of closing the borders.

Methadone/Heroine addicts will no longer get their Government freebies and High School kids will no longer play with Condoms and Bananas in health class. All monies would be diverted to closing the borders.

If we couldn't envision Sept 11, 2001 then we can't envision Beslan in the States.

Coming to a theatre near you.

God forbid; God help us. Prayers.

[DannyTN]

Some of the reports recommendations shows just how unprepared we are going to be....

"Companies should be prepared to keep workers at least 3 feet apart"
Oh yeah, 3 ft, that will do it!!!

"Mandatory quarantines to be used as a last resort".

"and flight crews should have surgical masks to put on coughing travelers"
yeah, the guy coughing his head off and struggling to breathe is going to keep the mask on and protect the other passengers who weren't assigned masks!!!!

"international borders won't be closed because doing so will only delay the spread of the flu for 3 to 4 weeks and will hurt foreign affairs"
ie the spread is inevitable, so we aren't going to do anything. It's better if you die than that we should offend anyone. Give a mask to that blue fellow on row 4.