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U.S. Gave West Nile, Other Viruses, to Iraq
NewsMax ^ | 9/24/02 | John O. Edwards

Posted on 09/23/2002 7:02:47 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection

The United States supplied Saddam’s Hussein Iraq with the West Nile Virus, a recently released CDC letter proves. NewsMax.com has obtained a copy of a 1995 letter sent by Bill Clinton’s then Director of the the Centers for Disease Control , Dr. David Satcher, to Senator Donald Riegle. (You can view the actual letter by Clicking Here.)

Satcher, who would later become Surgeon General, identified the West Nile Virus as one of almost two dozen forms of viruses, retroviruses, bacteria, and fungi provided by the U.S. to Iraqi labs during the 1980s.

The sensational revelations adds more weight to allegations in NewsMax’s bestselling new book, "Catastrophe: Clinton’s Role In America’s Worst Disaster,” that claims West Nile was a form of bio terrorism aimed at the U.S.

Earlier this month, NewsMax reported that Senator Patrick Leahy described reports that West Nile was an act of bio-terror against the U.S. as "credible.” Leahy also suggested that the purpose of the attack was to test our defenses against a biological attack.

Now, Businessweek reports this week that Leahy is not alone, noting that "some congressional leaders are asking whether the mosquito-borne illness could be linked to terrorism or to Iraq's bioweapons program.”

As "Catastrophe” first outlined, there is compelling evidence, including a series of unusual coincidences, that adds credence to worries West Nile was used as a biological weapon.

For example, "Catastrophe" reveals that first outbreak of West Nile took place near the U.N. during the late 90s, at the same time the organization was vigorously seeking to enforce sanctions against the Iraqi regime.

"Catastrophe" also quotes a top Iraqi defector who reported in 1997 – before the first outbreak of West Nile here – that Saddam Hussein had bragged that he would unleash the West Nile virus against the U.S.

In his 1995 letter, Dr. Satcher informed Senator Riegle that the CDC gave Iraq biological agents, including the plague, West Nile, and dengue fever.

The CDC told Businessweek the transfer was not unusual and was in accordance with "World Health Organization guidelines that encouraged the free exchange of biological samples among medical researchers.”

The magazine also reported that the West Nile strain provided Iraq "is not the same strain provided to Iraq.”

But the Iraqi defector who first warned of the virus said Saddam told him he developed an unusual strain of the virus. Other experts have confirmed that Saddam has the ability to mutate viruses and other biological agents.

Also, after the first outbreak of the virus in New York City, then-Surgeon General David Satcher admitted that this particular strain of West Nile was unusual, and had appeared at the same time in only two other countries: Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The U.S., Israel, and Saudi Arabia had also been strongly pressing for strong U.N. sanctions against Iraq.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: clinton; iraq; us; westnilevirus
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1 posted on 09/23/2002 7:02:47 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
...and they have given it right back...
2 posted on 09/23/2002 7:03:54 PM PDT by Vidalia
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
NewsMax takes leave of it's senses on occasion. This sinister construct seems to be one of those times.....IMHO, of course.
3 posted on 09/23/2002 7:06:10 PM PDT by OldFriend
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
The CDC told Businessweek the transfer was not unusual and was in accordance with "World Health Organization guidelines that encouraged the free exchange of biological samples among medical researchers.”

So in Bill Clinton's world, WHO trumps national security. Great, just great.

4 posted on 09/23/2002 7:06:42 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
The magazine also reported that the West Nile strain provided Iraq "is not the same strain provided to Iraq.”

I don't jump on NewsMax all that much, but this is a bit ripe.

5 posted on 09/23/2002 7:11:21 PM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
In IL our 500th case and 27th death was reported today.......
6 posted on 09/23/2002 7:14:10 PM PDT by newsperson999
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
But lets go further back in history....to the reign of Bush The Elder......what kind of goodies were sold or given to Sadam then?

Like back to the Iran/Iraq War?

Who did the American Feds want to win that war?
7 posted on 09/23/2002 7:14:28 PM PDT by Betty Jo
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To: OldFriend
Satcher's letter. It uses JavaScript so I have to hyperlink.
8 posted on 09/23/2002 7:14:35 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
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To: OldFriend
This may be real, and the truth will be determined by genotype.

On the trail of West Nile virus, with the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito,
which may be a bioweapon from Cuba and Iraq.


9 posted on 09/23/2002 7:16:25 PM PDT by Diogenesis
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To: gov_bean_ counter
"Satcher, who would later become Surgeon General, identified the West Nile Virus as one of almost two dozen forms of viruses, retroviruses, bacteria, and fungi provided by the U.S. to Iraqi labs during the 1980s"

This was during the Regan admin., not the Clinton admin.
10 posted on 09/23/2002 7:20:47 PM PDT by Karsus
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To: Karsus
Lack of sleep :->

Regan should have been Reagan.
Off to sleep
11 posted on 09/23/2002 7:22:37 PM PDT by Karsus
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
The sensational revelations adds more weight to allegations in NewsMax’s bestselling new book, "Catastrophe: Clinton’s Role In America’s Worst Disaster,” that claims West Nile was a form of bio terrorism aimed at the U.S.

If the U.S. supplied Iraq with WNV in the 1980's, this may be one of those things that it's not quite fair to blame Clinton for.

12 posted on 09/23/2002 7:25:53 PM PDT by aristeides
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
This is true! I wouldn't put anything past those Iraqi devils! And it's not just West Nile. No, sir. Them commies has been working for years to give Hantavirus to our good American rats, Lyme ticks to our good American field mice, and halitosis to our good American dogs! Besides which, I happen to know for a FACT that Fidel himself has been behind a massive Cuban research effort to infect the decent God-fearing red-blooded men of America with chronic jock itch. WAKE UP AMERICA!
13 posted on 09/23/2002 7:38:36 PM PDT by Capriole
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
"...also quotes a top Iraqi defector who reported in 1997 – before the first outbreak of West Nile here – that Saddam Hussein had bragged that he would unleash the West Nile virus against the U.S."

If Leahy believes this, its probably untrue. That said, if it is proven to be true, it is grounds for deployment of a thermonuclear device upon Baghdad.....

14 posted on 09/23/2002 7:51:12 PM PDT by yooper
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Retaliate! Send them the Baldwin Brothers and Hildabeast.
15 posted on 09/23/2002 8:22:38 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie
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To: yooper
You know when birds start dieing it's usually a good warning sign that things are begining to get really bad.
CDC was pretty on with this one. They predicted 1000 cases and 100 dead this year. They didn't predict the spread though.
16 posted on 09/23/2002 8:28:06 PM PDT by CJ Wolf
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To: yooper
You know when birds start dieing it's usually a good warning sign that things are begining to get really bad.
CDC was pretty on with this one. They predicted 1000 cases and 100 dead this year. They didn't predict the spread though.
17 posted on 09/23/2002 8:28:07 PM PDT by CJ Wolf
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection; thinden; Lion's Cub
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/749699/posts

Sen. Leahy: West Nile Outbreak Could Be Terrorism

18 posted on 09/23/2002 8:39:22 PM PDT by honway
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

19 posted on 09/23/2002 8:44:06 PM PDT by honway
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection; thinden; Lion's Cub
http://www.msnbc.com/news/810440.asp?0dm=N17ON&cp1=1

Link

"As many as 200,000 Americans have been exposed to West Nile virus since 1999"

---------------------------------------------

It is clear from today's news that the Administration is concerned about the possibility of the use of small pox as a bio weapon by Iraq. I hope someone at the CDC is looking at the effect of the small pox vaccine on a patient that was previously exposed to the West Nile virus.

20 posted on 09/23/2002 9:53:32 PM PDT by honway
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