Posted on 10/04/2005 12:02:27 PM PDT by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON, Oct 4 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush asked Congress on Tuesday to consider giving him powers to use the military to enforce quarantines in case of an avian influenza epidemic.
He said the military, and perhaps the National Guard, might be needed to take such a role 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?" Bush asked at a news conference.
"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?" Bush added.
"One option is the use of a military that's able to plan and move. So that's why I put it on the table. I think it's an important debate for Congress to have."
Bird flu has killed more than 60 people in four Asian nations since late 2003 and has been found in birds in Russia and Europe.
Experts fear that the H5N1 bird flu virus, which appears to be highly fatal when it infects people, will develop the ability to pass easily from person to person and would cause a pandemic that would kill millions.
"And I think the president ought to have all ... assets on the table to be able to deal with something this significant," Bush said.
He noted that some governors may object to the federal government commandeering the National Guard, which is under state command in most circumstances.
POLICE DUTIES BANNED
"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.
The active duty military is currently forbidden from undertaking law enforcement duties by the federal Posse Comitatus Act.
That law, passed in 1878 after the U.S. Civil War, does not prohibit National Guard troops under state control from doing police work. But, unless the law is changed, it would keep them from doing so if they were activated by Washington under federal control.
While the law allows the president to order the military to take control and do police work in an extreme emergency, the White House has been traditionally reluctant to usurp state powers.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters he was not aware of any current planning by the military to help respond to a flu pandemic.
But he noted that after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf region, Bush had asked Congress to consider giving the military control over initial response in dealing with major natural or other domestic disasters.
"Obviously the (Defense) Department has a tremendous amount of capability in a lot of areas. And we are a large force," Whitman said, noting also that the military had deployed field hospitals to Louisiana after the hurricanes.
Health experts are working to develop vaccines that would protect against the H5N1 strain of flu, because current influenza vaccines will not.
And countries are also developing stockpiles of drugs that can reduce the risk of serious disease or even sometimes prevent infection -- but supplies and manufacturing capacity are both limited.
Bush said he was involved in planning for an influenza pandemic, which experts say will definitely come, although they cannot predict when, or whether it will be H5N1 or some other virus. (Additional reporting by Maggie Fox)
It was discussed last week on a thread I can't find. Try this link for all the latest info:
http://www.recombinomics.com/in_the_news.html
Republicans have used excuses for 150 years to garner more power for the national government. This excuse is no different
Wow gosh a post about bird flu and another bash on new orleans citizens. Gosh i thought most of the news reports in the last few days were showing how that was not true. In fact as to the superdome the officer from the national guard said that most behaved in a cilvilzed way. Anyway enough of that ignorance. A great article I read a few weeks ago showed that the Govt must expect the worst to come out in people during a crisis. Gawd a rumor spreads that gas is running out and you have people fighting in gas lines. A scene that was repeated all over the country. Personally if there is an epidemic and it is bad as some people say it is I don't wont' a thousand of different little militas in local towns enforing their own brand of law and order. You want to see panic once people fear for their lives and their families it will make nola look like a picnic.
Also, China has been doing some splicing between strains.
What number would be enough to change your mind. I am not trying to be cute about that either. IS ten million enough or twenty or 100,000,000 million. At what point could some liberties be revoked for the sake of saving half the country. I mean I will defend the Const if called upon but its not Holy Writ
Slightly rainy days.
ok that was funny. I dont just going around not questioning the govt. But its a issue that has to be considered. Esp with the facts of how terrorist could use viruses. Also with all this talk about the Const how many were screaming about Const protections of people accused of being involved in terrorist acts. Some people who can't even see lawyers for a long period of time. Its a tough issue
I'll be happy to retract that if any proof can be found. Until then, it is not only incorrect, but dangerous to spread such information.
The President has not asked the Congress for such authority. At least he had not done so at the time of his presser this morning, which I saw/heard on NBC-TV. He did, however, raise the possibility that military resources might appropriately be employed (presumably if so authorized by law) to effectuate a quarantine of a flu-infected region of the U.S.
Point two: It is never prudent to rely on Reuters for information, without having consulted one or two additional sources.
" Bird flu has killed more than 60 people in four Asian nations since late 2003..."
More people have probably died in the US today just getting out of the shower.
From my understanding, it has passed between family members in South East Asia. It will take a little while, but I'll be happy to provide a link.
Take a look at backhoe's crosslinks on his post #7----on my post # 101 on this thread.
True, and they are indeed using antivirals.
They are using Tamiflu, or tamiflu like compounds. WHO has been trying to stop them with some success.
I don't think Bush is looking for some power that is unusual. He only wants something in between calling for marial law by executive order, and doing nothing. He wants the tools he discovered lacking in the Katrina response.
The fact is, that citizens will demand the government do something, and he is anticipating this.
Frankly, there will not be much we can do. We could slow the spread, but not stop it. But discussing it now may bring some measures that will speed up our responses. He can, if he has to,suspend habeous and declare martial law, but there must be a better way.
Update from WHO is that they have a vaccine now. I don't know how good it is but couuntries are stockpiling it up now.
There is not a number that will 'change my mind'. I believe if 10, 20, or 100 million died, the least of your worries would be the national government's attempted intrusion into the affairs of the state. By that point the nation will have devolved into pure anarchy.
If you provide proof, I'll retract.
It is really quite simple. If somebody is diagnosed as HIV positive, put them in quarantine. Period. None of this "keep it a secret" crap. If somebody is diagnosed with a fatal, communicable disease, quarantine them until they either die or recover. We all know that nobody ever recovers. HIV always leads to AIDS, and AIDS is a 100% fatal disease.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.