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)
I knew you were a child...shooo, run along now.
Your bio explains a heck of a lot.
The DUmmies are going to go wild with conspiracy theories over this one.
You don't matter enough for me to look at yours...but hey, I interested you enough to look. Grow up.
Yeah, that's how it feels -- something's coming.
Like I said, it explains a lot.
It must have been fun supporting Clinton and Gore and Carter and Johnson and Fat Teddy and the rest of the imbeciles before you had that "DUH" moment. LOL
Did you find anything out about you sick birds?
I didn't really start to follow politics till 9-11. It opened my eyes. I supported Clinton and Gore, but I didn't go bananas when Bush won in 2000, I just said, shi$ and let it pass. I didn't care for Carter too much, even back then. The swimmer, I've always hated. Johnson, I was a hippie back then and only heard his name in passing. Teenagers don't care about politicians or politics.
Anything else you'd like to know prima donna?
Back off or leave me the hell alone. Your choice.
I didn't even want to know that.
As for your excuses, the world didn't start or end on 9-11 and the people you supported were instrumental in ruining the country. And the illogical posts you have made on this thread are not surprising given your past "thoughtfulness".
Now please stop telling people to grow up after admitting your childish outlook on life.
You are still riding on conservative training wheels, so your arrogance is distasteful.
Now,,,you are dismissed.
It can be found in the dictionary. It's not a word that applies to many posts. But it describes the posts some have made on these exchanges precisely. That is why I have used it.
Back off or leave me the hell alone.
You may choose to end your conversation with me at any time. No one is forcing you to post.
I put out my past ideologies for everybody and their brother to see,so they can see who they're dealing with up front. I didn't try to hide who I was. But you, you and your sanctimonious smug attitude, think you are the be all end all. Well, let me explain something to you Mr/Mrs/Ms, your opinions don't mean squat to me. You are a nasty, uncivil jerk and all that that entails. Was that OBTUSE enough for ya? If not, we can take this to the back alley I've heard so much about.
"Is there a vaccination for this over here?"
Probably not the same strain that they (CDC) expect to be unleased. They have a very small supply Roche-Swiss Company but (USA patent) Company makes it according to Fox News. Orders coming in for it from other countries.
We need to fight The Birds over there so that we don't need to fight them over here.
" It seems to me that GWB just can't get a break..."
Yup, I agree.
And if Bush did NOT consider any options the left would be screaming about how BUSH DID NOTHING!!!
But, I am surprised at how many here are jumping on the Bash Bush Bandwagon lately.
LOL Didn't they make a big stink about the flu last year saying all these people were going to die and the U.S. did not have enough vaccines yada yada yada Poor old people waiting in line yada yada. The WHO is on Panic Button mode all the time!
"We need to fight The Birds over there so that we don't need to fight them over here."
Thats exactly, kind of, what D-Senator Harkin suggested.
Says we need more people OVER THERE monitoring it to prevent it from coming over here.
hmmm
Good luck with that........
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.