Posted on 10/05/2005 10:51:13 AM PDT by tjbravo
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."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.myway.com ...
Actually, it's a good idea. We need live samples in order to study how these things evolve from an avian specific virus to a human transmission capable virus so effective treatments and appropriate control measures can be developed.
Once in a while a proposal out of the blue comes from the White House. This is one of those. 'Close Encounters' encounters reality.
Exactly.
What was the military's role in the 1918 pandemic, exactly?
TLR
Don't leave me, Danny!
You mean he is disguied as Big Mac?
Carolyn
Neither the US government nor military will be able to contain a flu pandemic. A virus is very small but even so, it's still beyond the resources and reach of the government. Yes Mr. President, there are some things that can't be solved by sending in the military or more government involvement.
This falls into the "look busy" pigeon hole.
Fair enough. Thanks! :-)
Those are questions that need answers. Discussion and debate on this issue needs to take place in order for an effective policy can be formulated which is consistent with our Federal system.
It won't be easy, and may not even be possible, but the discussion must take place. It might jar a few marbles and get some local authorities planning on their own, or in conjunction with neighboring states.
My husband has been doing a lot of research on this. He has found out that there was a strain of flu that then mutated into the deadly strain. It is believed (found?) that the people who got the original flu did not die from the mutated flu strain. They also still can not figure out why the age group that died the most was 18-45.
Sorry but I don't think your arguments are rational. The US military is NOT the enemy of US citizens in times of dire straits.
BTW, the US Army lost more soldiers to influenza in WW I than were lost in combat. At Camp Devens in Massacheusetts, over 100 previously healthy 18 & 19 y/o soldiers were dying per day for over 2 months.
If H5N1 mutates to infect by person-to-person contact, NO ONE will be safe from it. NOT using the military to help would be an act of madness.
Why is the same discussion taking place in Australia, Italy, and the UK for entirely different reasons--all within the last month? Source: Vox Day.
I wouldn't worry about the millitary.
If a pandemic of that nature broke out, someone will shoot you long before you see any guys in fatigues if you happen to walk into their space.
Who said the military was our enemy? They would like answers too, like why ten men can put a thousand to flight... I won't even begin to discuss what a major told me in Atlanta, but suffice it to say that the rules of engagement are peculiar.
I agree. This is very troubling. I heard one doctor discussing last night what this would look like. Military enforcing a quarantine on a population. Not good. The death rate he said from this flu could be 50% of those who get it. The 1918 flu death rate was 5%. So by enforcing a quarantine, some people will die becuase of it, including the members of the military itself. I've heard this doctor before and he never sounded like an alarmist to me. This could be potentially very bad and I don't think I want the military handling it. Yes, I can see the advantages, but I think the disadvantages outweigh them.
"And who best to be able to effect a quarantine"
Looks like Nagin did a pretty good job of it in NO! :)
"It disturbs me that so many that consider themselves conservative would be willing to hand any portion of control to the military on our home soil."
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I agree. I question the rationale of those who support it, and wonder whether they will be comfortable when said military is quartered comfortably in their homes.
If quarantine will be such an effective tool against this flu, why aren't they doing it in China? Why would we worry that it would even reach this side of the planet?
Why wouldn't we just close our borders and prevent it from coming in altogether? We would use the military against our own citizens, but not against those who bring the danger...
Bravo, post #37. This roundtable discussion approach by Doc seems familiar--where have I heard this before? Was it that diversity of thought committee at the office that identifies troublemakers or was it that gripe committee at the factory that identifies troublemakers or was it Thatcher at 555 or was it... Oh, yeah: Don't leave me, Danny!
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