Posted on 02/16/2003 5:29:34 AM PST by longjack
Biological Terrorism : Danger Hushed Up
Secret Service: Iraq possesses smallpox pathogens / Federal Government kept the information secret for months / The text of the document
Berlin. The Federal Government has apparently concealed information that Iraq possesses biological weapons of mass destruction and is threatening Germany with them.
In a government document dated August 9 of last year, which this newspaper has in its possession, it was warned that in attacks using smallpox agents, in which up to 25 million Germans could fall victim, there was not sufficient vaccine available. Not publicizing the document has fueled suspicion that the Red-Green coalition hushed up the actual threat by Iraq a few weeks before federal elections and that it is still not informing the public completely about the extent of the threat.
The document is a copy of the text from the Federal Health Ministry that according to the FAX header information was distributed widely in the Federal Government and, among other things, was known about by the Federal Interior Ministry since August 12. Due to the acute threat by Iraq, procurement of smallpox vaccine for the entire population should be undertaken. According to the document, the "German secret service" has just not "vague indications" as the government has claimed so far, but "documented knowledge" that Iraq possesses biological weapons. The document says further that smallpox agents are stored "illegally" outside of official American and Russian laboratories, in Iraq and North Korea among other places. There are even indications that terror groups are striving to produce biological weapons. In case of an American military strike against Baghdad, there is "fear" that Iraq will retaliate with the biological weapons they have in their possession, including smallpox.
The extent of the threat is described openly for the first time. "In a - no longer safely dismissed - biological attack" the most "devastating scenario" is an attack with smallpox agents. Without vaccination one could figure on 30 to 40 percent mortality, meaning 25 million people in Germany alone. Furthermore, "In the case of an epidemic, public life would collapse on the day of the awareness of the attack, even before the deadly effects of the plague."
In the meantime the Federal Government has ordered a complete supply of vaccine that must be secured by March. Even a biological attack outside of Germany is dangerous: "A release of smallpox viruses somewhere else in the world creates an extraordinary danger for Germany due to the highly contagious nature of the agents and the mobility of the world's population."
The Ministry of Health confirms the existence of the document, but points out that such drastic language was chosen so that funds for vaccines would be quickly allocated by the Budget Committee. The number of deaths are exaggerated and would only apply if all residents were infected, which is "completely unrealistic". The minister herself used the document to use for speaking notes to the Budget Committee in November, but edited out most of the sections about Iraq and the effects of an attack. FDP Chairman Westerwelle, who has been criticizing the Federal Government for glossing over the danger for some time now, told this newspaper: "The level of danger from Iraq is a lot more serious than the government wants to admit".
The Text of the Smallpox Warning
Bonn, 9. August 2002
BMG
Ref. 329
Complete Rationale to the apl. -/apl. VE-Proposal from 08/09/2002 Re: The Procurement of Smallpox Vaccine
The immediate allocation of 10 million Euro as well as VE in the amount of 20 million Euro for the procurement of smallpox vaccine is factually irrefutable and temporally non-deferrable.
1.Probability of an Attack
The foreign policy appraisal and especially the reports of the news services indicate an acute escalation of threat levels: The German security services have at their disposal documented knowledge that smallpox agents are stored illegally outside the official laboratories in Atlanta and Koltsovo, for example in Russia, Iraq and North Korea. Likewise there are indications that terror groups are striving to produce biological weapons. Even the release of smallpox viruses somewhere else in the world creates an extraordinary danger for Germany due to the highly contagious nature of the agents and the mobility of the world?s population. The signs of a possible short notice imminent attack on Iraq by the US are increasing There is reason to fear that in such a situation Iraq will retaliate with any biological weapons in its possession, including smallpox viruses.
2. Effects of an Attack
In an - no longer safely dismissed - attack in the realm of bioterrorism the most devastating scenario by far exists in the event of an attack with smallpox agents. The population of Germany - even those persons who were inoculated until the 70?s - shows insufficient immunity. We would calculate with 30 to 40 % mortality, i.e., about 25 million people in the Federal Republic alone. In the case of an epidemic public life would collapse on the day of its knowledge, even before the deadly effects of the plague.
Smallpox vaccination can protect the spread of the plague. We must, therefore, maintain sufficient vaccine for the entire population. The army has stored 6 million doses of smallpox vaccine from an older supply in October 2001. With the procurement of these vaccines, of which no larger quantities are available at this time, we can only build an emergency reserve. It will not be sufficient in any way to stop an outbreak. For these reasons BMI, BMVg and BMG have initiated intensive efforts to introduce further stores.
Also, in comparison with other countries immediate precautions are vital:
- The USA has already stored or ordered vaccine for the entire population. The USA is preparing for the immediate immunization against smallpox of more than 500,000 people in the health services.
- Israel is actively preparing for the possibility of a terror attack with smallpox viruses and possesses vaccine for the entire population.
The degree of the supply of smallpox vaccine in individual countries is public knowledge. Because it is one of the most important industrial nations in the West and due to the insufficient provisions Germany is, as a largely unprotected country, an especially attractive target for bio-terrorist attacks.
For Readers of German..FAZ.. Gefahr verscwiegen
Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, 16.02.2003
Translated by longjack
longjack
Here's those links. Both are hammers.
eabinga..N-TV..Pockenviren in Irak
longjack
I was vaccinated in the 50's (USA), my wife in the 60's (D). From what I've heard it is no longer effective, however with a previous inoculation a booster may be all we need.
longjack
These people are a bunch of cowards!
Yahoo-Germany..Wirbel um Vermerk zu Pockenviren
longjack
Germans were threatened and turned French. Choice of evils defense for kissing Iraq's a$$.
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