Bush Wants Right To Use Military If Bird Flu Hits

Reuters ^ | 10/4/05

[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)

[samm1148]

Good comeback. I agree, in fact if you work those numbers it comes up to 0.000001875% of the population dying from this "disease". More queers have died from AIDS than this and frankly more people have won the powerball lottery than have died from this flu.

[kevao]

Does this mean that, if there were a bird flu epidemic in Mexico, Bush would use the military to seal the border?

No.

That's too bad. I was already researching how to create a bird flu epidemic in Mexico. No point in it now, though, I guess.

[Judith Anne]

It'll most likely come in from the open, almost nonexistent, southern border.

Right now, ongoing, there is a deadly epidemic of an unidentified virus in Toronto. And there is a HUGE asian population in and around Toronto, I'm talking +/- a million poeple.

So, I think it will come from the north. ymmv.

[DumpsterDiver]

That's too bad. I was already researching how to create a bird flu epidemic in Mexico. No point in it now, though, I guess.

There are going to be new presidents, so carry on. Infect some homing pigeons, but teach them to only fly one way, no return trips allowed. And get a federal grant to finance your research.

[montag813]

Should Bush name a "Bird Flu Czar", I wonder what qualifications the person would need. Heretofore, no one had imagined that a stint at the Arabian Horse Association qualified a person to head FEMA, or heading the Texas Lottery Commission qualified a person for the Supreme Court. How about Eriq La Salle for Bird Flu Czar? He played Dr Benton on "E.R." LaSalle portrayed an MD in over a hundred episodes over 8 years--more time than Brown spent at the AHA. Surely to Bush this is more than adequate qualification.

[William Terrell]

However, the failure of LA in the Katrina disaster exposed a glaring fault. If a governor refuses to acknowledge a disaster in the making, there has to be a mechanism to override him/her.

I'd say let the people in the state override him/her. If they don't then they die. Establishing the primacy of federal intrusion of military troops into a state is much worse than death.

A lot of people died to get the British troops out of the colonies. They were motivated by something we haven't yet experienced, in our secure and constitutionally protected existence.

The British had cannon, muskets and bayonets. I'd hate to think of having to repel the boot of martial law with the weaponry available now. Best to take deaths, and a lot of them, to avoid that, if indeed it could be done.

[Judith Anne]

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.

WHO does NOT have a vaccine that is effective against the H5N1 strain that transmits from human-to-human. Period. Such a vaccine will not be made until 6 months after such a strain emerges, which it has not yet done. And even then, there won't be enough to vaccinate very many people.

[processing please hold]

Anyone remember this story?

Health officials foresee flu pandemic:- WASHINGTON | July 31, 2005 5:11:44 PM IST

The world is unprepared for an impending flu pandemic, lacking public awareness and medicine, a published report said Suday.

Public health officials around the world are trying to plan for the outbreak, including quarantines.

Flu vaccines are in short supply and could take months for more even if the orders are fast-tracked, The Washington Post said.

A deadly new virus is showing up in more places as well. The avian bird flu, first noticed in 18 months ago in Southeast Asian poultry flocks, is spreading at a rate that is worrying health authorities.

Bird flu has been found in Siberia and Russia. Hospitals in Australia are admitting record number of flu patients and Health Minister Tony Abbott predicts a massive outbreak within the next 12 months.

The flu season is right around the corner.

[Protagoras]

Three links, no proof.

[Protagoras]

Possibly, maybe,,,,

Still nothing.

[Protagoras]

Expectations. Still no proof.

There must have been some kind of disconnect on this thread. A poster stated person to person spreading. I merely asked for proof. So far, none.

[processing please hold]

No possibly maybe about it. I gave you human to human, which is what you asked for.

[Protagoras]

HIV always leads to AIDS, and AIDS is a 100% fatal disease.

Proof please.

There are HIV people who have not progressed to Aids. There are aids patients still alive. Those are facts. Your statment is conjecture until you show proof.

Not evidence, proof.

[Protagoras]

More long posts, still no proof.

Your belief is not proof.

[Protagoras]

I gave you human to human, which is what you asked for.

I asked for proof. None has been forthcoming.

[processing please hold]

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

[gathersnomoss]

And now, birds have lost their rights. Unbelievable man.

[processing please hold]

Very interesting article, thanks.

[Free Baptist]

"Is it just me, or is our President looking for more and more situations in which the Commander-in-Chief should be allowed to use American military forces on our own soil?"

We believe that this is the direction things are headed. Power must be concentrated around a few, and the few is bi-partisan, yea, multi-partisan, all who believe in a globalized society.

[Toespi]

If I might jump in here....How about a psychological quarantine? Stop romanticizing and mainstreaming homosexuality. Report real facts, AIDS rarely affects heterosexuals, this is a lie that promotes the ability to get more donations from the public, as well as sympathy and generates fear. Media, entertainment industries have a perfect venue to do this and unfortunately these industries have a high percentage of homosexuality. If a person is diagnosed with AIDS he/or "she" should be quarantined during a counseling period, especially if they are sexually active. Afterall, it is a deadly disease in the hands of often times irresponsible people. It should be criminal to pass this disease to another.