[Boundless]

First, consider the source. Russian sources are generally
less credible than Debka.

> This can be done only in a laboratory, ...

All of rural China is a lab for creating novel animal-human
and-back-again virii and bacteria. A couple of times a century
we can expect to get a virulent one, a'la 1918 (which was
much more fatal than the present agent).

> ... weapons a protective anti-viral vaccine is, as a
> rule, worked out at the same time.

And we'll know that happened if no Party members in China
go missing before SARS burns itself out or is countered by
medications from outside China. (The Chinese internal
population control scenario.)

> ...a medicine for atypical pneumonia may soon appear.

CDC says it might take a year.

> ...the virus could have begun accidentally, as a result
> of "an unsanctioned leakage" from a laboratory.

Maybe, but lets also consider that SARS is relatively
ineffective as a weapon:
* up to 10 day incubation
* 4% fatality rate (without competent medical care)
* reportedly more severe among Asians.

[Orangedog]

Maybe, but lets also consider that SARS is relatively ineffective as a weapon: * up to 10 day incubation * 4% fatality rate (without competent medical care) * reportedly more severe among Asians.

As a strategic millitary weapon, agreed. But as a secondary type weapon that saps ecconomic resources and panics a population, it seems to be very effective.