True. Further, as I read the document, one can clearly see that the China of 2003 is vastly different than the China of today as far as addressing the pandemic is concerned. Surprisingly, the China of 2003 was more open and decisive by sharing information and removing officials who essentially mucked things up. In 2003, the international coordination was impressive. I was under there impression that as time passes, leadership, people and systems progress, not regress.
That's how it is supposed to work. I can't help but think that our quixotic, on again off again relations with foreign countries is unhelpful in achieving international cooperation. Certainly insulting heads of State will not be productive; neither would a dismantling of the State Department.
Three points that cost lives: 1. China lying to the world for six weeks and allowing international travel out of Wuhan. 2. The WHO taking China's lies at face value and legitimizing those lies and trumpeting those lies to the rest of the world. WHO suppressing any dissenting opinions from within their own organization that questioned Chinese data, and WHO running a campaign to discredit other world health organizations from questioning Chinese data. 3. Fauci and the US Surgeon General knowingly and intentionally lying to the American public about the efficacy and use of masks in the early weeks of the epidemic.
1. Interestingly, most neighbor to China countries didn't believe them and locked down anyway. I also assume we have spies there so even though they lied, it is on us not on them. Seriously, who believes anything what China/Russia/USA says? 2. I agree here but kind of the same agreement like in #1 applies. Don't we have people in the WHO who told us otherwise? 3. Although their lie is understandable, but not necessary acceptable. They could have taught us how to make a home-made mask, like they eventually did. Not increbibly imaginative. But it was mostly on Trump and his unwillingness to lock down, so stop diverting the blame. Had he closed down 2-3 weeks earlier and with obligatory mask wearing, we could have saved half of the deceased. He basically wasted a full month golfing...Even just getting the supplies (without lockdown) would have saved lives.
They all screwed up...China, WHO, Trump, Fauci, Governors opening up their state too soon and socially irresponsible citizens that still insist its no big deal / will not wear a mask / will not social distance / large social gatherings. At the end of the day...the irresponsible citizens were / are the last guard of defence but so far...not doing so well. In the old days, the military would call this a clusterfuck. wrbtrader
Points 1 and 2 I may concede them, point 3 is definitely missleading since at the beginning of the crisis most nations in Europe as the US reserved face masks to healt care personel. There was a significant shortage so that face masks needed to be prioritazed to those that would have benefited the most. Now since this happened in EU and US in the same way but the results are totally different, I would say that the crisis the US is facing now it is due to other reasons (e.g ineffective lock down, reopening too soon, and, not to forget all the delirious messages coming from the White house).
Nothing misleading about it at all. Dr. Fauci and the US Surgeon General outright lied about masks to the American public. That is a fact, that is incontrovertible and has been admitted directly by Dr. Fauci recently. Really doesn't matter if the purpose of the lie was to stockpile masks for health care workers or not. Really doesn't matter if the purpose was to exchange the lives of health workers for Seniors and vulnerable citizens. It cost lives and they have to answer for that.
well, I wonder than what should Trump anwer to? anyway Fauci lie did not cause these deaths as face masks where not available anyway. As I said, the same happend in Italy but since, for once, our administrattors mostly took responsability and made the hard choices we are now out of the tunnel ang going back to normal life.
Good job letting "the most powerful man on the planet" off the hook - for his sheer incompetence, grandstanding and idiotic medical advice.