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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Coronavirus Is the Worst Intelligence Failure in U.S. History
Since the novel coronavirus has swept the world, I have often thought about this persons prescient risk calculus. Most leaders lack the discipline to do routine risk-based horizon scanning, and fewer still develop the requisite contingency plans. Even rarer is the leader who has the foresight to correctly identify the top threat far enough in advance to develop and implement those plans.
Suffice it to say, the Trump administration has cumulatively failed, both in taking seriously the specific, repeated intelligence community warnings about a coronavirus outbreak and in vigorously pursuing the nationwide response initiatives commensurate with the predicted threat. The federal government alone has the resources and authorities to lead the relevant public and private stakeholders to confront the foreseeable harms posed by the virus. Unfortunately, Trump officials made a series of judgments (minimizing the hazards of COVID-19) and decisions (refusing to act with the urgency required) that have needlessly made Americans far less safe.
In short, the Trump administration forced a catastrophic strategic surprise onto the American people. But unlike past strategic surprisesPearl Harbor, the Iranian revolution of 1979, or especially 9/11the current one was brought about by unprecedented indifference, even willful negligence. Whereas, for example, the 9/11 Commission Report assigned blame for the al Qaeda attacks on the administrations of presidents Ronald Reagan through George W. Bush, the unfolding coronavirus crisis is overwhelmingly the sole responsibility of the current White House.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/25/coronavirus-worst-intelligence-failure-us-history-covid-19/
Heckuva job, Trumpie!
SWBTATTReg
(22,156 posts)in American History upon us. Traitor and Murderer.
Initech
(100,100 posts)This whole thing will be over by Easter Sunday and we'll see packed churches? Right.
WyattKansas
(1,648 posts)Der Hair Fuhrer 'has done an amazing job at handling the crisis, and in fact thousands more would be dead if not for him. Reporters only lie about him. He has had to handle the worst crisis to ever face this country and has done a remarkable job that no other could possibly achieve.'
Der Hair Fuhrer then got really weird when he started talking about hugging, kissing, and being all wrapped around each other in offices all across the country, when he reopens it for Easter. I stopped listening at that point, because I thought he was going to start masturbating.
Initech
(100,100 posts)renate
(13,776 posts)Did he really?
EWWWWW. He's such a weirdo.
gibraltar72
(7,510 posts)Initech
(100,100 posts)PA Democrat
(13,225 posts)China BEFORE it was being reported in the press: the CIAs Global Issues Mission Center and the Defense Intelligence Agencys National Center for Medical Intelligence.
I recall former CIA chief John Brennan discussing this on MSNBC a while back and also reading an article that led me to believe that the US knew much more about what was unfolding in China much earlier than the general public.
Already, some of the best information about the coronavirus and the Chinese governments response to it is coming from military channels, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Chinas behavior causes the intelligence community to get involved, said one of those sources, a former intelligence official. Because no data means spying.
The former official indicated that the most important issue being tracked is the Chinese leadership plans for what is known as continuity of operations, meaning the ability for the government to maintain its basic functions during an unprecedented crisis, such as nuclear war or natural disaster.
https://news.yahoo.com/with-information-from-china-scarce-us-spies-enlisted-to-track-coronavirus-173612656.html
denem
(11,045 posts)As the article states : -
Trump administration has cumulatively failed, both in taking seriously the specific, repeated intelligence community warnings about a coronavirus outbreak
The CDC knew the score from the outset
JANUARY 6, 2020
Warning - Level 3, Avoid Nonessential TravelWidespread Ongoing Transmission
China is experiencing widespread ongoing transmission of respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China.
Older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for severe disease.
Travelers should avoid contact with sick people and wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Travelers returning from China should stay home for 14 days after returning from travel, monitor their health, and practice social distancing.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china
malaise
(269,157 posts)but it is also possible that he and his goons were organizing how to make a killing - literally and figuratively
The intelligence was good. Ignoring the intelligence was the problem.
OhZone
(3,212 posts)I seem to remember that and people made fun of him for it.
He def knew then that this was a terrible threat!
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,403 posts)Initech
(100,100 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,403 posts)Amazing what those new microscopes can photograph.
malaise
(269,157 posts)Rec