{"id":205269,"date":"2020-04-07T07:40:46","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T07:40:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=205269"},"modified":"2020-04-09T05:07:11","modified_gmt":"2020-04-09T05:07:11","slug":"the-military-knew-years-ago-that-a-coronavirus-was-coming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=205269","title":{"rendered":"The Military Knew Years Ago That a Coronavirus Was Coming"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ken Klippenstein \u2013 The Nation April 1, 2020<\/h1>\n

Despite President Trump\u2019s repeated assertions<\/a><\/strong><\/span> that the Covid-19 epidemic was \u201cunforeseen\u201d and \u201ccame out of nowhere,\u201d the Pentagon was well aware of not just the threat of a novel influenza, but even anticipated the consequent scarcity of ventilators, face masks, and hospital beds, according to a 2017 Pentagon plan<\/strong><\/span><\/a> obtained by The Nation<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe most likely and significant threat is a novel respiratory disease, particularly a novel influenza disease,\u201d the military plan states. Covid-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel (meaning new to humans) coronavirus. The document specifically references coronavirus on several occasions, in one instance saying, \u201cCoronavirus infections [are] common around the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The plan<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a> represents an update to an earlier Department of Defense pandemic influenza response plan, noting that it \u201cincorporates insights from several recent outbreaks including\u20262012 Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Titled \u201cUSNORTHCOM Branch Plan 3560: Pandemic Influenza and Infectious Disease Response,\u201d the draft plan<\/strong><\/span><\/a> is marked for official use only and dated January 6, 2017. The plan was provided to The Nation <\/em>by a Pentagon official who requested anonymity to avoid professional reprisal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Denis Kaufman, who served as head of the Infectious Diseases and Countermeasures Division at the Defense Intelligence Agency from 2014 to 2017, stressed that US intelligence had been well-aware of the dangers of coronaviruses for years. (Kaufman retired from his decades-long career in the military in December of 2017.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Intelligence Community has warned about the threat from highly pathogenic influenza viruses for two decades at least. They have warned about coronaviruses for at least five years,\u201d Kaufman explained in an interview.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been recent pronouncements that the coronavirus pandemic represents an intelligence failure\u2026. it\u2019s letting people who ignored intelligence warnings off the hook.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to anticipating the coronavirus pandemic, the military plan predicted with uncanny accuracy many of the medical supply shortages that it now appears will soon cause untold deaths.<\/span><\/p>\n

The plan states: \u201cCompetition for, and scarcity of resources will include\u2026non-pharmaceutical MCM [Medical Countermeasures] (e.g., ventilators, devices, personal protective equipment such as face masks and gloves), medical equipment, and logistical support. This will have a significant impact on the availability of the global workforce.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The 103-page response plan provides an overview of what might cause a pandemic, likely complications, and how the military might respond. The plan outlines conditions under which an infectious disease can become a pandemic, several of which were at play with Covid-19: crowded workplaces, proximity to international airports, unsanitary living conditions. It also contains references to classified annexes that go into further detail. (The Nation<\/em> is not in possession of these annexes.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Last week, Trump lashed out at General Motors and Ford on Twitter, demanding that they manufacture ventilators, a life-and-death appliance for many people with acute Covid-19 symptoms<\/span><\/p>\n

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General Motors MUST immediately open their stupidly abandoned Lordstown plant in Ohio, or some other plant, and START MAKING VENTILATORS, NOW!!!!!! FORD, GET GOING ON VENTILATORS, FAST!!!!!! @GeneralMotors<\/a> @Ford<\/a><\/p>\n

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n