The president will ask Congress for money not just for a vaccine against bird flu but also to fund a buildup of infrastructure ready to deal with any pandemic, said a senior administration official, who spoke yesterday on the condition of anonymity.
{sinp}
"Understand that a lot of the things we need to do to prepare are not related to magic bullets," said Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota, an infectious-disease specialist who has advised the government on preparations for the next worldwide flu outbreak but has not seen the final version of the plan.
How to provide food supplies, everyday medical care for people who do not have the superflu, basic utilities and even security must be part of the plan, Osterholm and others have counseled the Bush administration.
unfortunately for the American Public, plans don't save people, effective implementation of plans do. For three years this administration touted the ability of Homeland Security and F.E.M.A. to respond to any national emergency that may occur. Katrina exposed what happens when the plans of experts implemented by people who have no experience in the field.
So, while this first step looks promising, it is vital that the follow up is led by people who know what they are doing.
Unfortunately, the decision of who these people will be falls into the lap George Bush. This is the man who assured us that Miers was the most qualified person in the US for a Supreme Court seat, and his administration placed, at the head of the office of woman's Health, a man who spent the vast majority of his career in the office of veterinary medicine (women are pets or chattel?).
So remember, it is the implementation, more that the planning, that we need to keep focused on.
UPDATE
Bush offers to spend $7,100,000,000.00 to keep us safe (or at least the drug companies profitable).
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