Who profits? (3. - more to come)
This is somewhat different: a new angle. President Bush is suggesting the enactment of Martial Law in the case of an avian flu outbreak. Martial Law could also be established, using the pretext of an outbreak of avian flu in foreign countries and its potential impacts on the US. In other words, the Military rather than the country's civilian health authorities would be put in charge.
Here is what Bush said during a White House press breefing on 4. Oct. 2005.:
"I am concerned about avian flu. I'm concerned about what an avian flu outbreak could mean for the United States and the world. ...I have thought through the scenarios of what an avian flu outbreak could mean. I tried to get a better handle on what the decision-making process would be by reading Mr. Barry's book on the influenza outbreak in 1918. I would recommend it. ...The policy decisions for a president in dealing with an avian flu outbreak are difficult. One example: If we had an outbreak somewhere in the United States, do we not then quarantine that part of the country? And how do you, then, enforce a quarantine? ...It's one thing to shut down airplanes. It's another thing to prevent people from coming in to get exposed to the avian flu. ...And who best to be able to effect a quarantine? One option is the use of a military that's able to plan and move. So that's why I put it on the table. I think it's an important debate for Congress to have. ...I noticed the other day, evidently, some governors didn't like it. I understand that. I was the commander in chief of the National Guard and proudly so. And, frankly, I didn't want the president telling me how to be the commander in chief of the Texas Guard.
But Congress needs to take a look at circumstances that may need to vest the capacity of the president to move beyond that debate. And one such catastrophe or one such challenge could be an avian flu outbreak." (Italics mine)