Bioterror fears halt research on mutant bird flu, page 1
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Topic started on 21-1-2012 @ 06:22 AM by pause4thought

Bioterror fears halt research on mutant bird flu


www.bbc.co.uk
Scientists who created a potentially more deadly bird flu strain have temporarily stopped their research amid fears it could be used by terrorists.

In a letter published in Science & Nature the teams call for an "international forum" to debate the risks & value of the studies.

A senior US health official says "not everyone needs to know how to make a lethal virus".

Two scientific journals are trying to work out with the US government how to make the data accessible to "responsible scientists".
(visit the link for the full news article)


reply posted on 21-1-2012 @ 07:25 AM by pause4thought
reply to post by Aim64C



And by then, it's too late to think of how to counter it.

The same with bio-weapons. By publicizing research, it makes it more difficult to develop covert, weaponized strains of pathogens.

Forgive me, but are you not effectively saying that by allowing such research to be published unhindered you are giving carte blanche to big pharma to start the biological equivalent of an arms race? Now that you say it, "Follow the money" is a very possible explanation for this entire debacle.

But advocating the publication of the research is more akin to taking the latest R&D of LockheedMartin, handing it to every conceivable enemy on the planet, and saying: "Try it out; we've got the specs anyway — so no worries!"

Arguing it makes the world safer strains credulity. Admitting it's good for profits hits the mark. So how many people would die?..





edit on 21/1/12 by pause4thought because: (no reason given)



reply posted on 21-1-2012 @ 12:02 PM by Fractured.Facade
reply to post by pause4thought



Which would be more costly.... Creating a uranium enrichment program, achieving the level of enrichment required to have the material (in sufficient quantities) to mass produce nuclear weapons (this could be in the 10s or hundreds of billions of dollars) or to fund research into chemical and bio-weapons research programs and create equally effective and dangerous weapons?

Perhaps doing both, one covertly, but known to be going on, the other... unknown... Nukes as a deterrent, defensive, and retaliatory weapons system only, chemical/bio-weapons as offensive weapons capabilities for use in proxy "terrorist" attacks...

Nah, no way that could possibly be happening... Right?


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