ODNI COVID-19 Report: “We judge the virus was not developed as a biological weapon…” updated with White House Statement

Can we finally put the lab leak theory and biological weapon theory to rest? The amount of disinformation & misinformation about COVID-19 is dangerous and Mr “they weaponized” hugs is wrong (again)

For the record the Joint Chiefs of Staff does not possess the authority to “bomb the shit out of a city in China” nor do they have the authority to “level an entire city in China”—for the life of me I do not understand why so many willingly give that QANON-for-the-Left any credibility. The notion that America’s defense doctrine would allow for the Joint Chiefs (LOL you dolt it’s the Commander in Chief who has the authority and that’s done with consultation with the NSC, Joint Chief, Defense Secretary and Secretary of State) to use “proportionate force” America’s doctrine has never been to blow up an entire city in China.

That would make America a global pariah and we would be in serious breech of numerous UN Conventions and Treaties. So unless there’s been an amendment to our Constitution which suddenly vest the Joint Chiefs with the power of our Commander in Chief - nope the Joint Chiefs does not have the authority “to
bomb the shit out of a City in China” —No really that’s exactly what Mr QANON-for-the-Left said - here’s the actual tape of him saying exactly that,

ODNI Summary Report:

which can be found here and yet the actual disinformation and misinformation narrative which largely originated by Steve Bannon - yet that didn’t stop some on the left willfully amplifying actual disinformation & misinformation originated by the extreme right echo chamber.

…We judge the virus was not developed as a biological weapon…

And to be fair it is absolutely correct to say that the Chinese Government has been less than cooperative. Insofar as to stymie any health organization to follow the facts and drill down on the actual origin of COVID-19. Notwithstanding the ODNI makes it absolutely clear this deadly virus “was not developed as a biological weapon”

However there are some important factors here, there isn’t a wide spread consensus but what I do find interesting in the ODNI report is the repeated invocation of; “China’s officials lack of foreknowledge” with respect to the “numerous vectors” and “other factors” —and while this is my opinion and you are absolutely more than welcome to disagree with me, I’m not certain the Intelligence Community is the most suitable entity to investigate the origins of COVID-19, although I have one caveat if the intelligence assessment utilized the Military’s Integrated Biosurveillance Unit, which largely relies on science and scientist to identify emerging viruses…then I would say, now you have my attention.

As previously explained in this April 2020 Twitter Thread -the one Government entity that could have predicted (pun not actually intended) was recalled back to the States under the Trump Administration and that is something that may have adversely impacted actual scientist from being onsite and holding the Chinese Government’s feet to the fire. But instead the current Administration started out of the gate handicapped by the previous administration. Again this is my opinion (so it’s fine to be skeptical) locking down a virus’ origins creates a “time is of the essence” vacuum —but as we are all aware of the previous Administration continued to downplay just how deadly the “novel” COVID-19 virus was and still is. Sadly (again in my opinion) I don’t think we are ever going to conclusively know the origins of this deadly virus. And absolutely the Chinese Government unreasonable blockade and outright obstruction has only further stymied the scientific experts endeavors to once and for all identify the origins.

But as the ODNI’s unclassified report concludes - The Chinese Government’s stonewalling, subterfuge and equivocation. In eastern cultures Honor is a bid deal so I would actually submit that the Chinese Government obstruction is about as dishonorable as it comes…

China’s cooperation most likely would be needed to reach a conclusive assessment of the origins of COVID-19. Beijing, however, continues to hinder the global investigation, resist sharing information and blame other countries, including the United States. These actions reflect, in part, China’s government’s own uncertainty about where an investigation could lead as well as its frustration the international community is using the issue to exert political pressure on China.

In closing —I don’t think we will ever know the origins. And it is certainly reasonable to expect the current administration to make the Chinese Government pay for their obstructionist behavior. The irony here is if China had actually been cooperative, I’m pretty sure they would have been lauded by the Global Community for doing the right thing.

Notwithstanding having Americans especially the QANON-for-the-Left amplify the “lab leak” narrative is beyond reckless. Given this narrative was originated by the likes of Steve Bannon and then placed that specious narrative on an endless loop within the Conservative Media echo chamber doesn’t mean it’s true. But FFS saying America’s Defense Doctrine means “we can blow up an entire city in China to make them pay for releasing a biological weapon” read the ODNI report

He literally said

“fuck China…fuck the Chinese….we have the right to use proportional force to bomb the shit out of China …and the lab they used to create the bio-weapon COVID-19…”

nothing and I mean nothing in our nation’s Defense Doctrine 1) gives the Joint Chiefs the power to authorize “blowing up an entire city” —2) that awesome power is vested to the Commander in Chief aka POTUS

The Department of Defense periodically publishes the Law of War - the fundamental principles and rules, which include those in Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the principles of military necessity, humanity, distinction, proportionality, and honor.
Circa 2020 https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Do...

-which was an addendum to Circa 2016 https://dod.defense.gov/Portals/1/Doc...

and lest you think I’m intentionally editing- you can listen to his insane QANON-for-the-Left conspiracy and his unadulterated Anti-Asian rhetoric

In Part 1, “we tackle China’s role in enabling Donald Trump and as the originating point of the virus.” https://narativ.org/2020/11/19/48411/ as for the “narrative” that COVID-19 “was a Biological Weapon China created” if Garland or the other panelist took the time to actually research - there have been numerous “lab leaks” but what he is doing is insidious and it’s just flat out irresponsible.

There have been numerous “unintentional lab leaks” For Example; -CDC SARs 2004 https://www.cdc.gov/sars/media/2004-0...

• British smallpox escapes, 1966, 1972, 1978 -

• “re-emergence” of H1N1 human influenza in 1977

• Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis in 1995 -SARS laboratory escapes outbreaks after the SARS epidemic - technically there were TWO unintentional lab leaks.

• Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) from Pirbright 2007 In the aforementioned examples - these “lab leaks” were nearly all human driven and unintentional.

What he is telling people, with zero evidence to support his insane assertion, or give rise to his insane “we can bomb the shit out of a city in China” Again according to he’s super duper top secret clearance which is way above TS/SCI (note my sarcasm again he’s never held a clearance FFs even I have held a public trust clearance) China and COVID-19 “was a biological weapon China released on the world, you killed 200K Americans - cool we will bomb the shit out of X city”

Today’s ODNI Report obliterated his “theory” and demonstrates how unhinged conspiracy theorist should not be viewed with any credibility. At all. Granted the ODNI report doesn’t entire foreclose on the prospect that this could have been an unintentional lab leak but as the report states, Beijing isn’t been transparent or cooperative.

Do you understand how untethered from reality he sounds?
Do you get that he does not have a single clue about the Laws of War, Proportionality or NATO?

In that entire episode he spewed garbage - nothing predicated on a factual basis but his followers are like cult members and they hang on every word he says/types. There is a difference that he & countless others continue to conflate - unknown if it’s intentional or part of his “crafted” public persona but like many he conflated:

• 1) studying an emergent virus versus versus

• 2) intentionally creating a biological weapon.

The latter is prohibited by the BTWC/BWC. The fact this purported “expert” (who’s never held any security clearance whatsoever) continues to conflate the two isn’t at all surprising. But the rhetoric he is espousing is incredibly dangerous and irresponsible and anti-Asian sentiments to further the stigma of millions of Asian Americans. I mean common sense dictates if you are repeating narratives that Trump and his ilk put out into the public ethos, then maybe you should reconsider your amplification of disinformation and misinformation. Or not.

For the record the convention that he speaks of - it’s actually not the correct one. Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), or Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) https://www.un.org/disarmament/biolog...

“…prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons. It was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons of mass destruction (WMD)…” the BTWC/BWC supplements the 1925 Geneva Protocol, that previously prohibited only the use of biological weapons.

The BYWC/BWC supplement addressed the creation, stockpile etc

…States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention undertook “never in any circumstances to develop, produce, stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain: microbial or other biological agents, or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes; weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.”

The reading of the plain text of the Convention: https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/u...

…the prohibition and elimination of all types of weapons of mass destruction, and convinced that the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of chemical and bacteriological (biological) weapons and their elimination, through effective measures...

…again the reality is we will likely never know the origins of COVID-19 but espousing insane conspiracy theories is equally destructive. Because America is part of the UN, and because America is a civilized Global leader —we won’t “level an entire city in China to make China pay for unleashing a biological weapon” and anyone who exposes that kind of nonsensical rhetoric should face intense scrutiny. Especially in light of today’s ODNI Report and lastly you don’t have to take my word for it -because after all I lack the intellect and intelligence to be a scientist or a virologist but you should take Mr Brewer’s word for it - his short thread is far more concise than the word salad I just laid down.

Eric Brewer @BrewerEricM

As a former Deputy NIO and someone who has written similar documents, I have to comment on the ODNI's COVID-19 assessment. Bottom line: I'm sure it will disappoint many, but it is not "inconclusive," and it does many of the things these types of assessments should do. 1/

Updated 8:35PM with White House Statement

We will do everything we can to trace the roots of this outbreak that has caused so much pain and death around the world, so that we can take every necessary precaution to prevent it from happening again.

this is actually important and a good sign

And look I’m not completely in the tank with the Biden Administration, as I previously stated that if and when his administration does something that I disagree with, I will be critical. Notwithstanding today’s statement is reassuring and perhaps I’m naive but I trust President Biden. Meaning if he says he’s going to do something, I trust that he will. And that he will listen to the NSC, DOD, DOS & HHS input as well as the Treasury Secretary because being a pragmatic leader means you make decisions based on facts and thinking about all the outcomes.

Critical information about the origins of this pandemic exists in the People’s Republic of China, yet from the beginning, government officials in China have worked to prevent international investigators and members of the global public health community from accessing it.

To this day, the PRC continues to reject calls for transparency and withhold information, even as the toll of this pandemic continue to rise. We needed this information rapidly, from the PRC, while the pandemic was still new. Since taking office, my administration has renewed U.S. leadership in the World Health Organization and rallied allies and partners to renew focus on this critical question.

…The world deserves answers, and I will not rest until we get them. Responsible nations do not shirk these kinds of responsibilities to the rest of the world. Pandemics do not respect international borders, and we all must better understand how COVID-19 came to be in order to prevent further pandemics.

This is how a POTUS speaks. With clarity. With certainty and with increased transparency to set expectations…

We will also continue to press the PRC to adhere to scientific norms and standards, including sharing information and data from the earliest days of the pandemic, protocols related to biosafety, and information from animal populations. We must have a full and transparent accounting of this global tragedy. Nothing less is acceptable.

You can read the full White House Statement here and again you can read the 2 page ODNI Report here