Was the Covid-19 pandemic due to criminal incompetence or an act of war?
The preponderance of evidence, at this time, suggests that SARS-CoV occurred naturally. While China claims the outbreak in late 2019 occurred naturally at a “wet market”, most western experts believe that it was stored in a virology laboratory near Wuhan China after discovery in 2013. US intelligence reported safety problems with at least one of two such laboratories about a year before human infection and spread began around December 1, 2019. Chinese government officials covered up an unknown number of details and lied about others as the epidemic raged in Hubei province where 56 million people live. In January, all domestic travel in and out of Hubei was halted. Six days later, aided by the World Health Organization, all international travel was also halted.
Chinese individuals, including at least one physician, who tried to warn the rest of the world about the gravity of the situation, disappeared. Misinformation poured from government sources and the WHO. Non-governmental voices were censured. It is objectively impossible to trust any information about this issue from any source in China including, in my opinion, professional medical publications. It is inarguable that the government has launched a campaign of propaganda to, at best, try to regain stature in the international community. At worst, the intent is to further the political and socioeconomic upheaval caused by the pandemic. Intent is difficult to clarify and often has several aspects.
China either failed to contain the virus, likely by virtue of bureaucratic ineptitude, or it intended to allow its spread. The latter, as evidenced by the six day window of continued international travel, would be tantamount to an act of war.
A perfect act of war is one that is subtle, seemingly natural, and arguably accidental. It results in devastation of enemies far and near. Such an act would bring no immediate military response, no critical resolution from the United Nations, and no harmonious chorus of condemnation. Victim countries would be torn by between those who see the infection as a hostile act and apologists that promote the perpetrator’s propaganda. If a dominant fraction of apologist media exists, public support of the notion that this was an act of war may never rise above a murmur.
What would China gain by release of virus worldwide? For one, while it harmed their internal economy, it has created for them an economic explosion of exports, both legal and blackmarket. They are selling products to affected countries faster than they can be produced at prepaid prices that approach astronomical. As a result, these countries go deeper into debt to make these purchases. Viral containment efforts in most western nations have resulted in economic contraction and widespread unemployment unlike any period in almost a hundred years. With much lower tax revenue and profligate bailouts, the budget deficit of the US, for example, from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 could exceed four trillion dollars. It is plausible—a notion voiced by Senator Tom Cotton—that China didn’t want to be the only country to suffer economically and found it preferable that the world suffer with it. Again, it is almost impossible to have certainty about intent.
Economic collapse is typically followed by political chaos. Chaos creates opportunity for hegemony. Wars are fought to expand territory, control, power and/or influence. Every objective observer of history knows this.
The failure to contain international travel, the pervasive obfuscation and mendacity, the governmental culture of dominance, still cannot confirm that this was an act of war. If not, however, it was an act of genocide, a crime against humanity, and criminal negligence for which China owes every country in the world recompense. Their intent is irrelevant with respect to their debt to all.
Keeping with the China theme, there is a Karma in life. In striving for the yang of the cheapest source, we reaped the yin of a decimated capacity of US manufacturing, making us dependent on others, including hostile powers. For the yang of shared commerce, we harvest the yin of cowering in place from yet another Chinese virus and panicking over toilet paper while simpering politicians dismantle our own economy.
The US recently became energy independent from the mideast. At the very least, this second (or third?) epidemic from China should serve as notice that it is time to be independent from them in every way. But first, don’t forget that they owe us trillions of dollars in damages suffered by us from their criminal attack.
perrypatetik 