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BREAKING: Trump Administration has known through *unclassified* State Dept. sources since JAN 2018 that China& #39;s biotech labs may have created COVID-19 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔥" title="Fire" aria-label="Emoji: Fire">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔥" title="Fire" aria-label="Emoji: Fire">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔥" title="Fire" aria-label="Emoji: Fire"> https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/14/state-department-cables-warned-safety-issues-wuhan-lab-studying-bat-coronaviruses/">https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/...
In other words, the Trump Admin has known - without even touching the intelligence community& #39;s classified sources and methods - about risk of major pandemic from Chinese labs.
The State Dept. was using its resources to communicate our concern to China - and report back to the President.
China tried to cover its tracks about this, but the tracks are, well, archived. #OPSECFail
China tried to cover its tracks about this, but the tracks are, well, archived. #OPSECFail
Diplomats warned that China could have been working on a de facto bioweapon of mass destruction - with insufficient safety and security.
America& #39;s Foreign Service (https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💪" title="Flexed biceps" aria-label="Emoji: Flexed biceps">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💪" title="Flexed biceps" aria-label="Emoji: Flexed biceps">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💪" title="Flexed biceps" aria-label="Emoji: Flexed biceps">) was on the frontlines warning about a national security threat and trying to mitigate it through diplomacy first.
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State Dept. reported that what potentially became COVID-19 may have come from the same source as what created the deadly SARS outbreak: bats.
Given the affinity for angiotensin converting enzyme-2, like COVID-19, the State cables argue that keeping track of these coronaviruses would indeed be critical for security.
There& #39;s a fine line between defensive research and creating a bioweapon.
It wasn& #39;t clear on which side of the line the Wuhan laboratory was on with this coronavirus research.
It wasn& #39;t clear on which side of the line the Wuhan laboratory was on with this coronavirus research.
The Chinese government is *very* reticent to answer questions about how COVID-19 came about - including basic questions.
(Note: the actual CCP took the time to accuse the U.S. DOD of cooking up COVID-19...a *very* bad look, diplomatically.)
(Note: the actual CCP took the time to accuse the U.S. DOD of cooking up COVID-19...a *very* bad look, diplomatically.)
Not shockingly, Trump did nothing to help or investigate the Wuhan situation further. But now it& #39;s looking back at warnings from *more than two years ago.*
The most likely scenario for COVID-19& #39;s pandemic involves China& #39;s mismanaged bioresearch labs.
The story about the seafood market? It apparently didn& #39;t even *sell* the bats that would have transmitted COVID-19.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤨" title="Face with raised eyebrow" aria-label="Emoji: Face with raised eyebrow">
The story about the seafood market? It apparently didn& #39;t even *sell* the bats that would have transmitted COVID-19.
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Perhaps most tellingly, Beijing is freaking out and actively trying to keep SCIENTISTS TRYING TO SAVE LIVES from getting a hold of critical information about the origins of COVID-19. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😡" title="Pouting face" aria-label="Emoji: Pouting face">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤬" title="Face with symbols over mouth" aria-label="Emoji: Face with symbols over mouth">
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Bottom line: if our State Dept. had the story in unclassified form as far back as JANUARY 2018 then Trump has had access the entire time - certainly since late 2019.
And did nothing. </>
(And kudos to @JoshRogin for such solid, timely #GoodJournalism)
And did nothing. </>
(And kudos to @JoshRogin for such solid, timely #GoodJournalism)
