THREAD:
There’s some confusion under this original post, so it’s thread time, folks!
The intelligence community is still reviewing this, but they are increasingly feeling that it’s possible this came from a lab *accident* — nobody is accusing the Chinese of bioterrorism 1/7 https://twitter.com/angrierwhstaff/status/1250624974970408960">https://twitter.com/angrierwh...
There’s some confusion under this original post, so it’s thread time, folks!
The intelligence community is still reviewing this, but they are increasingly feeling that it’s possible this came from a lab *accident* — nobody is accusing the Chinese of bioterrorism 1/7 https://twitter.com/angrierwhstaff/status/1250624974970408960">https://twitter.com/angrierwh...
A couple of things we do know:
State Department embassy staff warned the United States — on two separate occasions — of inadequate safety at a lab in Wuhan that was conducting research on coronaviruses from bats. 2/7 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/14/state-department-cables-warned-safety-issues-wuhan-lab-studying-bat-coronaviruses/">https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/...
State Department embassy staff warned the United States — on two separate occasions — of inadequate safety at a lab in Wuhan that was conducting research on coronaviruses from bats. 2/7 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/14/state-department-cables-warned-safety-issues-wuhan-lab-studying-bat-coronaviruses/">https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/...
The interesting part of this theory is that the lab is less than half a mile from the wet market in Wuhan where the virus was reported to have originated.
That could be *really* bad luck, or it could be indicative of an accidental exposure. 3/7
That could be *really* bad luck, or it could be indicative of an accidental exposure. 3/7
When the possibility of this being manmade was first discussed, it was mostly floated by conspiracy theorists who were operating on little evidence other than the fact that Wuhan happens to contain a biosafety level 4 laboratory. 4/7
What the conspiracy theorists didn’t know—until this week—was that the US and our allies were already looking into the origins.
Right now, the experts are torn: they *know* it wasn’t a bio-weapon, but they can’t agree on whether it was naturally occuring or man-made. 5/7
Right now, the experts are torn: they *know* it wasn’t a bio-weapon, but they can’t agree on whether it was naturally occuring or man-made. 5/7
For the current situation, it doesn’t matter much.
Obviously, man-made is worse and means there will likely be consequences for the Chinese Government, but it does nothing to negate Trump’s inaction on the virus for months. 6/7
Obviously, man-made is worse and means there will likely be consequences for the Chinese Government, but it does nothing to negate Trump’s inaction on the virus for months. 6/7
FWIW, China is saying their lab genomes don’t match the one they discovered in COVID-19.
No matter what the IC ultimately concludes, you’ll likely see this be used as an excuse for Trump’s ineptitude.
Don’t let that fly. He owns this body count, full stop. <end>
No matter what the IC ultimately concludes, you’ll likely see this be used as an excuse for Trump’s ineptitude.
Don’t let that fly. He owns this body count, full stop. <end>
PS:
Guys. Take a deep breath. Read the whole thread before you send me angry messages.
I said the IC believes it’s *possible* that it accidentally escaped a lab. Not confirmed. Possible.
Again: not covering for Trump (obviously) — just passing on what I’m hearing, as always.
Guys. Take a deep breath. Read the whole thread before you send me angry messages.
I said the IC believes it’s *possible* that it accidentally escaped a lab. Not confirmed. Possible.
Again: not covering for Trump (obviously) — just passing on what I’m hearing, as always.