Avian Bird Flu, The New WMD Scare

In an effort to scare the living crap out of everyone again the Shrub Failure is now promoting Avian Bird Flu as the new fright d'jour.

Bush Outlines $7.1B Flu Preparations
By William Branigin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 1, 2005; 1:03 PM
President Bush asked Congress today for $7.1 billion in emergency funding to combat a possible influenza pandemic brought on by bird flu originating in Asia. In a speech at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda to announce a "comprehensive national strategy" against pandemic flu, Bush warned that although bird flu has not reached U.S. shores and remains primarily an animal disease, there is "cause for vigilance" because a pandemic could develop rapidly with devastating effects.

Well it seems Rummy the Mummy has ties to that industry, through stock holdings in Gilead:

From NYT:
October 28, 2005
Rumsfeld to Avoid Bird-Flu Drug Issues

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has recused himself from government decisions concerning medications to prevent or treat avian flu, rather than sell his stock holdings in the company that patented the antiviral agent Tamiflu, according to a Pentagon memorandum issued Thursday.

The memorandum, to Mr. Rumsfeld's staff from the Pentagon general counsel, said the defense secretary would not take part in decisions that may affect his financial interests in Gilead Sciences Inc.

Before becoming defense secretary in January 2001, Mr. Rumsfeld was chairman of Gilead. On each of his annual financial disclosure statements, he has listed continued stock holdings in the company.

Gilead holds the patent on Tamiflu, but contracts for it are signed with an American subsidiary of F. Hoffman-LaRoche Ltd., which holds marketing and manufacturing rights.

Mr. Rumsfeld will remain involved in matters related to the Pentagon response to an outbreak, so long as none affect Gilead.

Hmmm.... will he recuse himself from the dividends?

Gilead (GILD)