Didn't We Just Leave This Party?

According to FOXNews, apparently former VP Cheney isn't alone in contemplating the use of US military troops in what may or may not be warranted circumstances. I wonder if the folks at FEMA have taken the time to have a lot at the myriad conspriacy blogs that have been issuing warnings about their response to the H1N1 outbreak, being as they just handed them a can of gasoline and a match.

It would probably be helpful if someone on the ACIP or at the CDC or FEMA took a moment from their busy schedules to explain to the public exactly what it is they expect from this outbreak. Does the major threat come from severity of symptoms, numbers affected, strain on medical facilities, loss of productivity, high percentage of mortality, or all of the above? If they are still fuzzy on "how much of a health threat the flu poses this fall" (see below), why has all hell broken loose at the alphabet agencies?

I'm not even in one of the high-risk groups, mind you. I'm just askin'.

From FOX:

The Pentagon is preparing to make troops available if necessary to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency tackle a potential outbreak of the H1N1 virus this fall, FOX News has confirmed. This comes as a government panel recommends certain groups be placed at the front of the line for swine flu vaccinations this fall, including pregnant women, health care workers and children six months and older.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices panel also said those first vaccinated should include parents and other caregivers of infants; non-elderly adults who have high-risk medical conditions, and young adults ages 19 to 24. The panel, whose recommendations typically are adopted by federal health officials, voted to set vaccination priorities for those groups Wednesday during a meeting in Atlanta.

Obama administration officials told Congress that H1N1 vaccinations won't be available for several months.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is preparing to sign an order authorizing the military to set up five regional teams to deal with the potential outbreak of H1N1 influenza if FEMA requests help.

A senior U.S. defense official told FOX News that the plan calls for military task forces to work in conjunction with the FEMA. No final decision has been reached on how the military effort would be manned, but one source said it likely would include
personnel from all branches of the military.

It is not known how many troops would be needed and whether they would come from the active duty or the National Guard and Reserve forces.

In the event of a major outbreak, civilian authorities would lead any relief efforts, the official said. The military, as it would for a natural disaster or other significant emergency situation, could provide support and fulfill any tasks that civilian authorities could not, such as air transport or testing of large numbers of viral samples from infected patients.

As a first step, military leaders have asked Gates to authorize planning for the potential assistance. Orders to deploy actual forces would be reviewed later, depending on how much of a health threat the flu poses this fall, the officials said.

FOX News' Jennifer Griffin, Brian Wilson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

On the other hand, if it works, maybe next year they can call out the troops to help with granny's prescription rationing.

PASTORIUS CUTTING IN HERE -

From Noisy Room:

Swine Flu.

Because a “medical emergency” is a plausible justification for getting the military involved.

You wouldn’t suggest “civil unrest” as a reason, because, y’know, Posse Comitatus and all that. Don’t want to suggest “terrorism” ‘cuz that opens a whole ‘nother can-o-worms. Well, let me think, . . . hmmm . . . oh, wait! A medical emergency. That would work! No one but a lunatic would believe we were actually preparing to deal with a civil unrest emergency. It ain’t perfect, but it’ll have to do.

So, even though the CDC has pretty much written off the swine flu as a real threat, it’s still the most plausible medical emergency. We’ll use that.

I guess I’m just a lunatic. I’m the kind of paranoid idiot who wouldn’t put ANYTHING past these assholes.

But then, what would I know? Everyone knows that anyone who doesn’t trust the prez is crazy.

Yeah. Well, I’ve got yer “trust” right here.

Our take on this is one of de-sensitization.

Find plausible reasons to get the military involved. Get the people used to seeing the military in “benign” involvement scenarios. Be careful not to set off the Posse Comitatus alarm. “Hey, we’re just here to help the FEMA guys.”

Once people are used to seeing the military “help out” in various contexts they will be far less likely to freak out at our having the military “help out” during other kinds of “civil infrastructure failures.”

These folks are masters of incrementalism.