The Coronavirus Is the Worst Intelligence Failure in U.S. History

[Initech]

Last September, I met the vice president for risk for a Fortune 100 company in Washington, D.C. I asked the executive—who previously had a long career as an intelligence analyst—the question you would ask any risk officer: “What are you most worried about?” Without pausing, this person replied, “A highly contagious virus that begins somewhere in China and spreads rapidly.” This vice president, whose company has offices throughout East Asia, explained the preventative mitigating steps the company had subsequently adopted to counter this potential threat.

Since the novel coronavirus has swept the world, I have often thought about this person’s prescient risk calculus. Most leaders lack the discipline to do routine risk-based horizon scanning, and fewer still develop the requisite contingency plans. Even rarer is the leader who has the foresight to correctly identify the top threat far enough in advance to develop and implement those plans.

Suffice it to say, the Trump administration has cumulatively failed, both in taking seriously the specific, repeated intelligence community warnings about a coronavirus outbreak and in vigorously pursuing the nationwide response initiatives commensurate with the predicted threat. The federal government alone has the resources and authorities to lead the relevant public and private stakeholders to confront the foreseeable harms posed by the virus. Unfortunately, Trump officials made a series of judgments (minimizing the hazards of COVID-19) and decisions (refusing to act with the urgency required) that have needlessly made Americans far less safe.

In short, the Trump administration forced a catastrophic strategic surprise onto the American people. But unlike past strategic surprises—Pearl Harbor, the Iranian revolution of 1979, or especially 9/11—the current one was brought about by unprecedented indifference, even willful negligence. Whereas, for example, the 9/11 Commission Report assigned blame for the al Qaeda attacks on the administrations of presidents Ronald Reagan through George W. Bush, the unfolding coronavirus crisis is overwhelmingly the sole responsibility of the current White House.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/25/coronavirus-worst-intelligence-failure-us-history-covid-19/

Heckuva job, Trumpie!

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Can't put it any better: TRUMP has brought unilaterally all by himself, one of the worse disasters

in American History upon us. Traitor and Murderer.

[Initech]

2. And he's making it worse every time he opens his mouth.

This whole thing will be over by Easter Sunday and we'll see packed churches? Right.

[WyattKansas]

6. Didn't you hear him at his campaign commercial...

Der Hair Fuhrer 'has done an amazing job at handling the crisis, and in fact thousands more would be dead if not for him. Reporters only lie about him. He has had to handle the worst crisis to ever face this country and has done a remarkable job that no other could possibly achieve.'

Der Hair Fuhrer then got really weird when he started talking about hugging, kissing, and being all wrapped around each other in offices all across the country, when he reopens it for Easter. I stopped listening at that point, because I thought he was going to start masturbating.

[Initech]

8. I've been actively trying to avoid those!

[renate]

15. "he started talking about hugging, kissing, and being all wrapped around each other" by Easter?

Did he really?

EWWWWW. He's such a weirdo.

[gibraltar72]

3. January 3rd 2020. A day that will live in infamy.

[Initech]

9. Send him packing, and hopefully a liberal house and Senate will convict him.

[PA Democrat]

4. There are two groups within the US intelligence agencies that most likely knew what was happening in

China BEFORE it was being reported in the press: the CIA’s Global Issues Mission Center and the Defense Intelligence Agency’s National Center for Medical Intelligence.

I recall former CIA chief John Brennan discussing this on MSNBC a while back and also reading an article that led me to believe that the US knew much more about what was unfolding in China much earlier than the general public.

As Chinese officials face allegations of locking down information about the spread of the coronavirus, U.S. intelligence agencies have been helping in governmentwide efforts to gather information about the disease’s global spread.

Already, some of the best information about the coronavirus and the Chinese government’s response to it is coming from military channels, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

“China’s behavior causes the intelligence community to get involved,” said one of those sources, a former intelligence official. “Because no data means spying.”

The former official indicated that the most important issue being tracked is the Chinese leadership plans for what is known as “continuity of operations,” meaning the ability for the government to maintain its basic functions during an unprecedented crisis, such as nuclear war or natural disaster.

https://news.yahoo.com/with-information-from-china-scarce-us-spies-enlisted-to-track-coronavirus-173612656.html

[denem]

5. Not an intelligence failure, a governance failure.

As the article states : -

Trump administration has cumulatively failed, both in taking seriously the specific, repeated intelligence community warnings about a coronavirus outbreak

The CDC knew the score from the outset

JANUARY 6, 2020
Warning - Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel—Widespread Ongoing Transmission

•China is experiencing widespread ongoing transmission of respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
•CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China.
•Older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for severe disease.
•Travelers should avoid contact with sick people and wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
•Travelers returning from China should stay home for 14 days after returning from travel, monitor their health, and practice social distancing.

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china

[malaise]

13. I know his reelection was a big reason why he played this down

but it is also possible that he and his goons were organizing how to make a killing - literally and figuratively

[TomSlick]

16. Exactly!

The intelligence was good. Ignoring the intelligence was the problem.

[OhZone]

7. When was it that tRump said he missed touching his face?

I seem to remember that and people made fun of him for it.

He def knew then that this was a terrible threat!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

10. The Grotesque Orange Pustule is a disease that preceded the coronavirus.

[Initech]

12. For sure!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

14. New mutation: KAG - Kluxers And Grifters

Amazing what those new microscopes can photograph.

[malaise]

11. Must Read

Rec

[Baked Potato]

17. The well researched books which are sure to come should be eye opening.