Look what I found on Carlyle

[superconnected]

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=11243



"That's significant because potassium iodide can help protect against thyroid cancer in the event of exposure to large amounts of radiation -- from a small, easily transported nuclear weapon, say, or a terrorist attack on a nuclear power plant."

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"This much at least is clear: If a "nuclear incident," as the bioterror law quaintly puts it, should occur, MedPointe and the Carlyle Group would be uniquely positioned to benefit from catastrophe. That's not danger-mongering. That's a fact.

(For what it's worth, the New York Times reported Friday that government officials have quietly revived a cold-war program for rapidly analyzing fallout from a nuclear attack on U.S. soil. The program is intended to determine the perpetrator of an attack and help coordinate a military response.)

Bechtel might make a convenient target for protesters seeking a high-profile recipient of Iraq-reconstruction dollars. "It's all about capitalism," one masked protester, a self-styled anarchist, told me outside the company's headquarters.

But to find a company truly poised to profit from the unthinkable, he might want to make his way next time to the Transamerica Pyramid. That's where Carlyle's San Francisco office is located."

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They own the pill to protect against thyroid cancer from radiation.

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. I believe potassium iodide

is a common substance that is probably available at your local health food store or on the internet.

[serryjw]

2. US nuclear power plants

interactive map
http://www.nei.org/doc.asp?catnum=2&catid=93

Information on potassium iodide

http://www.nukepills.com/
http://www.ki4u.com/ Updated TODAY!

[cosmik debris]

3. Potassium iodide only protects

against thyroid cancer caused by radioactive iodine being absorbed by the thyroid. It is of no value against any other radionuclide. It does not protect from radiation, it protects from absorption. Iodine is not the major problem in most nuclear fission, and it would takes months for cancer to appear. In the mean time, the other radionuclide will kill you.

[superconnected]

4. ah, okay

I wonder why carlyle and Cypress spent 400 million aquiring the company.



"The Carlyle Group and another investment firm, the Cypress Group, spent more than $400 million to acquire a controlling stake in MedPointe in May 2001. Carlyle alone owns about 42 percent of the firm.

Chris Ullman, a Carlyle spokesman, said he had no idea that MedPointe produces a potassium iodide pill called Thyro-Block. But when I explained what Thyro-Block can be used for, he said this was something to feel good about.

"Carlyle is proud to own companies that make products that keep America safe," Ullman said, adding that MedPointe allows Carlyle "to participate in the specialty pharmaceutical space."

The other two FDA-approved makers of potassium iodide are a small Florida outfit called Anbex that, prior to the Sept. 11 attacks, sold its pill, Iosat, primarily to doomsday-fearing survivalists; and a Swedish outfit called Recip that brought its lower-dosage pill, ThyroSafe, to the U.S. market in 2002.

John Hawkins, a MedPointe spokesman, said the company has no current contracts to supply Thyro-Block to any federal agency. He also said that sales of the drug totaled less than $500,000 in 2003 (MedPointe expects sales of all products, led by its allergy and respiratory medicines, to reach $400 million this year).

But Hawkins acknowledged that MedPointe has bid for government contracts in the past. He also declined to elaborate on the company's intentions for Thyro-Block.

"Our plans for all of our commercial products are confidential," he said.

Asked whether production of Thyro-Block might be increased due to continuing terrorism fears or whether government officials have spoken with MedPointe about ensuring an adequate national supply of potassium iodide, Hawkins remained vague.

"For competitive reasons, our production plans for the product and communications with customers are confidential," he said.
"
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odd. Must be for all their products.

[cosmik debris]

5. I forgot to mention

that if you use iodized salt you are pretty well protected already. Any source of Iodine that saturates the thyroid will prevent the uptake of radioactive Iodine. People who promote Potassium Iodide are usually promoting fear and ignorance. Watch out for these people.