Bugging Out at the White House - - Cabinet Stages Smallpox Drill

[bigtree]

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer Sat Mar 18
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060318/ap_on_he_me/white_house_smallpox_5

WASHINGTON - Cabinet secretaries participated in a drill Saturday that simulated a smallpox attack as the government tested plans to counter the potential use of bioweapons by terrorists.

"The purpose of this exercise, which was only a drill, was to address the federal government's response to a potential smallpox attack," said Dana Perino, a White House spokeswoman. "While there's concern, we do not have any concern that a smallpox attack is imminent."

Officials from various government agencies, including Centers of Disease Control Director Dr. Julie Gerberding, participated in the four-hour exercise . . .

Members of the Cabinet who participated were:
Homeland Security Secretary
Michael Chertoff, Health and Human Services Secretary
Mike Leavitt, Agriculture Secretary
Mike Johanns, Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson.

Bush, who was spending the weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, did not take part in the drill, which was held in a conference room at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House.


Chi'nese fire' drill"

Informal (sometimes offensive).
a state of chaotic, often clamorous disorder.

[demigoddess]

1. one question, is small pox the kind of thing that you can

avoid, kind of like dodge ball in gym? they make it sound that way.
Just another scare tactic.

[bigtree]

2. maybe they 'lost' another batch from one of their military labs

like the anthrax from Ft. Detrick . . .

get out the plastic and duct tape again