How the US Military Predicted a Coronavirus Pandemic

Sonali Kolhatkar speaks with Ken Klippenstein, a DC Correspondent for The Nation magazine. His latest scoop is The Military Knew Years Ago That a Coronavirus Was Coming.

In 2017 the US military produced a detailed 100-page document warning that in the event of a pandemic – including a coronavirus pandemic – the US was woefully unprepared. According to a leaked copy of the document obtained by The Nation, ““The most likely and significant threat is a novel respiratory disease, particularly a novel influenza disease.”

The document goes on to say, “Competition for, and scarcity of resources will include…non-pharmaceutical MCM [Medical Countermeasures] (e.g., ventilators, devices, personal protective equipment such as face masks and gloves), medical equipment, and logistical support. This will have a significant impact on the availability of the global workforce.”

The Trump administration was briefed about the plans and yet spent several weeks taking no actions as the virus spread around the US. Today the US has the largest number of coronavirus infections of any nation in the world.

Rising Up with Sonali is a radio and television show that brings progressive news coverage rooted in gender and racial justice to a wide audience.

Rising Up With Sonali was built on the foundation of Sonali Kolhatkar's earlier show, Uprising, which became the longest-running drive-time radio show on KPFK in Los Angeles hosted by a woman.

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