Pompeo Severely Wrenches Neck in 180 Turn...

[Allandavid]

This is sarcasm....take note Donald...!

Mike Pompeo: 'enormous evidence' coronavirus came from Chinese lab

‘The virus was man-made....but I agree with the experts who say it wasn’t...’

What....??

 

[Radagast]

This is sarcasm....take note Donald...!

Mike Pompeo: 'enormous evidence' coronavirus came from Chinese lab

‘The virus was man-made....but I agree with the experts who say it wasn’t...’

What....??

I think he was trying to say that it was accidentally released from the lab, but wasn't genetically engineered (the phrase "man-made" is unfortunately non-technical).

He's almost certainly referring to the allegation that has been floating around that the virus was an accidental release from a "gain-of-function" experiment: https://www.vox.com/2020/5/1/212431...ing-viruses-deadlier-and-why-they-should-stop

 

[miamited]

Hi allandavid,

Sadly, we are now led by an administration of fake news spin doctors. This is pretty common stuff that, unfortunately, we as a nation seem to be getting more and more comfortable with. Spewing out a bunch of half truths and outright falsehoods proclaimed as the truth.

Remember how China was, according to Donald Trump, a currency manipulator...until it wasn't.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[Radagast]

Sadly, we are now led by an administration of fake news spin doctors. This is pretty common stuff that, unfortunately, we as a nation seem to be getting more and more comfortable with. Spewing out a bunch of half truths and outright falsehoods proclaimed as the truth

Well, it does seem that the Wuhan laboratory was doing "gain-of-function" experiments on bat coronaviruses. It's plausible that such a virus might have accidentally been released from the lab. That would explain the disease starting in Wuhan.

There's no proof, of course. I don't think proof could be obtained without Chinese cooperation, and China has already refused to cooperate with any investigation. That probably leaves it in the "we will never know" basket.

But I really don't see how you can describe Pompeo's remarks as "a bunch of half truths and outright falsehoods." At worst, he reacted badly to poorly-worded questions.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

Sadly, we are now led by an administration of fake news spin doctors.



This is pretty common stuff that, unfortunately, we as a nation seem to be getting more and more comfortable with. Spewing out a bunch of half truths and outright falsehoods proclaimed as the truth.

Remember how China was, according to Donald Trump, a currency manipulator...until it wasn't.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

Hi Ted
Anyone listening to those administration doctors know they are some of the best in the world.

Most others wouldn't even compare.

You got the floor.
Doctors that disapprove of their message?

M

 

[A_Thinker]

Hi Ted
Anyone listening to those administration doctors know they are some of the best in the world.

Most others wouldn't even compare.

You got the floor.
Doctors that disapprove of their message?

M

None of the administration doctors are pushing the "escaped from a Chinese lab theory" ...

 

[Mountainmanbob]

None of the administration doctors are pushing the "escaped from a Chinese lab theory" ...

The world seems to be looking at China and much talk regarding holding them responsible.

Guess The Whole World Is Wrong?

M

 

[A_Thinker]

The world seems to be looking at China and much talk regarding holding them responsible.

Guess The Whole World Is Wrong?

M

The WHOLE WORLD is NOT on the "escaped from a Chinese lab train" ...

 

[A_Thinker]

The world seems to be looking at China and much talk regarding holding them responsible.

Guess The Whole World Is Wrong?

M

Ooops ...

 

[Kentonio]

The world seems to be looking at China and much talk regarding holding them responsible.

Guess The Whole World Is Wrong?

M

Would that be the 'Whole World' that doesn't include all the countries outside the United States? A bit like the 'World Series'?

Oh and your own intelligence agencies don't think it came from a lab either. So basically just Trump and the lackeys who have to back him up despite knowing perfectly well he's talking out of his behind.

 

[Radagast]

Oh and your own intelligence agencies don't think it came from a lab either.

That is incorrect. The intelligence assessment was that it was not genetically engineered (you can tell that from the genome). But that leaves entirely open the possibility of a leak from a "gain-of-function" experiment on bat coronaviruses.

 

[Kentonio]

That is incorrect. The intelligence assessment was that it was not genetically engineered (you can tell that from the genome). But that leaves entirely open the possibility of a leak from a "gain-of-function" experiment on bat coronaviruses.

The intelligence agencies have said absolutely nothing in support of the idea that it came from a lab, but have reportedly been under heavy pressure from the administration to find evidence to that effect. So think about that for a moment, the politicians are telling the intelligence agencies to go and find evidence supporting something the politicians want to be true. Just like Iraq all over again.

Trump Officials Are Said to Press Spies to Link Virus and Wuhan Labs

Most intelligence agencies remain skeptical that conclusive evidence of a link to a lab can be found, and scientists who have studied the genetics of the coronavirus say that the overwhelming probability is that it leapt from animal to human in a nonlaboratory setting, as was the case with H.I.V., Ebola and SARS.

 

[Evan Jellicoe]

The intelligence assessment was that it was not genetically engineered (you can tell that from the genome). But that leaves entirely open the possibility of a leak from a "gain-of-function" experiment on bat coronaviruses.

This matches the most recent report I read. But what I got out of it was that the question of whether the virus escaped from the lab was undetermined. Neither "likely" nor "unlikely." Just "undetermined."

 

[Radagast]

This matches the most recent report I read. But what I got out of it was that the question of whether the virus escaped from the lab was undetermined.

That's what "entirely open" means -- undetermined.

 

[Kentonio]

This matches the most recent report I read. But what I got out of it was that the question of whether the virus escaped from the lab was undetermined. Neither "likely" nor "unlikely." Just "undetermined."

Undetermined in this case doesn't mean it could equally be either option, it means they haven't found any evidence that the source was the lab. So far the only thing that supports that 'theory' is Trump and his minions claiming it without providing any evidence at all.

 

[Evan Jellicoe]

Undetermined in this case doesn't mean it could equally be either option, it means they haven't found any evidence that the source was the lab. So far the only thing that supports that 'theory' is Trump and his minions claiming it without providing any evidence at all.

It means that somebody who says "It might have come from the lab" is making a plausible statement, given the circumstantial evidence. But somebody who says, "It came from the lab" is telling an untruth. I haven't been keepipng up with this particular item, so does anybody have any exact quotes for what Trump has said?

Edit: I looked it up myself, and he's claiming that he's seen some really good intelligence evidence that it did come from the lab, but he is forbidden to share the actual evidence.

>sigh<

 

[miamited]

Hi kentonio,

You responded to another's post:

The intelligence agencies have said absolutely nothing in support of the idea that it came from a lab, but have reportedly been under heavy pressure from the administration to find evidence to that effect. So think about that for a moment, the politicians are telling the intelligence agencies to go and find evidence supporting something the politicians want to be true. Just like Iraq all over again.

I support that and think it well worth reminding some folks that it seems to be pretty quick exit strategy to not agree with the President on anything. Remember the brouhaha when the weather service didn't agree with his assessment of the path of a hurricane. I think most everyone in the game in Washington understands that to give any indication that you don't agree with him, and especially to say that he isn't correct about something that he's said, will get you the boot toe pretty quickly.

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[Kentonio]

It means that somebody who says "It might have come from the lab" is making a plausible statement, given the circumstantial evidence. But somebody who says, "It came from the lab" is telling an untruth. I'm not keep up with this particular item, so does anybody have any exact quotes for what Trump has said?

Edit: I looked it up myself, and he's claiming that he's seen some really good intelligence evidence that it did come from the lab, but he is forbidden to share the actual evidence.

>sigh<

What circumstantial evidence? Because unless I’ve missed something, the only ‘evidence’ we have is Trump saying it’s so. And frankly his word is worthless at this point.

 

[miamited]

Hi radagast,

Thanks for your response. You said:

But I really don't see how you can describe Pompeo's remarks as "a bunch of half truths and outright falsehoods." At worst, he reacted badly to poorly-worded questions.

If someone says, 'We have enormous amounts of proof...', but according to you they can't really, then that statement is, at best, a half truth. Further, claims such as that seem to be near constantly coming from this administration. We even have a man sitting in the grown up's chair who often points to his head, when discussing matters, and makes the claim that he's smarter. Really? You wouldn't qualify those kinds of statements as being, at best, half truths? OOOOk

God bless,
In Christ, ted

 

[miamited]

Hi radagast,

Also, I just read kentonio's linked NYT article, there is a body of scientists whose job really is the study of virology and one would hope have slightly more knowledge on the subject than Pompeo, who say that the evidence is 'overwhelming' that the virus began by a natural bridge from animal to human just as most previous viruses have done. So, which one do we believe? The scientists with 'ovewhelming' evidence? Or Mr. Pompeo with 'enormous amounts' of evidence.

Just thinking out loud here, but if there really is 'enormous amounts' of evidence that the virus escaped some lab, why would scientists be saying that they have 'overwhelming' evidence that it didn't. Someone is telling a half truth or outright falsehood, and based on past experience, I'm going with it being this administration.

God bless,
In Christ, ted