A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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Nov. 9, 2005 - Spirited Hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Pandemic Flu. I testified along with Julie G., Andrew Natsios (USAID), and Paula Dobriansky (DoS). Committee chaired by Paul Lugar. Present at Hearing were Sens. Dodd, Biden, Obama, Sarbannes (all Dems.) They kept pushing Julie and me about "who is in charge?" We explained that it is primarily a health issue and in this regard, Sec. Leavitt is in charge. In the sense that the issue may involve multiple Agencies, this is coordinated through the Homeland Security Council and Fran Townsend is in charge. They did not like the latter and were pushing for a "Flu Czar". We said that this was a bad idea. There was a lot of animated back and forth. After the Hearing, I met with Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, President of Iceland. He was referred to me by Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA). He is sponsoring an Icelandic Drug Co ("Actavis") that makes generics for HIV drugs and he wants to get Iceland involved in helping out with global AIDS by making 3-in-1 drugs available free to some countries and sold at minimal prices to others. He wanted my advice. I strongly suggested that he contact PEPFAR in the form of Mark Dybul. I also suggested that he contact "Doctors without Borders" and Bono's people (Jamie Drummond). I will help them out to connect. They had already approached Bill Clinton and the Clinton Foundation, but felt that they did not really have a substantive network.
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Nov. 10, 2005 - Frenetic activity continues. Briefed together with Bill Raub and Julie G. (by phone) and Jerry Parker (Stewart Simonson's Deputy at OEPHP) Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez (he is last of the Cabinet Secretaries to be briefed). Bruce Gellin is in Geneva with Stewart for Global Planning meeting for Pandemic Flu. They stopped in Paris to visit Institut Pasteur. This was in the middle of the riots around Paris by Muslim French Nationals who are enraged at poor living conditions and alleged prejudice in French Society against them. We also briefed the House Armed Services Committee and I gave a personal 1on-1 briefing to my old friend Sen. Barbara Mikulski. She was gracious and very glad to see me. This evening Sec. Leavitt and I and Michael Osterholm (connected from Minnesota) did the Nightline Show with Ted Koppel from D.C.
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Nov. 20, 2005 - Press still hot and heavy. I appeared on "Meet the Press" with MOL, Julie Gerberding, and Mike Ryan (WHO) about bird flu. Many e-mails saying that I gave a great interview.
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Nov. 23, 2005 - Press activity still very heavy. I appeared today on the Diane Rehm Show and CNN's "The Situation Room". Michael Osterholm sent me an e-mail saying that he was concerned that I was saying on the air that the probability of an H5N1 pandemic this winter is low. He says that "health reporters" are e-mailing saying that I am giving confusing messages. I am absolutely certain that the "health reporter" in question is Laurie Garrett who is inherently hysterical. I am disappointed in Michael since it is very clear that I am saying that the probability of a pandemic (in the broad sense - any new virus) occurring is very high based on historical precedence. However, the probability of there being an H5N1 pandemic of the scale of the 1918 Influenza over the next month or two is low. NONETHELESS, we must assume the worse case scenario and prepare as if it will happen in its worse form and it will happen soon. I have been very consistent about this. I am actually asking the actuarial and probability people like Don Burke to figure out if we can add some science to this concept.
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2005-11-25 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
Nov. 25, 2005 - HHS Flu Summit for States will take place on Dec. 5. Julie Gerberding and I are at collegial "odds" with the DHHS people (Laura Lawlor and John Ogwanobi) in that we feel that the Department and the CDC specifically should be the first ones discussing the Plan. The Agenda as of today has MOL (as appropriate) speaking and then we bring on Rajeev from HSC, Jeff Runge from DHS, a person from DoA. Julie does not come on until after lunch. Even I (speaking on the science of flu as I usually do) come on before Julie. There is already concern in Congress and in the Press as to "who is in charge". I feel that the CDC should be right up front on this. HHS and MOL are is charge, but the major health instrument for preparedness and response is the CDC.
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Nov. 26-30, 2005 - Media continues for me with Lou Dobbs, CNN Wolf Blitzer (The Situation Room), WTOP radio, CBS News, etc. regarding bird flu. The preparation of DHHS for the States Flu Summit on Dec. 5 is a major mess. Laura Lawlor somehow has taken over the preparation and it seems that no one knows what we are supposed to do. MOL has taken a major interest in a 75 city tour of himself, Julie, me and perhaps others to tell the States of their "responsibility" to be prepared locally for a pandemic flu. Every time this subject comes up, the States push back by saying that they have no money and the Federal Government is giving them an unfunded mandate. What I see is a clear example of a Secretary who is a good person who has gotten too personally involved in an issue and who is doing some of the planning off the top of his head and as a result there really is no one truly in charge of making sure something is done correctly. Everyone on his staff (John Ogwanobi, Suzy DeFrancis, Kerry Weems, etc.) is afraid to say that the 50 states tour is likely to be a disaster. They are like a Greek Chorus telling him in this case that it is a good idea. They do not know what the goal is or even why they are doing it. I strongly suspect that Suzy DeFrancis deep-down thinks that this is a campaign swing and , frankly, MOL does also to some degree. I have told Stewart Simonson and Bruce Gellin that I feel it would be a disaster. I do not want to be a part of it and have asked Stewart to tell Rich McKeown this. Rich is the most sensible one there and so hopefully I can get out of most or all of the tour. They want me for my credibility, but this is local and state public health stuff, which is not my area. Also, I am hearing that the White House knows how disorganized they are and are getting anxious The attacks in the press on Stewart Simonson seem to be winding down, but Sarah Luecke of the WSJ will be coming out with a big article. I have spoken to her and hopefully she will give a balanced story.
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Dec. 1, 2005 - World AIDS day. I was invited by the White House to be a Principal at the POTUS Speech (EEOB 450). As with last year, the POTUS specifically recognized me as being in the audience for all of the work that I have done in AIDS. Peter Mugyenyi from Uganda was there as was an AIDS mother from South Africa and her 2 children who had benefited from the PEPFAR program.. Had coffee with Julie Gerberding after the ceremony at Starbuck's on Pennsylvania Avenue and she feels exactly the way I do about the States Summit and the "tour" (see above).
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Dec. 2, 2005 - Had pre-Table Top preparation at HHS with MOL, Julie Gerberding, Stewart Simonson, Bill Raub, Bruce Gellin, Jesse Goodman, Rich McKeon and the entire DHHS staff. I have concern over these exercise since they are unrealistic and always make everyone look bad. I tried to interject some common sense into the discussions, but there were too many people who were acting like they knew what they were talking about. I generally do not like those "group" briefings of the Secretary since everyone trials to look smart and few people have a clue of what is going on. That evening, went to an incredible affair at the Kennedy Center with Christine. It was the Grand Opening of the Family Theater sponsored by the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation Series for Artistic Excellence. After the show which included extraordinary superstars, we had dinner on the stage of the Eisenhower Theater!!. It was incredibly elegant and all the Washington Glitterati were there. At my table with Chris was David Rubenstein of the Carlyle Group, Super-Attorney Bob Barnett, UNICEF President Ann Veneman, Former Sen. John Breaux (D-La), Rita Braver (producer for CBS). At the dinner were every media and politico you could imagine. The dinner was amazing and we all had a great time.
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Dec. 5, 2005 - Big meeting ("Summit") at the Grand Hyatt in DC to roll out the plan to visit all 50 states to talk up pandemic flu preparedness. Present were health officers of the big cities and all the states. Presentations by MOL, Julie Gerberding, me and the usual cast of characters. I am very anxious since MOL wants to take me with him on the tour to visit 75 locations in all 50 states to talk up preparedness. I just do not have time for this. Stewart Simonson and even Rich McKeown are aware of this and are trying to get me out of it. However, MOL is so enamored of me that he wants me with him.