A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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Dec. 4, 2006 - Things mostly quiet on the NIH front. Big problems in Iraq that are dominating the news with insurgency and civil war. Bush is having a very hard time. Democrats have taken control of House and Senate, mostly by voter protest of the war in Iraq. Had World AIDS Day with usual press interest. Secretary Leavitt wanted me to go to China with him from Dec. 6 to 13; I first said yes, but then backed out since I really do not want to travel during this busy period and the purpose of the trip was secondary to my interest and involvement, i.e. economic and trade considerations with only a side order of health. Jenny Fauci doing great in Brazil. She loves it and will return on Dec. 23. I am getting more and more involved in Global Health issues such as malaria, health care work force support in developing nations through the DDCF, XDR tuberculosis, etc. Have given many talks over the past few weeks on these issues.
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Dec. 13, 2006 - I hosted a press conference to announce the breakthrough study that was prematurely stopped by the DSMB. Study was the use of medically supervised adult male circumcision in Kenya (Kisumu) and Uganda (Rekai) to determine effect on HIV transmission. Results were striking. Study was safe and led to a 48% (Uganda) to 53% (Kenya) decrease in transmission. Big printed press coverage including front page of NY Times.
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Dec. 14, 2006 - Big White House Malaria Summit sponsored by Malaria No More and Introduced by Laura Bush with the POTUS giving Keynote Lecture. Held as 1⁄2 day meeting at the National Geographic Society Headquarters on 17th Street in DC. I had helped Gary Edson who was consulting for Malaria No More in the scientific background for the meeting which was mostly talks by African Health Ministers, Melinda Gates, Faith-Based people (Rick Warren, etc.), Paul Wolfowitz, Margaret Chan (WHO DG). I had nice chats with each of these. Purpose was to increase awareness of malaria and he how with little money we can dramatically reduce malaria, particularly in Africa. Spoke of results in Africa of the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) that over the past 2 years with $1.2 Billion for bed nets, indoor spraying with insecticides, and ACT (Artemisinincombination therapy) malaria has been markedly decreased in certain countries. MC was Isaiah Washington of "Grey's Anatomy" TV show. I met and interacted with the usual cast. Also included Sens. Pat Leahy, Bill Frist, etc. VP Cheney's Annual Christmas Party. Chris did not come since she was setting up for the reception following the Annual Lessons and Carols at the Cathedral (I went later). Usual festivities with many people there. Spent much time talking to Carol Kuntz. Also, Scooter Libby was there awaiting start of his trial for providing false information to the Special Investigator (Fitzgerald) about the Joe Wilson/Valerie Plame issue. Spoke more with Isaiah Washington.
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Jan. 29, 2007 - Iraq war going very badly with civil war among Shia and Sunnis and insurgency running wild. Bush popularity in USA way down. The war is dominating the political scene in USA and particularly DC including discussions by Presidential candidates. Went to an interesting dinner tonight at the Metropolitan Club hosted by Dr. Ward (Trip) Casscells in honor of the Surgeon General of the Armed Forces of Iraq - Samir Abdullah Hassan, M.D. I sat next to him at dinner. Good guy and smart and tough. He explained the disaster that USA inadvertently promulgated by dissolving the Iraqi military. The Provisional government (Paul Bremer) dissolved the Iraqi medical corps and so now they do not have any army hospitals or army doctors to take care of the wounded and sick Iraqi soldiers. Also told me that the entire bureaucracy in Iraq (sewer, transportation, utilities) was run by the military and so when Bremer dissolved the military he completely destroyed the infrastructure of the country. Samir feels that this was an amazing blunder. Also, by dissolving the police, we now have anarchy in Iraq with criminal elements running wild.
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2007-02-14 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
Feb. 14, 2007 - Briefed Bruce Miller (VP Cheney's Chief of staff for biodefense) at the White House on AIDS, Pandemic Flu, Malaria, and biodefense in preparation for my future briefing of the VP that Bruce will set up.
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March 5, 2007 - Went to great memorial for Art Buchwald at the Eisenhower Theater of the Kennedy Center at the invitation of Art's son Joel and his wife Tamara. Many VIPs there including Ethel Kennedy, Ben Bradlee, Tom Brokow, Dave Barry, and most important people in the media in DC and nationally. It was a warm and hilarious event filled with stories about Art and film clips of him
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March 6, 2007 - Busy day. Unfortunately, Scooter Libby was convicted today on 4 of 5 counts of lying to FBI and grand jury in association with the Joe Wilson/Valerie Plame CIA leak. Had House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing today and it went well. Also, had a farewell dinner at Oceanaire in honor of Alex Azar who is stepping down as deputy Secretary at HHS. The old HHS crowd was there including former Secretary Tommy Thompson. Had a great conversation with him. He has put his name in as a candidate for Republican nominee for President. He is optimistic about winning the Iowa Caucus. He discussed with me the best plan that I have heard yet about how to handle the dreadful Iraq situation. Also, at the dinner were Janet Rehnquist, Stew Simonson, Scott Whitaker, Bruce Gellin, Lester Crawford (recently convicted for lying on his financial disclosure when he was FDA Acting Commissioner), Paula Staudard, and others. Very cold day in DC with temps in the teens.
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March 13, 2007 - Briefed Vice President Cheney today in his WH office on second floor. Beautiful "pre-Spring" day with temps around 50 and sunny skies. He wanted briefing on Pandemic flu and biodefense. I included a discussion about HIV/AIDS particularly the great success of PEPFAR since I wanted him to know that this Administration has done more than anyone in the world for Global AIDS. The briefing was as usual for the VP and me, i.e. very friendly and expressing multiple times how pleased he was to get briefed by me since he enjoys it so much. Also in the room were David Addington (Chief-of-Staff), Bruce Miller (Chief for Biodefense), Steve...? And Scott Deitchman.
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March 16, 2007 - Have been preparing for a briefing of the POTUS on pandemic flu preparedness. Interesting evolution of process. The HSC staff (Joel Bagnell and Rajeev Venkaaya) want us (HHS) to present a major discussion of "gaps" in stockpiling and others want us to just update the POTUS. Friendly tension going on. Today, we (me, Bill Raub, Bruce Gellin and Eric Hargan - Deputy Secretary) briefed the Deputies in EEOB 208 in preparation to brief the Principals and then the POTUS. Among them were junior staffers from WH as well as Rajeev, Joel Bagnell, Bruce Miller, Scott Deitchman, Jeff Runge. Continued disagreement about what the Secretary (MOL) will ultimately present to the POTUS.