Diary Prequel Package — page 285

opportunistic news people (Branswell - Canadian Press and Phil Boffey - NY Times). 8) The occasional incompetency of Amy Patterson in dealing with the NSABB even though everyone in the USG thinks that she is doing a great job. 9) The "bioterror-industrial complex" who sees bioterrorists everywhere and whose jobs depend on the fear of bioterror (Thomas Ingelsby - think tank; Tara O'Toole - DHS; multiple Beltway bandit companies, etc.). Apr. 25, 2012 - Went down to Hart Building to brief Sens. Harken and Roger Wicker in preparation for their trip to Africa (South Africa and Namibia) where they will visit CDC and NIH-funded sites. Also briefing them were Julia Martin of PEPFAR (Eric's Deputy) and Debbie Birx from CDC. This is mostly a boondoggle for the Senators. Apr. 26, 2012 - The heat is still on and the focus high (in some circles) regarding the H5N1 issue. I testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee today. Chair - Joe Lieberman and ranking minority - Susan Collins (RMaine). Other witnesses were Dan Gerstein (DHS), Paul Keim (NSABB) and Tom Inglesby (Univ. of Pittsburgh). Lieberman started the Hearing by stating that I was his "hero". Paul Keim more and more is making me believe that he is a poor Chair of NSABB and a weak person in that he continuously says that Mike Osterholm is off base with his letter to Amy and then he defends him strongly at the Hearing. He wants it both ways. The media (mostly bloggers like Laurie Garrett and others such as Helen Branswell) keep thinking that the USG is acting in some sort of conspiratorial manner regarding letting out information such as Amy's response to Mike Letter. In this regard, I mentioned to Lieberman when he asked about the accusations in Osterholm's letter to Amy that I completely disagreed with most of what was in Mike's letter and that Amy had written a comprehensive refutation of Mike's points and that I would make this letter available to the Committee if they wished. The press picked this up to mean that we were releasing the letter to the public. That was not the case, but eventually ( a couple of days later) when HHS Legisl. Affairs sent the letter to Lieberman, then HHS released the letter. Made nice remarks at Memorial for Frank Neva at the Audubon Society in Bethesda. Apr. 29, 2012 - Went to Annual Brunch given by John McLaughlin on the roof of the Hay-Adams Hotel in celebration of the White House Correspondence Ball the night before. It has been several years since I was invited to the Ball. Usual DC celebrities at the Brunch. May 1, 2012 - Partook in NAS Workshop Panel on 20 F Street on H5N1. This was part of the NAS Annual Meeting. Controversy continues. At the meeting, Richard Roberts (1993 Nobel Laureate and known Gadfly) came to the microphone and said that many virologists who disagree with Francis Collins and me about doing DURC are afraid to speak up because they fear retribution and will not get their grants funded - Holy Shit!! The epitomy of paranoia. This is not the first time that I have heard this. I blew him out of the water (nicely) by saying that if anyone has even a slight awareness of the NIH peer