I’ve been amazed and disappointed at the continued blaming for both preparation and response by the Feds and the Administration, led by the media (of course), then parroted in social media posts. The number of articles that are cited and linked, and the amount of incomplete, deliberately missing, or flat-out dis-information in those press stories aren’t shocking, however; they are merely a continuation of what I’ve been seeing for the last 3 years.
Time to dig into some of this … again. Before we talk about what “cards” an administration is dealt (don’t worry, I’ll get back to that), let’s look at what happened in late 2019 and early 2020. Wait – let’s first look back to 2009-2010:
During the H1N1 Pandemic, where in the first year over 60.8 million were infected, 274,000 were hospitalized, and over 13,000 died – and these are only USA numbers, not global – the Obama administration depleted the 100+ million N95 respirators (not to mention tens of millions of other masks and PPE) by over 75% from the national stockpile. His administration further depleted those levels during 4 subsequent hurricanes and a major flood, and in support of the Ebola outbreak. In the end, the stockpiles were taken all the way down to 12 million N95 pieces, and similar numbers for other PPE. Through the course of his administration, no serious efforts were employed to replenish those levels. So basically 6 more years with no build-back of the stock. Who cared then? In his defense, however, other priorities came up as more important, although funding was reportedly available.
Another revelation has come up in reporting recently (last week) as well: US Customers and Border Protection reported that China, in December, January, and February, bought hundreds of millions of PPE supplies (masks, gloves, respirators, goggles, gowns, etc.) from the US, all while the WHO was playing down the danger, based on what China was feeding them for information. In fact, in the last week of January China purchased 2.2 billion (yes, billion) face masks from the US; it wasn’t until the beginning of February that the Administration halted China air travel (widely panned, including by Pelosi in China Town, on TV, in San Francisco saying it was totally safe). And let’s not forget: China already makes half of the world’s PPE supplies… why would they need more?
On February 7th the White House announced it was sending 17.8 tons of donated medical supplies to China … as the risk to the rest of the world was still being downplayed by the WHO. These supplies included PPE, and the donators were Samaritan’s Purse, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, other private organizations, Boeing, and Intermountain Healthcare. Nothing from the US stockpiles. The government provided shipping logistics only. It was in response to the WHO saying there was a global PPE shortage, but it was particularly acute in China.
By mid-February it was noted on US ports that Chinese shipments to the US of PPE were down to almost nothing, and to date the US and the world has been heavily dependent on China for this equipment. Surgical gowns were one exception: Sourcing was shifted to Honduras, so those shipments have returned to near-normal levels. Around this same time the WHO noted 100x increase in PPE demand around the world. 100x. Prices had risen by 20x. All while China was supplying its own healthcare system as first priority, and it had done it’s best to corner the PPE market worldwide while the Chinese government and the WHO downplayed the danger.
And what about Taiwan? It’s now been revealed, by the publishing of the actual letters and emails the Taiwan government sent to the WHO in December, that they were trying to raise the alarm with the WHO about the abnormal and acute illnesses and pneumonias coming out of Wuhan that were spreading rapidly. It gets a bit political in this, since the WHO gets money from China and Taiwan isn’t considered a member and are therefore largely ignored by the WHO to appease China, but they knew. They were being told to check into this.
So, let’s get back to what cards an administration is dealt. When Clinton was dealt 4 terror attacks that all circulated back to Osama Bin Laden (1993 World Trade Center bombing, 2 embassy bombing in 1998 in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole in Yemen, to refresh memories), he was given nine (yes, nine) opportunities to capture or kill OBL between 1998 and 2000. All documented in the 9/11 commission report. He fumbled each one through delayed decisions, canceled missions, or conflicting instructions to the CIA. Then 9/11 hit months after he left office. After leaving office, he later said on many occasions that he “regretted” not getting that done. But who among us appeared to care? It was Bill. He played the sax and was loved even after impeachment.
So here we are, with the current administration being dealt a global pandemic that, no matter what moves are made, the are panned. Depleted stockpiles. All Trump’s fault, right? FEMA stepping in to buy supplies ahead of states so that critical need regions aren’t left empty-handed. His fault, too (a very few democrat governors aren’t missing their chance at that dig, with the exception of Cuomo and Newsome, who are offering thanks and praise when it is warranted). Hospital ships not ready for weeks – but then they set sail and arrived 2 weeks ahead of MSNBC’s widely-retweeted predictions (with no correction from the media). Cuomo talking daily with Trump and/or Pence and getting what he asked for, including a ship, field hospitals, and equipment, although reports were that Cuomo was getting no response and being ignored. Huh.
My question to then pose is this: If Trump and Obama swapped terms, and Trump was president during the H1N1 pandemic, would he be panned for not replenishing supplies then, to be prepared for what Obama was facing now? My prediction is absolutely *yes*. Would Obama be blamed for being dealt that situation? No. Would he be blamed for cutting off travel to China, then Europe? No. Would he be blamed for shortages of ventilators? No. Would he be blamed for shipping donated supplies to a China in need? No.
Bottom line is that no president knows what cards he’ll be dealt. On any given day I’m quite sure that presidents are faced with decisions that are enormous, and could conceivably alter resources and priorities in a heartbeat. Nobody saw those choices coming: Pandemics, natural disasters, wars, economic crisis, terrorism, etc. The decisions these presidents make are looked at through the lens of history and judged in two different ways: When first made, those decisions are judged first by how well that person is liked (unfortunately) – and that is flat-out wrong, I’m sorry to say. And second, over time, on the effectiveness of the decision and the outcome. The second decision path usually has stripped out emotion and popularity by then. This is where we should be all the time; non-partisan, non-emotional, unbiased, and essentially rowing in the same direction. How many of us are willing to do that, regardless of who’s at the helm?
