The Virus Lab Theory's New Credibility - WSJ
By: The Editorial Board (WSJ)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
President Biden on Wednesday ordered U.S. intelligence to dig deeper into the origins of Covid-19, a reversal after he reportedly ordered a State Department investigative unit shut down. Mr. Biden is trying to cover for his embarrassing closure of the investigation because the dam has finally broken on the evidence that the virus may have escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). The shame is that it took so long because the suspicious facts have been apparent from the start.
***
In January 2020, international media began reporting about a virus spreading in the Chinese city of Wuhan. "The coronavirus could result in a global pandemic," said Sen. Tom Cotton on Jan. 30, 2020. "I would note that Wuhan has China's only biosafety level-four super laboratory that works with the world's most deadly pathogens to include, yes, coronavirus."
The world would learn more about Covid-19—and the WIV. But it was always reasonable to ask if the virus came from a nearby lab that handled dangerous viruses. On Feb. 6, 2020, Botao Xiao of the South China University of Technology posted a paper concluding the virus "probably originated from a laboratory in Wuhan." But the Chinese government strictly controls research into Covid-19's origins, and the molecular biomechanics researcher withdrew his publication.
The Communist Party then went on offense, with Beijing's ambassador to the U.S. declaring that lab-leak theories were "absolutely crazy" and could "fan up racial discrimination, xenophobia." After Mr. Cotton responded by calling on China to "open up now to competent international scientists," the media chose denial: "Tom Cotton keeps repeating a coronavirus conspiracy theory that was already debunked" (Washington Post) and "Senator Tom Cotton Repeats Fringe Theory of Coronavirus Origins" ( New York Times ).
The public-health clerisy also set boundaries for allowable discussion. On Feb. 19, 2020, the Lancet published a statement by scientists condemning "conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin." Although some academics quietly dissented, the document was promoted as proof that the lab possibility was "debunked."
The Lancet statement was organized by Peter Daszak, whose nonprofit has funded research at the WIV. He had a clear interest in dismissing the lab theory, which could put future research dollars at risk. The zoologist served on the World Health Organization’s investigatory team dispatched to Wuhan earlier this year. Mr. Daszak still insists the lab-leak theory is preposterous—though three of the Lancet signees have since said it deserves more consideration.
In May 2020 Dr. Fauci dismissed the lab theory in an interview with National Geographic. But his National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases had funded the WIV through Mr. Daszak’s nonprofit. Even if U.S. funding didn’t go directly to research that potentially caused the pandemic, it’s still problematic.
Prominent Republican officials like Mike Pompeo and Donald Trump began to support the theory, but they were accused of trying to distract from the Administration’s pandemic missteps. Dr. Fauci’s dismissal also came as news reports relished the divisions between the White House and scientific advisers. CNN declared that “ Anthony Fauci just crushed Donald Trump’s theory on the origins of the coronavirus.”
***
This dominant narrative eventually ran into a problem: No one has discovered a natural origin for Covid-19, and new information is making a blanket denial of a lab leak indefensible. The most significant disclosure came from Mr. Trump’s State Department in January.
“The U.S. government has reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses,” the fact sheet read. It noted that the WIV maintains links with the Chinese military and had not been transparent or consistent about its work on viruses similar to Covid-19. The Biden Administration largely accepted these findings in public, though and even Dr. Fauci recognized the possibility of a lab leak this week.
The WHO’s Wuhan visit this year produced little new information but ruled a lab leak “extremely unlikely.” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan criticized the inquiry. Even WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus called for “further investigation” into whether the virus came from a laboratory. This month a group of scientists published a letter in the journal Science noting “theories of accidental release from a lab and zoonotic spillover both remain viable.”
This scrutiny should have started a year ago, but media partisanship derailed fair discussion. Many “experts” made political calculations and fell prey to groupthink rather than following the science.
This isn’t merely a score-keeping exercise. The Wuhan origin story is vital to understanding how to prevent the next pandemic; how to better run dangerous labs; and how to defend humanity. The world still needs an honest and open investigation.
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"The evidence catches up to Fauci and other Wuhan Covid deniers."
It was only a year ago, amid the confusion, division, distortion, and chaos when this virus started gaining traction. How researchers in China were dying, and the CCP’s efforts in covering it up and threatening seven doctors to stop talking. One day the President answered a question and gave an opinion. At that point it became about Trump, and the media, as it always had, made him the focus, instead of it being about the WHO, and others who were covering for the CCP.
Just like that, Democrats had a campaign issue.
Facebook has changed course.
The Washington Post has changed course.
The Biden Administration is changing course.
Even Dr Fauci is starting to allow for what seems likely.
"In May 2020 Dr. Fauci dismissed the lab theory in an interview with National Geographic. But his National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases had funded the WIV through Mr. Daszak’s nonprofit. Even if U.S. funding didn’t go directly to research that potentially caused the pandemic, it’s still problematic."
"Dr. Fauci’s dismissal also came as news reports relished the divisions between the White House and scientific advisers. CNN declared that “ Anthony Fauci just crushed Donald Trump’s theory on the origins of the coronavirus.”
President Biden has ordered an investigation to get to the bottom of this. That's a good thing right?
Why did he close the old one?
Ask him.
Thanks Steevie. You have a good day.
So... You don't want an investigation? I thought that was the point of the article. While nobody has the resources to investigate every internet theory, this one seems to have some evidence supporting it. Add China's propensity to obfuscation into the mix and you have a real possibility that something is there. I would think that that's what you wanted.
When the Trump administration tried to investigate it the Democrats claimed he was racist; and the investigation had "no basis in reality". Now suddenly Biden and the Democrats think that something might be there and want it investigated? The only thing that changed was we removed one moron in the White House with an R behind his name; and replaced him with another moron with a D behind his name.
Of course no one is going to be held responsible for their lies (yes, Biden and the Democrats were lying). Party before country; and that meant removing Trump at all costs.
What I really want is to see what the CIA has on it. We had an investigation, which was shut down.
While nobody has the resources to investigate every internet theory, this one seems to have some evidence supporting it.
It did not begin on the internet. It began with Chinese scientists and the fact that in November of 2019 workers at the Wuhan lab became infected.
Add China's propensity to obfuscation into the mix and you have a real possibility that something is there. I would think that that's what you wanted.
I'd rather see what the CIA already has rather than wait many months for an investigation launched by the Biden administration, especially after the Biden gang closed one down. China has destroyed all of the tangible evidence. You know what someone here used to say: "If it looks like a duck...
possibly due to by far the majority of leading scientists in the world stating they thought it was highly unlikely, and so far, what is the new convincing irrefutable evidence that has come to light ....some sick lab workers ? Well then investigate, but irregardless of findings, you will be convinced it came from the lab, cause you bi as, and it is as simple as that. And about the Grape juice from Welch's, let me know when you're ready to enter Thunderdome with me Vic, cause it'll be sic, measurung the tape against your sour grape, cause you are going to need a Cape Canaveral Carnival Contestant Pussy Grabbin back Stabbin glorified hole lot to park on the grass whence i'm through being thrown around by the dislikes of ewe and your sheepullin the wool over your disguise eyes see write through, cause you wish to revisit the issue of Trump need not being moral and ethical, and say "honorable", well i'm going to recount so high the number of times Trump DID-LIE TO YOU, yet he gets your pass, while i'm intercepted and penalized for going over and above , cause you're off-sides, and i'll cause your silly head to spin from within, just, because i Ken N against Grace and Will, cause i'm done with your gutless and ridiculous spouting off cause my fax pist you off 10, cause your zero hero will never compare to any 'Man' , because he is a sad and sick excuse for a human being, and people like him are very few and far between, thank goodness, or something other, but Vic, KNOW what is in store if you continue to persist that i'm the lying whore while you give passes to Russians, excuses to/for cabooses, all while engineering trane of thoughts meant to inspire insurrection and light the fires to extinguish our Democratic Election Process, cause sorry princess, but it is something you will wind up regretting, and that's EXACTLY what i am NOW BETTING, what even were the odds...cause i'll be taking, and not forgiving, cause you've seeen NO THING just yet, so just say the word, and see where it goes oh
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Vic, what could possibly go wrong...
Led by the likes of Peter Daszak, whose nonprofit has funded research at the WIV.
Did you read the article from the Editorial Board?
i dove off an editorial bored, and have NO problem for an actual unbiased investigation seeking the truth so as to better understand a world pandemic that killed millions of women and man
Is it that hard to understand people didn't want the investigation shut down for no good reason in the first place?
Separate spin from fact.
Fauci stated that there is no evidence of human tinkering with the virus; that COVID-19 itself has the form of a natural (vs. artificial) evolution. Compare this to photoshopping an image. Experts can usually tell if an image has been photoshopped due to the tiny detail irregularities that reveal tampering. Same is true for COVID-19 per Fauci.
Fauci did not say that Wuhan cannot possibly be the source of the outbreak. He simply stated that the scientific evidence available at the time suggests that COVID-19 evolved naturally in the wild.
The relevant part of the interview cited by this seed:
Fauci only speaks of the origin of COVID-19; he spoke only of known science. He never denies the possibility that the virus was brought into the lab and then escaped. He simply notes that the indications are that the virus evolved naturally in the wild so that means it had already in effect ' escaped ' thus the escape-from-the-lab hypothesis has no supporting evidence.
In simple terms, if the virus was in the wild then it was able to infect people even if Wuhan lab did not exist.
One is either interested in the truth or one is interested in pushing a narrative regardless of the truth.
As Fauci ONLY speaks of KNOWN SCIENCE , others speak of ONLY UNSUPPORTED SPECULATION. I do not understand what they do not understand, asz we all buy as, as it is inevitable, but we can try to separate the bias's from facts, thus removing speculation and unintended side taking, cause science is not faking, as they stew about stirred pot they should have smoked and it would have panned out golden, as they become stimulated by things unrelated, and orgasmic about unconnected shtick, while pulled from the mud, in the muddied muddled waters all turbulent and rapidly streaming as they look and find an eddy, cause e d might help em find science, instead of their abnormal defiance
whatever, they believe the incongruity found in their alliance against science, as the virus novel, was not science fiction, but one might get that impression, if they only herd their immunity depiction and conspiracy obsession, as like Jeff, they should recuse this session, as that would be my actual Suggestion, and they in all ways disregard mine, of course, that is fine, just not scientifically sound, as to some, always unheard of
But people, including some on NT, are GOOD at pushing a narrative regardless of the truth.
Although such information may be valuable in preventing future pandemics, what puzzles me is that so many are so much more interested in determining the actual origin of the virus, which IMO may NEVER be determined, and which I believe is being so promoted in order to DEFLECT from why and how such a superior, advanced, technologically adept, scientifically superb nation that considers itself the leading nation of the world, was CAPABLE of achieving almost 600,000 deaths from a virus that it KNEW had reached its shores in January of 2020, could determine how infectious it was, and has only been able to control it by applying massive numbers of vaccinations, whereas other nations were able to pretty well contain it even before vaccines were available.
[Deleted]
ich IMO may NEVER be determined
Gee, why is that? [Deleted]
is being so promoted in order to DEFLECT from why and how such a superior, advanced, technologically adept, scientifically superb nation that cosiders itself the leading nation of the world, was CAPABLE of achieving almost 600,000 deaths
It's not a deflection. This might the greatest man made disaster in human history. Nothing can deflect from that. It killed 600,000 because it's an uncurbable virus that struck our very open country early, and hard. Pretty much every advanced country in the western hemisphere has been struck hard. Nothing unusual or odd about it.
d has only been able to control it by applying massive numbers of vaccinations
[Deleted] I recall the CCP was caught spreading negative propaganda about vaccinations. But, then agian, who would expect any better from the country that tried to blame the outbreak on America?
able to control it by applying massive numbers of vaccinations
Buzz, are you puzzed how a country [ Deleted ]
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/global-pulse/2021/01/28/what-chinas-vax-trolling-adds-up-to-491548
Regardless of their guilt in creating the virus, China is intentionally trying to kill people by undermining confidence in safe vaccines. [ Deleted ]
Thinking about it, that may not be true. I guess it depends on how you define man made. The great famine killed 30 million Chinese, and the CCP certainly bears responsibility for it. 30 million dead. Hard to wrap your head around it, but that's just another failed policy for the CCP.
IMO a lab-leak theory is as viable as a bat to human theory, although I disagree that there was a DELIBERATE leak because I cannot believe that a government that has been focussing so much on improving the lives of its people (e.g. the eradication of abject poverty) would deliberately release a virus on its own innocent civilians. Only a fool would believe that.
It is a lie propagated by one individual that China allowed international flights to leave Wuhan after January 23rd. Research from actual keepers of such statistics indicates that other than humanitarian flights, all flights stopped, both local and international.
IMO the CCP and all relevant authorities have NOT been transparent, and whether or not they are aware of the actual source, I doubt that they would actually admit it. The fact that they are not being transparent is something I believe is not going to change, which is why I doubt that even a CIA investigation will turn up anything new. I do NOT support the CCP in holding back information about the source.
It is telling that you call the virus a man-made disaster, because there is a preponderance of evidence that it was not a manufactured virus. I don't think it's wrong for me to accuse the American administration and authorities of being negligent in its failure in containment of the virus - because the results speak for themselves.
I have kept my comments here on the topic, rather than history, because ALL countries may have histories they should not be proud of.
Continuing to slander me is only going to continue earning points and suspensions.
Dr Fauci: "Senator Paul, with all due respect, you are entirely and completely incorrect that the NIH has not ever and does not now fund ‘gain of function’ research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology,” Fauci said in the Senate hearing on May 11.
That sounds like a straight forward proclamation!
Until he wasn’t so certain only a few hours later.
Later that very day, Fauci admitted to “a very minor collaboration as part of a subcontract of a grant we had a collaboration with some Chinese scientists,” during an appearance at Poynter.org’s “festival of fact checking.”
The NIH either funded so-called gain-of-function research to juice up bat coronaviruses in China, or it didn’t. Why all the duplicity? Oh wait, might it have exploited a loophole in the Obama-administration ban on the Frankenstein research put in place in 2014?
He was then asked: “Are you still confident that it developed naturally?”
Dr Fauci: “I think the real unfortunate aspect of what Senator Paul did is he was conflating research in a collaborative way with Chinese scientists which was, you’d almost have to say if we did not do that we would almost be irresponsible because SARS-CoV-1 [the coronavirus responsible for the 2003 Asian SARS outbreak] clearly originated in China and we were lucky to escape a major pandemic so we really had to learn a lot more about the viruses that were there, about whether or not people were getting infected by viruses, so in a very minor collaboration as part of a subcontract of a grant, we had a collaboration with some Chinese scientists."
Translation: Ya, we did, but technically we didn't!
Here is the undeniable fact:
The NIH gave $3.7 million in funding to a New York-based nonprofit, EcoHealth Alliance, run by British-born Dr. Peter Daszak , who then, with the approval of the NIH, gave nearly $600,000 of that money to help fund the gain-of-function research on bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute, and co-authored scientific papers with the scientist who conducted the lab’s research, China’s so-called batwoman, Shi Zhengli.
Fauci really walked the line of perjuring himself. Amazing some people think he' anything but a politicized bureaucrat.
And Dzak, naturally, was the only American chosen by the WHO and China to take part in the investigation in February. Which may have been for the best though. Dzak is obviously so biased on the topic that his presence undercut its credibility as an independent investigation.
Fauci made a statement based on his knowledge. He later found out that funding to another source indirectly helped fund Wuhan research (with vague details). So what should Fauci do? Does he play equivocation / intellectually dishonest games or does he note the exception he just learned of?
He noted the exception he learned of. What a lying sack of shit he is!
The key is this. Did the USA (or NIH) intentionally fund the gain-of-function research at Wuhan? If so, then Fauci was mistaken. If not, then Fauci was correct. At worst, you have a human being who is not omniscient and did not know every little sliver of fund routing between the NIH and Wuhan.
but this to them disqualifies EVERYTHING Fauci has ever stated...
It's more alarming he supposedly learned of that after I did.
hat a lying sack of shit he is!
I suppose it's my bad for assuming he had a baseline level of information about the topic.
At worst, you have a human being who is not omniscient and did not know every little sliver of fund routing between the NIH and Wuhan.
He's either lying or knows less about the topic than laymen.
You use the word 'baseline' to refer to a sliver of exception; an indirect routing of funds. Fauci clearly has more than a baseline understanding. He is simply not omniscient. You are attempting to hold him to an impossible standard of knowledge. Imagine how complex and detailed the route of funds makes in an organization like the NIH and all of its international relationships.
Nobody knows every nuanced detail of a complex operation.
Did the USA (or NIH) intentionally fund gain-of-function research at Wuhan?
your speculative opinion is just that, as he's a world renowned respected scientist, till Trump didn't like the facts about science.
u use the word 'baseline' to refer to a sliver of exception; an indirect routing of funds. F
Yes, if I knew it and he didn't it, it's pretty basic knowledge. It's like the AG telling people he was unaware of a major Supreme Court decision months after it was published.
No it is not. This is not a major decision, this is a routing of funds by a third party. The fact that this detail was known by some and not by Fauci is nothing special. Fauci is just a human being and will clearly not know every nuanced routing of funds in a complex international network. He will know about the major allocation of funds (and intent). Expecting him (or anyone for that matter) to be aware of all exceptions in a complex entity is unrealistic.
xpecting him (or anyone for that matter) to be aware of all exceptions in a complex entity is unrealistic.
Nice strawman. Can you think of maybe one reason funding to agencies involved in manipulating coronaviruses in Wuhan might have become a tad more important than others in 2020? Any reason at all coronavirus manipulation in Wuhan might be something Fauci should haven been concerned with, as opposed to research into pollen in Oregon?
You don't think government involvement with a Wuhan institute experimenting with coronaviruses became kind of an important issue in 2020? You don't think Fauci was aware of the relationship between the government and the one American representative the WHO allowed to go to Wuhan? Are you serious with that? That might be the harshest indictment of Fauci and the American Public health system I've seen yet. Calling him a liar is kinder. Call me crazy, but one of the first things a competent leader would do when faced with the outbreak in China would have been to reach out to any Americans who would have first hand knowledge of what was actually being done in Wuhan to help fight the virus. But again, that's me. I'm not a government bureaucrat. I would want to gather relevant information from the people closest to the situation. Fauci, apparently, can't be bothered to know those things.
The contract was important Enough to be reported in the media. I knew about it. It would be incredibly negligent of Fauci not to be aware of it.
It staggers me anyone could believe this.
after the last 4 years, nothing could cause me to stagger about how anyone can believe so much, without ANY proof
Good grief Sean, learn what a 'strawman argument' is. Labeling my point:
... as a strawman is a slimy tactic. Seems very few are able to engage in debate without immediately resorting to such dishonesty.
You are arguing that Fauci knew about this indirect funding and lied about it. Why would he do that? To what meaningful end? After all, as you note, this is something that was known to others. Fauci publicly lying about this knowing full well that it will almost certainly be revealed almost immediately after his testimony accomplishes nothing of value for him or his organization.
Sometimes a little logic (and here this is just common sense) goes a long way.
Call it what you will. If Fauci knew of this and lied then he would have to be a moron (and he is most definitely not) because this is all bad for him and his organization. If he did not know about it then fault him for not knowing every detail in a complex network.
The proof is there, but some deny it.
Deliver the proof.
Note, I find the hypothesis of this escaping from the Wuhan lab to be logical. So I am not (never have been) resistant to the idea that the Wuhan lab is the epicenter for the pandemic.
But I challenge those who claim to have proof to deliver it.
Research your own proof...follow the breadcrumbs
Exactly as I figured ... you have nothing. You are simply making claims that you cannot support.
Quite a difference between breadcrumbs and proof.
Never does.
I guess you don't understand what a strawman is. Your argument is a perfect example of one.
You claimed " pecting him (or anyone for that matter) to be aware of all exceptions in a complex entity is unrealistic"
Nowhere have I claimed that Fauci had to be aware of all exceptions. Nor did I imply it. Yet you attribute that position to me, and argue against it as if that's what I claimed.
I claimed he would be aware of THIS specific collaboration with scientists in Wuhan. It was national news. I can't believe I need to explain what elevates that collaboration in importance compared to others.
How can you believe Fauci was ignorant of this?
It was a major national story and Fauci somehow missed it?
You fault Fauci for not knowing of the EcoHealth Alliance exception. I argued that this was one of no doubt many tiny details in a complex organization and that expecting one to know all the details of an enterprise is unrealistic. That means, you do not offer Fauci the option to miss details. That is unrealistic.
So let's take that as a given for now and go back to my point.
Why would Fauci lie about something that is 'national news'? Obviously if he knew of this side deal he would have known that his statement to Paul would be fact-checked within hours (or minutes). What does Fauci have to gain by lying?? Such a lie gives no advantage and offers pure disadvantage for himself and his organization.
Common sense.
Then he probably should not be testifying under oath to Congress on this topic. But he was unequivocal- confident, even - as if he had certain knowledge. That’s alone seems kind of dishonest in a best case scenario. Worst case, he was just straight up lying.
Why would he lie about this exception?? To what possible advantage?
Logically if he knew about this exception the best thing to do is state it right there in answer to Paul, note it as a third party exception and express his disappointment when he heard this was allowed to happen.
Meh, or he just testified to the best of his knowledge.
Which he apparently should not be doing.
He should not testify to the best of his knowledge?
If any person had some responsible connection - no matter how remote - to the start of the worst pandemic in a century, you question why they might lie about it?
If he doesn’t have the knowledge, he shouldn’t be testifying on it, and he shouldn’t present himself as being an expert on the topic.
Yes. What is the point of lying about something that is easily fact-checked? What possible advantage?
Do you know what you do not know all the time? Do you ever believe that you have complete command of a topic only to find out later that you missed a detail ... that you did not actually know everything about a topic?
If we were to use your comment as a standard then nobody should ever testify on any subject containing details or complexities.
What part of this has been easy? We’re a year and a half in and still arguing over what and who should be investigated. Easy, my ass.
I don’t expect him to know every detail of how every dollar is spent within an organization as large as the NIH. All anyone can do is testify to the best of their knowledge, I am not sure what you are expecting.
Fact checking on the third party routing of funds to Wuhan. Just what I wrote.
You do not think that routing of funds to Wuhan from NIH is easily fact checked? Sean in this thread is arguing that it was common knowledge that was known before Fauci made his claim (he stated that he (Sean) knew before Fauci made his claim). So even if Sean is exaggerating on the 'common' part, this would be known. So if Fauci knew about this routing he would have also known how easy it would be to call him on a lie.
Why would he lie given those circumstances?
If I am testifying to Congress, I had better, don’t you think?
A witness is supposed to testify to facts about which he has first-hand knowledge. Fauci made this statement as if he had certain knowledge. Not only was he wrong (or lying) but he falsely presented himself as having such knowledge. That’s a problem.
Now, often, Congress will allow a witness to clarify their testimony and correct errors. So, it’s not instantly a perjury issue. But to say that Fauci has cultivated his own trust problem is an understatement.
Tacos! you are ignoring fundamentals of human knowledge. We all at times believe we have control of all the details but sometimes are wrong; sometimes we do not have all the details. Sometimes things happen that we were not made aware of. And when that occurs we do not know that there are details of which we are unaware.
It is difficult (often impossible) to achieve 100% knowledge in any detailed / complex topic. That is why we testify to the best of our knowledge. None of us are perfect.
Again, by your standards, nobody should testify.
You’re ignoring things I have written. I already said he could clarify or explain his remarks if he wanted to and had the opportunity.
You’re making a series of assumptions that don’t have much support. I want investigation and transparency. I won’t be put off with “why would he lie?” Or “why would [anyone] lie?” People lie about all sorts of things, including truths that one might assume would be easy to uncover.
I am not ignoring anything. I am focusing on the critical flaws in your argument because that is what matters here.
Do you deny writing this?:
How would you personally ensure that you are aware of everything that you do not know about a particular topic when the topic deals with complexity and detail? Explain how this is humanly possible.
It is not possible. Everyone who testifies to Congress by your standards would have to prefix every comment with 'to the best of my knowledge'. Reasonable people understand that when testifying it is assumed that the testimony is to the best of the individual's knowledge. They understand that no human being is omniscient and thus there will be gaps of knowledge. Sometimes the individual is confident they have all the facts ... know all the little details ... but ends up being mistaken.
Fauci was likely confident that the NIH did not intentionally fund gain-of-function research at Wuhan. And technically he might be correct. If the funding was part of an executive team decision then he certainly should know that. But if, as it seems, the decision was made by a third party, it is perfectly reasonable the Fauci would not know of that detail.
You hold Fauci to an impossible standard. By your standard nobody should ever testify.
Proof, or opinion.
While literally ignoring the thing I already reminded you of. I’m not going to stick around while you insist on cherry picking to misrepresent my position and argue against a straw man. You can do that without me. Have a nice day.
I have made zero assumptions. I am challenging your logic.
Fauci either did not know or he lied. I have addressed (again) the notion of him not knowing @6.3.33. Here I will again address the lying part.
If you conclude that Fauci lied about this third party Wuhan funding then you should have a logical answer for why Fauci would lie to Congress about something that would be easily fact-checked within minutes or hours. How, logically, can lying only to be caught in a lie, be advantageous to him or anyone? He could have framed this as an exception ... a routing of funds by a third party that did not follow NIH intent. He could have shored up his position and put this matter to rest. Instead, per you, he lied only to be caught.
Lying to Congress seriously harms his credibility, opens himself to perjury and ends up making this item even more newsworthy. Where do you see any advantage to Fauci or to the NIH??
If you think it is plausible that he lied then you should have a decent answer for that question.
The fact that Fauci can make corrections is deflecting from the point. I am not going to chase down deflections when you are side-stepping my questions. But note:
Further, Dr. Francis Collins made the same claim as Fauci:
Go ahead, use the very same logic you have used on Fauci with Collins. Collins directs the NIH. And when it comes to integrity and knowledge one is hard-pressed to do better than Dr. Collins.
You refuse to directly answer my probative questions and when pressed flee with accusations of cherry-picking, misrepresentation, etc.
We were supposed to blindly accept that it was mere coincidence that this virus developed in the same city as the lab where they were experimenting with coronaviruses. It really came from the market, we were told. But after a year and a half of searching, scientists still haven’t been able to identify the animals that are hosting a direct progenitor to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in humans.
So, while we cannot prove it came from a lab, neither does the available evidence also justify the sanctimonious rejection of concerns over the possibility. Such unwarranted indignance only feeds suspicion.
Suspicion is fine. Conspiracy theories are another matter entirely.
Until the facts arrive people will naturally speculate. If they realize they are simply speculating then no problem.
One should not blindly accept anything; if one is to believe something then it should be based on persuasive evidence and reason.
Just because people theorize about a conspiracy, that does not mean they are being unreasonable. There are facts supporting suspicion. Dismissing them as a “conspiracy theory” - rather than being transparent - only adds to the suspicion.
Conspiracy theories are speculation that are not based on a foundation of facts (or on a very sketchy foundation).
There is nothing wrong with people speculating about what might be true. The problem is when they insist their speculation is true and they cannot logically and factually handle the challenges to same.
And we have members here who are excellent proponents of them.