I am pretty sure most of my followers don’t buy into the conspiracy theory that #COVID-19 is a #bioweapon created by the United States (or anyone else), but for anyone who does, here’s a quick history lesson. (1/7)
The US eliminated its offensive #biowarfare program in 1969. President Nixon said at the time, “Biological weapons have massive, unpredictable, and potentially uncontrollable consequences. They may produce global #epidemics and impair the health of future generations.” (2/7)
America’s renunciation of its BW program was the first time that a major power unilaterally abandoned an entire category of WMD. For more on Nixon’s decision, @WMDCenter has a great case study by the late Jonathan Tucker, available online: wmdcenter.ndu.edu/Portals/97/Doc…. (3/7)
@WMDCenter By May 1972 the US had destroyed its stockpile of antipersonnel agents, and the production facility at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, was converted into a research facility. By February 1973 they’d also destroyed all the anti-crop agents. (4/7)
1991, Soviet and British officials visited Pine Bluff, as well as 3 other sites that had contributed to the US program in the 1950s and 60s. The facilities were “dilapidated,” “derelict,” and “partially dismantled.” (more on this in @vertic: vertic.org/media/Archived…). (5/7)
One Soviet official, who was the deputy director of their BW complex, concluded that the US offensive program could not possibly still be functional and defected to the US shortly after the visit – whereupon he shared extensive information about the massive Soviet program. (6/7)
So no, this didn’t come from some sort of secret US program. That program doesn’t exist, and hasn't for 50 yrs.
Is #COVID19 someone else's bioweapon? If it is, it’s not a very good one. For more on this – and other COVID19/#WMD-related coverage – watch the @WMDCenter space. (7/7)
Is #COVID19 someone else's bioweapon? If it is, it’s not a very good one. For more on this – and other COVID19/#WMD-related coverage – watch the @WMDCenter space. (7/7)
