We're At Phase 0, Preparedness Level 2 -- for those who want to know

HHS - National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO)

This article from Health and Human Services explains how pandemics happen. If I read it correctly, we're just one and a half steps from Phase 1, Confirmation of Onset of Pandemic. Dubya hasn't got a clue how to handle any of this. Who's sorry now?

All Bush had to do to convince the pharmaceutical companies to get on the stick with developing and producing vaccination products is to tell them they'll lose the non-negotiation clause of the Medicare drug bill if they don't. He didn't do this, of course, because he owes them too much. We'll all be sorry soon enough.