Kerry: U.S. Bioterrorism Plan Has Gaps

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=716&e=5&u=/ap/20040602/ap_on_el_pr/kerry

TAMPA, Fla. - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) said Wednesday that in spite of deadly anthrax attacks and warnings of further biological assaults on the United States, significant gaps remain in the nation's preparations for bioterrorism.


"You need to prepare your public health facilities. You need to prepare your hospitals and all the immediate first responders. Many of them will tell you right now that despite the talk over the course of the last years, there has not been that kind of preparation," Kerry said in an interview with Associated Press Radio.


"I think we need to do a better job of preparing our homeland security," he said. "I'm not trying to scare people, obviously. I think we're all trying to be reasonable in our approaches here. But what I'm talking about is having a conversation with public health officials and first responders so that we can respond effectively if it were to happen."


Kerry called bioterrorism second only to the nuclear threat. Asked by AP Radio how he would deal with North Korea (news - web sites) and its nuclear arsenal, Kerry said he would hold direct, bilateral talks with North Korea just as President Clinton (news - web sites) did to create a process for accountability even if it is flawed.

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[cosmicdot]

1. is there a gap right here in the USA? what are biotech firms up to?

there's concern of what's going on in other countries ... but, I'm just as concerned as what is going on in the biogenetech world over here ...

do these firms do whatever it is they want?