Monday, October 27, 2003

Had a Policy Coordinating Committee for an “end-to-end” analysis of biodefense responsiveness at the White House EEOB. Meeting run by Ken Bernard and Bob Kadlec. Attended by all the usual suspects from each agency – CIA, FBI, DHS, HHS, OMB, OVP, etc. After the meeting I met with Bob Kadlec about the possibility of going to Iraq to interact with the medical and research community. Apparently, the copies of HPIM-15 that I had sent to Iraq through Kristen Silverberg were a smash hit and the Iraqis want very much for me to go to Iraq. However, over the past few weeks there has been a great escalation of insurgency and terrorism with many suicide bombings and rocket and rocket propelled grenade attacks on both military and civilian targets. It appears that the terrorists are targeting the Iraqis who are cooperating with the USA in trying to rebuild the country. Kadlec does not trust the security associated with the ministries of health to provide for my safety. He actually feels that if word gets out that I am coming that I would be targeted by snipers. He feels that if I go, he will arrange for CIA operatives to get me into the country and move around “under the radar” and that CIA operatives would provide my security. We decided to wait a few weeks before resuming plans about going to Iraq and consider going in January/February. Bob will have to go there at this time anyway to continue search for weapons of mass destruction.