Pandemic’s End or Worse

The world seems taken up recently with the spread of the Omicron variant and the potential for resulting sickness and death. Yet we've also heard that the new strain of virus may ultimately end the pandemic and return the United States to normal living. How would that work?

Put simply, the new strain is milder (ed. note: 11 percent less chance of being hospitalized compared to delta for the unvaxed) and appears to be less deadly than either the original virus or the delta variant. At the same time it's far more likely to spread. It seems certain that it will soon supplant other strains and dominate the scene. In the same way that cowpox (when administered to patients) produced mild symptoms back at the dawn of virology and immunized against smallpox, the omicron variant might well protect against full blown Covid. Since omicron is an actual virus, it would impart immunity through all receptors rather than through the single receptor utilized by a vaccination. Survival of an omicron infection might therefore be more effective than a jab. in terms of imparting immunity.

There's always a chance, of course, that the omicron variant might contain a component that remains dorment for months in a victim and thereafter flairs up with disastrous consequences. Scientists, therefore, need to study this variant with care. If it does turn out, however, that there are no hidden time bombs, then omicron could end up destroying the pandemic. Let's hope that the Hemmoragic fever that is now becoming a serious health problem in China due to the rodent population doesn't end up spreading here aboard some ship carrying Christmas gifts.

Meanwhile, both China and Russia seem determined to treat the new virus as a mere temporary setback, which has now been brought under control. They are ready to resume their (alleged) plans for world conquest. Because of Biden's weakness in Afghanistan, both Russia and China appear ready to test America's resolve by building up a massive war machine at the point where their ambition and American defensive power meet. That's why Russian troops are building infrastructure just outside the border of Ukraine. Thus far the USA has limited itself to jawboning while elements within the E.U. have supplied weaponry to Ukraine. All the while Russia warns the EU not to admit Ukraine to its union or establish a mutual defense treaty with them.

While this is going on, China is busy building airbases just outside its border with India. India is reciprocating by building additional military bases on its side of the border. There has already been some fighting between some Indian and Chinese factions in the area and it seems likely that there's going to be considerable bloodshed there in the near future. This is really troubling because such a conflict might well grow into a world war. All this is happening even as Japan and Taiwan prepare for potential conflict with China. Meanwhile China is warning the United States not to get involved because China isn't afraid of going to war with the U.S.

There's also the matter of the South China Sea, which China is trying to claim by building artificial islands based on reefs while international courts declare that China has no rights in the area. China wants the sea because the waterway is important and because they plan on drilling for oil. Note that even while the rest of the world gives at least lip service to the idea of cutting back on the use of fossil fuels, China is desperate for any coal, oil, or gas to burn. A number of nations claim sections of the South China Sea and are being squeezed out by pressure from China.

The United States has, for the most part, been content with sending an occasional fleet through the area to emphasize that it considers the whole area to be international waters. China, meanwhile, has covered its artificial islands with all kinds of lethal weaponry while its navy patrols the claimed territory and chases away fishing vessels.

So there you have it. The Biden White House is obsessed by the possible dangers of the omicron virus while the communist world fantasizes about returning to the old power politics, which it hopes will replace the United States with the weak leadership that usually ends up sparking international conflict. Omicron may well end the pandemic and open the door to yet another round of brushfire wars (or worse). Human history is messy and tends not to satisfy anyone. High populations promote waste and pollution along with pandemics and war. War reduces population but increases pollution. Try as hard as they might, ecologists never seem to come up with clean war. I suppose that's a good thing. If war weren't so messy, people would no doubt be more inclined to take part in it. So today we have our choice between a messy war against disease or an even messier battle between humans. The third alternative, of course, is peace. Every once in a while it would be nice if humanity chose that alternative.

Haughey is Senior Advisor of the Texas Republican County Chairman’s Association.