The Opening Salvo ...

(all quotes from Daszak's Guardian article - all brackets are mine)

Ignore the Conspiracy Theories: Scientists know Covid-19 wasn't Created in a Lab

In a recent interview with the Telegraph, the former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove cited an “important” scientific report that suggested that the novel coronavirus had not emerged naturally, but had been created by Chinese scientists.  Dearlove said he believed (he never said believed) the pandemic had “started as an accident” after the virus escaped the lab.

Daszak has stated his propositions in the title.  His use of a pejorative term, Conspiracy Theories (don't debate them - ignore them), in the heading is telling - as is the use of Scientists know.   Not theorize mind you- that's what those nasty Conspiracy Theorists do - no - Scientists  just know.  Which is all you non-scientist people need to know. 

They don't know as a point of fact coz this is before the WHO Investigation has even started, but it's telling that Daszak (a) purports to represent all scientist & (b) insists in bold as his Headline that they already know the result of an investigation that hasn't yet happened. 

Daszak then posits the-argument-against up front: Any investigation into Covid's origin (on which Daszak is a WHO Investigator) should include an examination of the possibility that it leaked from an Wuhan lab.  Which is all they're arguing - i'm curious how you're going to counter that ...  But it's commendable academic format - put the headline argument of your opponents (Sir Richard Dearlove & Prof Birger Sørensen) out there - then methodically take it apart.  If you’re good enough…

This should be interesting - Daszak V Dearlove - a heavyweight clash of the experts!  World Health Org V Ex-MI6 Head ... UFC for intellectuals ...

Suggestions that Covid-19 is a manmade virus are the latest chapter in a tale of blame, misinformation and finger-pointing.

Not sure what the first chapters were - but we do point the finger & blame you for causing Covid, so, two out of three i’d agree.   Wait, blame - finger pointing - it's a tautology, so one out of two.  You would've got two out of two but it wasn't a tale of misinformation - it was disinfo - you know that better than anyone, Pete.

Cue the conspiracy theorists, marching out their narrative about the high-security BSL-4 lab in Wuhan, (which there is) where mysterious experiments to design “frankenviruses” (which there are) led to the tragic global pandemic.

It’s not mysterious Pete.  WIV scientists have published papers on engineering viruses to make them more contagious since 2008 - it’s what they do there - it’s what you do there - to protect us, remember?   In case something like Covid ever happens… whereupon, you & rest of the Bat-Pack become cartoon heroes (whilst making a killing).  What's mysterious is why The Guardian is platforming you & who controls The Guardian?

Cue the genetic analyses pointing to “unexpected” insertions in the code of A, G, T, and C that explain how this virus could not have evolved naturally.

Are independent genetic analyses not allowed now? Why not? Ohr, sorry i know, coz we already Cued them as Conspiracy Theorists first up!   Right, Cue the scientist up to his eyeballs in China COIs, about to say Cue again...

Cue political posturing against China, with calls for an inquiry, trade sanctions and even reparations.

Calls for an inquiry!  How dare they!  The world is irreversibly altered by Covid and now they want to know why?  By posturing against China.  How dare they insult a perfectly respectable totalitarian regime!

Summary:  Pete piles-on the Conspiracy Theorist name-calling (twice in the opening) like that means something, then cues-off   - but nothing in the way of a rebuttal or any details.  Maybe that's coming soon - let's see ...