# 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](https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3945654) an “important” [scientific report](https://www.minervanett.no/files/2020/07/13/TheEvidenceNoNaturalEvol.pdf) 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 *dis*info - 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](https://www.nature.com/news/inside-the-chinese-lab-poised-to-study-world-s-most-dangerous-pathogens-1.21487)) *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](https://jvi.asm.org/content/82/4/1899) - it’s *what they do there* - it’s what *[you do there](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4936131/)* - 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 ...