"Bird flu kills two who took Tamiflu," a recent headline boldly noted. Yet the story details noted four deaths among those who took Tamiflu in the study cited. There were eight patients in the study.

Four deaths out of eight with bird flu treated with Tamiflu is a 50 per cent death rate. The death rate reported so far from bird flu without Tamiflu is about 50 per cent.

The reported death rate from bird flu is about the same whether Tamiflu is used or not.

Pointed questions, piercing answers

How is it that Tamiflu is said to be an effective treatment for bird flu when death occurs at the same rate with or without Tamiflu?

Why did the New England Journal of MediSINcine and major news media coverage of the story emphasize only two deaths rather than making any mention of the similar 50 per cent death rate with or without Tamiflu from the actual four deaths in the study that was cited?

For many months it has been consistently reported that Tamiflu is "believed" effective against bird flu. Recently I read the first news report that noted Tamiflu is the only "known" effective agent against bird flu.

The bird flu death rate has been shown to be no better with or without Tamiflu. It may be worse with Tamiflu than without based upon reports from Japan where it carries a warning that United States officials have ignored.

Congress passed an exemption from liability for drug manufacturers at the end of last year for harm done by drugs and vaccines. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist who is a medical doctor inserted this clause in the middle of the night into a last minute defense appropriations bill. 38 senators with approximately $13 million in pharmaceutical stock portfolios voted for it. Even with that it took flying in Vice President Dick Cheney from the Middle East to break a 50-50 tie to pass this monstrosity.

The San Jose Mercury News referred to it as a "Merry Fristmas" present to Big Pharma.

The Tamiflu belief has moved by a leap of faith to leapfrog over logic with a mighty push by the unholy trinity of Big Government, Big Pharma and Big Media.

Déjà vu

At this same time four years ago the Homeland Security Act was passed with a provision that exempted Eli Lilly from liability for harm done by its mercury additive Thimerosal as legislators scurried off for their holiday break. A huge public outcry resulted in that being stricken after legislators returned.

That provision only exempted one company from responsibility for its actions. This recent action gives blanket protection across the board to all pharmaceuticals. This is a far worse provision.

Will Americans stand against this or fall silently to this latest strong-arm robbing from the poor to give to the rich by the Robbing Hoods of Congress?

What do you think of THIS!

The Pentagon placed a $58 million dollar order for Tamiflu six months ago.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is in charge of the Pentagon.

Secretary Rumsfeld was a member of the board of directors at Gilead Sciences -- creator of Tamiflu -- almost from its very beginning.

Rumsfeld served as Chairman of the Board from the time of the licensing of Tamiflu until he became the current Secretary of Defense.

The most recent federal disclosure form notes that Rumsfeld continues to maintain a multi-million dollar holding in Gilead.

How does this add up to you?