Sarkis Jo Khoury, Dr. PhD

1. The Corona Virus- Perspectives March 22, 2020 The Corona Virus By Joe Khoury Ph.D. The Internationalism of corporate activities (production facilities overseas operating at lower cost than the domestic ones), out-sourcing activities and the diversification of the supply chain was the vogue in the last decades of the 20th century. Now is the time for AN awakening as we find out that a Virus can quickly become multinational, and the supplies necessary for its solutions are primarily based in China (the country that generated the virus) to include masks and basic medicines like antibiotics. America must become pharmaceutical independent just like it did with oil using many strategies to include fracking. The process FOR A NATIONAL FOCUS started by the TRUMP administration is now more relevant than ever: produce in America and buy American. It has been referred to as Nationalism, Xenophobia, white nationalism, extreme nationalism and isolationism, among other designations. But President Trump is having the last laugh. China has been exposed as duplicitous (indeed deceptive) in terms of sharing information in a timely manner, and as a critical supplier for all essential medical ingredients for treatment and for recovery. Thousands have died in many countries, including the United States. We were caught unprepared for the deadly avalanche. This cannot happen again. This is what must happen now: 1- Many of the drug research and discovery protocols and budgets must be drastically revised. Even the requirements that treatment using new discoveries be done first on animals must be scratched when the circumstances are extreme. The Budgets of the CDC and NIH have seen a dramatic increase by $8.3 billion. More is needed. 2- All kinds of subsidies must be provided to all types of businesses and immediately. Skills and usable economic structures and tools will wither otherwise 3- The United States must require chemical and drug producers to come home especially when it comes to basic drugs and the raw materials for producing them. This will increase the economic growth of the United States and make it far less dependent should another crisis emerge. 4- Deal with the compensation issue. The United States must demand compensation from the Chinese government that holds massive US bonds, about one trillion dollars (16.7% of US Bills, notes and bonds held by foreign governments), and massive international reserves two thirds of which are denominated in US dollars. These reserves are estimated to be well over $3 trillion. The

2. ultimate irony as a result of the unrestricted two trillion dollar stimulus bill is that the United States will be borrowing massive amounts of money to support companies in the United States that are owned by the Chinese government while China holds massive dollar reserves. This must not happen. There are many options the US must consider in finding a way to recover the estimated cost of the Corona virus to the United States which can easily reach $3 trillion. Internationalism may have decreased the price of toys, trinkets, all types of cheap electronics, and even the price of mobile phones and numerous other products produced in China. Somehow that excused China to steal American technology and often use slave labor to achieve its production advantage. The world has discovered the fragility, even the stupidity, of such an international arrangement. The security of the American people is clearly at stake. Relying on essentially hostile countries like China, is dangerous to the health, the military and the economic security of the United States. Multinationalism trades permanent ownership and the independence of the economy of a country for the permanency of dependence. In the process the national will is subverted. The old strategic concept (“produce in China, it is cheaper”) has harmed the security posture of the United States. The howling protests by the political left designating any criticism of China as “racist” have become a nuisance devoid of facts and evidence and seriously anti American. The left could demonstrate, instead, their commitment to the national good by finding a way to provide, at least, the masks that their follow Americans need NOW. The transformation of health care delivery and protection systems, the international relations frameworks, the economic foundations of nations, the social interaction conventions, the political system, and the military strategies and assumptions in America will continue. The lessons learned from this virus will serve America well for a long time to come. It must set the policy makers on a new course. Another ominous lesson from the virus for rogue nations is the use of chemical weapons and viruses to destroy the economies of the West. The united States must become more vigilant than ever to protect its interests and people. This Virus may end up having a negative net cost in the long run for the United States if all the lessons from it have indeed been learned and acted upon. We pray in the meantime for the dead while saluting our health care professionals and the current political leadership of the United States.