What data can we use to help evaluate Russian biowarfare allegations?

[Mike S.]

TL;DR Summary

While I see no reason to give these allegations any credit, I'd like to see a greater depth of information.

For a week I've been seeing Russian allegations that the U.S. was researching bioweapons in the Ukraine. Today's example specifically targets a company, Metabiota. To be clear, I have seen nothing persuasive so far, for the following reasons:

• Metabiota's entire role is to track emerging diseases worldwide, which should explain and fully excuse the presence in many countries and the collection of hazardous organisms.
• Metabiota has an extensive series of publications documenting their research. Growing viruses and making vaccines in secret may be biowar, but doing it in public is public health research or biological defense.
• Ukraine was placed in literally the best case scenario for using bioweapons, being attacked relentlessly by a much larger country, yet to my knowledge has not even been accused of attacking with any of these organisms, even when Russians directly attacked the facilities accused of involvement.
• So far I haven't seen enough detail to even feel like an accusation has been properly made. I mean, I'd expect more than the name of a bacterium in a refrigerator - it should say what the idea was.

Nonetheless, I've read claims - possibly politically motivated - that some people in the Western world are believing the Russian accusations. There are personalities brought into this because both American political parties have been up to their eyeballs in Russia/Ukraine intrigues for a decade. And I'm not totally naive - I realize that knowing a lot about pathogens could come in handy in the event that World War III becomes a total war without limits, or perhaps in some scenario of escalating provocations. So if there's any evidence, bring it on. And if there's not evidence, what else can be found to be more persuasive about that?

 

[Oldman too]

Summary:: While I see no reason to give these allegations any credit, I'd like to see a greater depth of information.

I've read claims - possibly politically motivated - that some people in the Western world are believing the Russian accusations.

Don't underestimate the propensity for unmitigated disinformation, the key phrase in your sentence is "politically motivated". here in the U.S. as you know the truth seems to be entirely relative to ones political leanings, examples abound so I won't waste time citing them. I've been amazed lately by Putin's playbook, it seems disturbingly similar to that of a particular former president, using religion to garner support, media control, spinning facts until they are unrecognizable... you get the idea. In that context, you can see why some people in the west will undoubtedly buy into Putin's lies, they are comfortable ground for believers of the "big lie". That is unfortunately, the way things are here. We can only hope that the majority will see things realistically, not as an "alternate reality".

If one wants to hear the truth, its out there, example, https://www.science.org/content/art...inian-bat-research-spun-false-tale-bioweapons
If one wants to believe an alternate truth, well there's no shortage of that, your "Today's example" is proof. myself, I find reality to be refreshing after sorting through the news each day.

 

[Drakkith]

It's nonsense. It's nothing but a long running propaganda and disinformation campaign.
Snopes does a decent job of explaining things and I've attached several articles from various news agencies as well.
Snopes Article
NY Times Article
Washington Post
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin Sets Hannity Straight on Russian Propaganda (1:10 and 2:38in the video)

 

[berkeman]

It's nonsense. It's nothing but a long running propaganda and disinformation campaign.
Snopes does a decent job of explaining things and I've attached several articles from various news agencies as well.

This. Thread closed. Thanks Drak.