[Goose]

If China unleashed this monster due to bureaucratic inertia or national embarrassment, with the millions of death, trillions in economic damage, and all the rest, it should be held accountable. You don't let that nation off the hook on the basis of some partisan bias or another. Misplaced priorities.

As you are undoubtedly aware, more and more data is suggesting that the virus was widely spread well before Wuhan became the poster child of the epidemic. This is a good example illustrating your "too soon to know" argument, which I think has lots of merit. That said, it is difficult to imagine how one can hold any nation "accountable" for errors in judgement or even for policies detrimental to other nations. We don't hold China "accountable" for human rights abuses, or the 5 dash line or violating their agreements regarding Honk Kong. What can we do, declare war, a naval blockade? If everything a nation did that was "stupid" was punished by the world community where would any of us be? And who would decide?

[Goose]

If China unleashed this monster due to bureaucratic inertia or national embarrassment, with the millions of death, trillions in economic damage, and all the rest, it should be held accountable. You don't let that nation off the hook on the basis of some partisan bias or another. Misplaced priorities.

As you are undoubtedly aware, more and more data is suggesting that the virus was widely spread well before Wuhan became the poster child of the epidemic. This is a good example illustrating your "too soon to know" argument, which I think has lots of merit. That said, it is difficult to imagine how one can hold any nation "accountable" for errors in judgement or even for policies detrimental to other nations. We don't hold China "accountable" for human rights abuses, or the 5 dash line or violating their agreements regarding Honk Kong. What can we do, declare war, a naval blockade? If everything a nation did that was "stupid" was punished by the world community where would any of us be? And who would decide?