There is something repugnant about betting on bird flu and terrorism—I don’t care how much money there is in it. Greed being what it is, futures market on terrorism would drastically increase the likelihood of it happening!

I am betting that Secretary Rumsfeld will finally resign when the bird flu reaches North America. Keep your eye on him. He stands to make megamillions on the U.S. and Canadian purchases of Tamiflu, a most important antiviral drug in demand to fight the flu. The company that owns the rights to Tamiflu (Gilead Sciences) leases the manufacture to the Swiss pharmaceutical company, Roche. Rumsfeld was Gilead's chairman before taking his job with the Bush administration, and he has never divested himself of his shares worth millions (and still growing) in Gilead stock (see the CNN story, here: http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/31/news/newsmakers/fortune_rumsfeld/ ).

Others who stand to profit from bird flu coming to America are former Secretary of State George Shultz (Bechtel Corp.), who is on the Gilead board, and former governor of California, Pete Wilson, whose wife is on the board.

Since Rumsfeld was advised to hang onto his shares, the best thing he can do when the demand for Tamiflu goes through the roof, and when the U.S. government is spending millions of our taxpayer dollars to buy it, is to resign to avoid charges of conflict of interest and then laugh all the way to the bank. Questions might be asked, of course, but nothing would be done. Well, it's now perfectly legal for anyone to bet on when the flu will hit. So get those contracts lined up, folks, and when Rummy resigns to cash in, place your bets. It won't be long. I hope I haven't blown it for any insiders at Intrade.

Your second header, "Misery loves Indixes" is incorrect. It should be "Indexes."

You might want to fix that.

Cool story! However, I do object to the statement "his or her winnings come at a steep price for thousands of people." Whether someone speculates correctly or incorrectly has no impact on if or when the event comes to pass; the actual speculation on the event in now way affects the probability of the outcome.

Yes, you do admit as much later in the article, but it's a leading statement, influencing opinion before all the facts are laid out.

Best,

C.S. McMahon

You know, one hates to fall into conspiracy theory mode, but . . . all of the programs, news releases, interviews warning us of the danger cum possibility cum probability of a pandemic? After reading that Rummy stands to gain the question is automatic: who stands to gain?