Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Conversations with Heidi Avery continued – Heidi called my office when I was out running on an absolutely beautiful September day. My office contacted me and I came up to office and called Heidi with my running clothes on. Bottom line is that Heidi re-confirmed her strong feeling that the NSABB or any other advisory body should not be dictating to the USG what we can or cannot do, particularly when it comes to national security. She wanted to emphasize that she does not want NSABB making any pronouncements about the general “straw man” principles about what H5N1 influenza research should or should not be done. When I explained to her how the NSABB (which is scheduled to meet in October) was insistent that they determine the principles, Heidi was adamant. She finally said (in good spirits since we are good friends) that no way did she want any pronouncement about the general principles about conducting research (particularly from Mike Osterholm – she has his number) from the NSABB BEFORE THE NOV. 6 ELECTION. I told her that I understood. This will really be dicey since we have to figure out a way out of the October NSABB meeting and/or a way to get them off this subject. Heidi also confided in me that Leon Panetta really wanted her back at CIA for a “special assignment” (remember, she was counterterrorism before coming to NSS). Also, I finally told Heidi that there is definitely a direct leak from IPC (likely Kris Beardsley) to Mike Osterholm. Heidi said she knew this all along and she knows exactly who it is, although I am not entirely certain. More later, since we now have to decide whether to cancel the October NSABB meeting which will cause an uproar among some of them or take the chance of their coming up with something that Heidi does not want to see happen.