Bush Actually Does Something about the Bird Flu

So Dubya is actually doing something for once to prepare for a potential crisis? Oh wait, he's months behind Canada, Britain and Australia! Big surprise. Thanks for coming back from vacation!

Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, a Democrat who has criticized Mr. Bush's approach to the possibility of an outbreak, today called the proposal a "long-awaited first step toward a comprehensive pandemic flu plan that America needs and deserves."

"The president's plan needs to be stronger to ensure that the American people have the protections they deserve," he said.

"In particular, we need to strengthen the capacity of hospitals and health care facilities to respond and react to a pandemic. Stockpiles alone aren't enough without the capacity to make use of them."

Harry Reid of Nevada, a Democrat and the Senate minority leader, said the president had not responded quickly enough to the potential crisis.

"The United States has already fallen behind nations like Canada, Britain and Australia who finalized their avian flu plans months ago," Mr. Reid said in a statement. "The recent spread of avian flu to Europe proves we cannot afford to drag our feet any longer. The looming threat of a pandemic demands action now."