I just introduced a Conservative friend to Rummy and the bird flu

[LittleClarkie]

Telling her that Rummy has part ownership, or at least more than a passing interest in, the vaccine.

I've only gleaned bits and pieces re the connection, but I think I succeeded in making her even more cynical re: the bird flu than she was before.

What is Rummy's connectioin again, to the bird flu and its cure? Is he a stockholder?

Help the short-term memory challenged, if you would.

[aquart]

1. Tamiflu isn't a vaccine.

And there are more and more doubts about its being any kind of a cure.

[missouri dem 2]

2. From Sourcewatch:

Rummy was Chair of the Board of Directors at Gilead Sciences until named to the Bush cabinet and, like Cheney, still has ties that bind to the 'old company.' Now isn't it an 'amazing coincidence' that the drug Tamiflu (http://www.gilead.com/wt/sec/tamiflu) patented by Gilead Sciences is being pushed by the National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases as the NUMBER ONE choice for flu, which, wonder of wonders, is sweeping through in one epidemic after another," Free Market News related (http://www.freemarketnews.com/Feedback.asp?nid=578) October 21, 2005, from a January 2004 web posting.

As of September 22, 2004, Rumsfeld held a "stake in Gilead Sciences Inc. worth $5 million to $25 million." <4> (http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2004/09/22/rumsfeld_sold_stakes_in_pentagon_contractors?mode=PF)
Incidentally, Newsday reported (http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-hstami224479997oct22,0,4136757.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines&track=mostemailedlink) October 22, 2005, that, according to drug makers, Tamiflu "will remain in short supply for as long as a year because of the drug's complicated chemistry."
The delay is perhaps related to the controversy over property rights to the Tamiflu patent. See Dr. Joseph Mercola's "Who Owns the Rights on Tamiflu: Rumsfeld To Profit From Bird Flu Hoax," (http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=+ME20051026&articleId=1148) Global Research, October 26, 2005: "Since Rumsfeld holds major portions of stock in Gilead, he will handsomely profit from the scare tactics of the government that is being used to justify the purchase of $2 billion of Tamiflu."
According to its January 3, 1997, press release (http://www.gilead.com/wt/sec/pr_933190157) announcing Rumsfeld's ascension to Chairman of the Board, Rumsfeld had been with Gilead Sciences "as a stalwart board member since the company's earliest days" in 1988.

"Gilead is fortunate to have had Don Rumsfeld," said (http://www.gilead.com/wt/sec/pr_933190157) Michael L. Riordan, M.D., "who founded Gilead in 1987 and served as Chairman since 1993," ... "and we are very pleased that he has accepted the Chairmanship. ... He has played an important role in helping to build and steer the company. His broad experience in leadership positions in both industry and government will serve us well as Gilead continues to build its commercial presence.'"

Rumsfeld served as Gilead's Chairman of the Board until January 22, 2001. Upon his departure, John C. Martin, Ph.D., Gilead's President and CEO, said "Don Rumsfeld’s insight and contributions over the last twelve years have been invaluable as Gilead has evolved from a promising biotech company into the worldwide biopharmaceutical corporation it is today." <5> (http://www.gilead.com/wt/sec/pr_980181660)

[MercutioATC]

3. Tamiflu isn't a vaccine, and it's only one of two recommended treatments

...the other is Relenza (which Rummy has no affiliation with).