{"id":3835,"date":"2021-10-21T15:48:42","date_gmt":"2021-10-21T15:48:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedisinfolab.org\/wps\/?p=3835"},"modified":"2022-01-27T14:09:33","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T14:09:33","slug":"fort-detrick-disinfo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedisinfolab.org\/wps\/fort-detrick-disinfo\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Detrick: State-sponsored Disinformation Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you can\u2019t convince them, confuse them.<\/p>Sun Tzu
(Art of info<\/em>-War)<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Download the story in PDF here<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Preface<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It would be close to two years since the pandemic started, and after millions of deaths and countless losses that could never be quantified, many are still looking for closure. One question that hangs above all is, how did it all start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although a simple and basic question, the origin of the virus has become such a contentious topic \u2013 or rather has been made into one \u2013 that it is now impossible to discuss this topic without stumbling upon political landmines. The basic questions, which could have and should have been answered based on hard facts, have been couched in so many sensitive wrappers \u2013 from geo-political to racism \u2013 that no one would like to burn their fingers by wading into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the quest of origin of virus is not merely an epistemological quest, but an existential one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where and how the virus originated would be the most significant vector to guide not only how to deal with the virus, but more importantly how to prepare for the future. If indeed it has a zoonotic origin, as was initially claimed by China and propagated by several \u2018prominent scientists\u2019 (with questionable affiliation with the Wuhan Lab and the virus research), it would and should guide a gamut of human behaviour for the mankind. This will make the climate challenge issue an emergency of gigantic proportion \u2013 which will not only dictate which kind of fuel to use \u2013 but most likely which kind of life to adapt going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if the virus indeed jumped out of the lab (according to some new facts hinting at an equally possible lab leak, if not more), the responses would be totally different. It would take the debate more in the realm of the contours of scientific research and their cost\/benefit analysis of game of fruition and so forth. Unfortunately, there is no effort towards a serious exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the contrary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until the zoonotic origin was the prime currency, the Chinese establishment (CCP\/ and its mouthpieces) went along, reinforcing the narrative. Any question was countered with liberal accusations of racism and geopolitics. However, once the lab-leak became a possibility, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) faith in the theory of natural origin evaporated. If the virus could leak from Wuhan, it might as well have leaked from Italy, or Spain, France, or Hawaii, or maybe Fort Detrick (Having settled to this location, after the others were found to be less appealing.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was probably the funniest attempt in history on narrative setting \u2013 where the CCP propaganda was playing both sides \u2013 claiming natural origin on even days, and Fort Detrick on odd days. The Chinese scientists being told to reinforce the natural origin narrative being pushed by the pliant scientists from the US with \u2018pieces of evidence\u2019, while the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) would be pushing Fort Detrick for virus origin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who know China would understand that such contradictions do not trouble the CCP’s world view. But this contradiction creates big dissonance to ordinary minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, due to unfathomable reasons most of the mainstream media\/ global news conglomerates, influential scientists and political leaders have decided to play along. Somehow everyone seems to have resigned to the fate that one may never know the true origin \u2013 without having made any serious efforts or asking the hard questions. On this topic, no one seems curious, even the otherwise-curious media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only people fighting this battle are common netizens, made possible by the democratization of the internet. One journalist\u2019s thought-provoking essay on blogging site Medium could rekindle the debate. A group of OSINT volunteers, appropriately named as DRASTIC, unearthed so many skeletons that the CCP and their sympathizers could no longer push the natural origin with a straight face, which forced the CCP to change the gear of narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it would seem like an uphill task to switch narratives so easily, the Chinese machinery showed that with enough resources and with help of strategic partners, one could at least clutter the disclosure enough so that everyone resigns to the fate that we may never know the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This report is yet another effort of the David against Goliath \u2013 the OSINT against CCP\u2019s global machinery. And this is yet another attempt to keep the questions alive about the actual origin of the virus. To reiterate that the questions won’t cease, how so ever long it takes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disclaimer:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It must be emphasized that this report doesn\u2019t make any statement about the actual origin of the virus – from nature, from Wuhan, or one of the other paces between Europe and the US (and possibly elsewhere.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This report concerns itself specifically about the exercise in the narrative building by the CCP and their sympathizers. This report is an effort to counter the confusion deliberately created to hide the truth. This report has been made with a belief that someday, sooner or later, the truth would come out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truth has a tendency to surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

#FortDetrick has been in trends for over a year now. It appears to be the final destination chosen for pinning the origin of the virus by the CCP machinery after it tried to make Italy, Spain, and Hawaii the source of origin. Fort Detrick (FD) provided a more convincing background, given that it hosts a bio-research facility in addition to a recent incident at the place regarding its safety issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While not going into the merit of the claims, what was conspicuous is that the claim of this virus origin at FD was initiated by a set of well-known fake news\/ propaganda outlets. The individuals and the \u2018news sites\u2019 were found to have been circulating not once but repeatedly. And these fake news sites were given wide publicity and legitimacy by none other than Chinese officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was also not surprising that the propaganda sites used for this narrative building had a Russian imprint. What was surprising, however, some of the media platforms linked with Pakistan. None less than the Pakistan PM and ruling party PTI. This would be considered as the next stage in Pakistani-linked info war as so far what we have noticed is that their target is almost exclusively India. This would be the first time that their footprint is seen at global dis-info nexus, along with China and other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quite a jump, one must say!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fake narrative building had all the ingredients \u2013 Chinese \u2018experts\u2019, anonymous researchers at Fort Detrick and of course Facebook and Russian linked media. However what was unique about this was the direct involvement of Chinese government officials and state media. This was taking the information warfare to an altogether new level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Part I<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sowing the Seeds<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Chapter 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n

an Idea is the Most Resilient thing<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This all started around 5000 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little more specific?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all started with a insinuating remark by a Russian politician. On January 27, 2020 Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky claimed that COVID-19 virus came from the USA, that it was a biological-war against China[1<\/a>]<\/sup>. Zhirinovsky is one of the founders of the Liberal Democratic Party of Soviet Union, the second registered party in the Soviet Union, and therefore the first officially sanctioned opposition party. His party later became Liberal Democratic Party of Russia following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As they say, an idea is the most resilient thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In few days, the biological warfare found an origin. Four days later, on 31st<\/sup> Jan 2020, an anonymous handle F*ck Your Jesus (@Clint21484252), while commenting on the former US President Donald Trump\u2019s tweet claimed that the virus originated at Fort Detrick. [2<\/a>]<\/sup> It was before Trump was barred from social media.The user @Clint21484252 is an account with zero follower and is dormant since February 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Zhiriniovsky\u2019s idea was connected with Fort Detrick by an anonymous Twitter handle, which was then explained with some details by a Shanghai based \u2018expert\u2019 of US origin Larry Romanoff. Subsequently, two witness emerge \u2013 \u2018ground zero\u2019 patients \u2013 Kenneth & Koby, both living around 30 minutes from Fort Detrick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Now all it needed was an insider, and lo and behold, and an \u2018Indian researcher\u2019 Samantha Hill came up in August 2020, providing an \u2018inside account\u2019 of leak from the Fort Detrick through her Facebook post. Along the way she also fabricated a Guide who was killed by the Americans to hide the truth. Confidentially, all the comments on her posts were Chinese and the post eventually got viral on Chinese social media. Now it was left to the Chinese officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Chinese State media to push this idea in public domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story had all ingredients- from Russia to Facebook to Chinese govt officials and state media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the virus didn\u2019t simply originate at Fort Detrick. It first tried to be born at various other places, as per Chinese state media. It only settled for Fort Detrick eventually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Chapter 2<\/strong><\/h3>\n

a Long Journey of a Virus<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the legends would have it, the virus did not arrive directly at Fort Detrick. It tried to get its roots in Spain, Italy, and France in the sewage lines, and having not found it conducive environment, tried the better climates of Hawaii. Every time the learned Chinese officials thought that they had their \u2018gotcha\u2019 moment. And yet, somehow it didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The virus originated in Italy…<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 22nd<\/sup><\/strong><\/sup>  March 2020, <\/strong>Global Times claimed [3<\/a>]<\/sup> tthat coronavirus was spreading in Italy as early as November 2019. This comes just after Italy surpassed China for the most number of deaths related to covid-19 on 19th<\/sup> March 2020. [4<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then <\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>the virus originated<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong> in Spain…<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 26th<\/sup><\/strong><\/sup>  June 2020<\/strong>, Global times published an article [5<\/a>]<\/sup> on their website which pointed that SARS-CoV-2 originated in Spain back in March 2019. It referenced an article [6<\/a>]<\/sup> posted by University of Barcelona that showed presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in samples of waste water in Barcelona, collected in march 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later that day Professor Francois Balloux, director of the UCL Genetics Institute in London remarked that the sample likely got mixed-up\/contaminated.”[7<\/a>]<\/sup> But GT never bothered to correct the impressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the contrary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 9th<\/sup>  July 2020<\/strong>, Global Times published an article wherein they stated that the virus was already present in sewage in Italy and other European countries. The article also claimed that researchers had found presence of the virus in samples of wastewater in Barcelona, Netherlands, France, Australia and elsewhere even before it came to the notice in late 2019. [8<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was in Brazil, but originated in Europe…<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 31st<\/sup><\/strong><\/sup> July 2020, <\/strong>CGTN posted an article titled \u201cStudy suggests 76% of Brazilian coronavirus strains had origins in Europe\u201d referencing an article published on science [9<\/a>]<\/sup> and concluded that SARS-CoV-2 strains in Brazil had their origins in three groups that were introduced from Europe in late February and early March, indicating transmission was already established in Brazil by early March 2020. [10<\/a>]<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ah, it also might have originated in Indian Subcontinent… <\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 1st<\/sup><\/strong><\/sup>  December 2020<\/strong>, Global Times published an article taking reference from a study [11<\/a>]<\/sup> (now deleted) by three Chinese scientists that pointed early human to human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 started in Indian subcontinent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study was first posted on SSRN.com, the preprint platform of the medical journal The Lancet, but it was later withdrawn as it was not peer reviewed and may have lacked data, or are not solid or deliberate enough to draw a conclusion. [12<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In case there was confusion, on 2nd<\/sup> December 2020, Global Times shared a picture showing the timeline of the history of COVID-19 pandemic. The graphic depicts the number of coronavirus cases emerging in other countries way before it emerged in China in December 2019. [13<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Global Times\u2019 post depicting COVID-19 cases in other countries before China<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

But these places still didn\u2019t work out. So finally, the virus originated at Fort Detrick.<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Fort Detrick?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USMRIID) is USA\u2019s leading laboratory for medical biological defense research for counter-measures against biological warfare. The lab is located in Fort Detrick, Maryland which is almost 80 KMs from Washington DC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the location now finds itself as one of the hot topics globally, as a part of several conspiracies cultivated over the origination of COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USMRIID shuts down & reopens (partially):<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/u><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On July 18, 2019, the USMRIID at Fort Detrick was shut down after Centre for Disease Control (CDC) found out that the standard operating procedures in the organization failed to meet bio-safety standards. The news was first reported by Fredrick News Post on August 2, 2019. [14<\/a>]<\/sup>
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Separately, news of mysterious illness linked to e-cigarettes surfaced in the US in August 2019. Over 193 cases emerged in 22 States between June 28-August 20, 2019. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC found that the cause of severe lung illness was associated with e-cigarette. The commonality among the all the patients was they all vaped from e-cigarettes. [15<\/a>]<\/sup> The fact that it was spread across 22 States in August 2019, if indeed it was Covid, the first crisis would have been in the US, not in Wuhan. If one were to believe that the virus was then exported to Wuhan, it still would not explain why it didn\u2019t spread in the US as well. Meanwhile, the CDC ordered reopening USMRIID lab at Fort Detrick partially on November 26, 2019. The lab reopened after the suspension of four months with limited operations. [16<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, should we ignore the facts, it did provide a smoking gun: an incident at a biological research Lab and the presence of lung diseases. The fact that the diesels were from another smoking gun (vaping) was beside the point for Fort Detrick narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Chapter 3<\/strong><\/h3>\n

the Shanghai based Expert<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first detailed expose of the Fort Detrick origin of virus was made by a Shanghai based expert Larry Romanoff. He is a businessman-turned management Guru \u2013 turned Virus expert, and first to come up with the idea of Fort Detrick in March 2020 itself, in an article published on Global Research. The Global Research is part of an elaborate disinformation network, where Romanoff had as many as 72 articles. As per the description available on www.globalresearch.ca<\/u><\/a>, Larry Romanoff is a retired Management Consultant and Businessman. He has held senior executive positions in international consulting firms, and owned an international import-export business. He has been mentioned as a visiting professor at Shanghai\u2019s Fudan University, presenting case studies in international affairs to senior EMBA classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Romanoff lives in Shanghai and is currently writing a series of ten books related to China and the West<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, these details could not be verified from the open source \u2013 the platform doesn\u2019t provide specifics about his past employer or his business details. His name does not appear on the faculty list of Fudan University. It is worthwhile to note that on September 20, 2021, a French website \u2018France Inte<\/em>r\u2019 carried an article – \u201cLarry Romanoff, the false nose of the Chinese disinformation operation on Covid-19\u201d, essentially declaring that Larry is fake expert<\/em>. <\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>[17<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larry\u2019s article<\/a><\/strong><\/u><\/strong>s<\/strong><\/u><\/strong> re-published on Russian media<\/strong><\/u><\/strong>:<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/u><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Larry\u2019s article on COVID-19 initially published on the Global Research were republished on other Russian websites as well. While all of his articles on the Global Research have now been deleted, his articles on COVID-19 continues to exist on those Russian websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
    \n
  1. \n
      \n
    1. \u201cFort Detrick Army Laboratory Pandemic<\/strong>\u201d (published on March 17, 2020)[18<\/a>]<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
        \n
      1. \n
          \n
        1. \u201cHas COVID-19 escaped the Fort Detrick vaccine trial? Evidence that the virus originated in the US biological weapons laboratory<\/strong>\u201d (published on March 11, 2020)[19<\/a>]<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
            \n
          1. \u201cShock: Americans were sick with “Chinese coronavirus” back in September & hid<\/strong>\u201d (March 14, 2020 )[20<\/a>]<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

            Larry has written (June 2020) similar article on Russian website \u2018Russia Insider<\/em>\u2019, a website launched in September 2014 by some American expatriates living in Russia. In his \u201cWas COVID-19 Created in a US Lab?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>,<\/em> he alluded to the USA\u2019s history of using bio-weapons and collated it with fact that the virus may have escaped from one of their labs.[21<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Russia Insider has been described as a pro-Kremlin media front promoting fake news and propaganda through its platform. The founder of the website is Charles Bausman, an expatriate residing in Russia,  who previously worked as the Junior Producer in NBC’s Moscow bureau. [22<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n

            Chapter 4<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            the Mysterious \u2018Indian\u2019 Researcher<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            On 11th<\/sup> August 2020, a Facebook account named Samantha Hill, published a long post, more like a first-hand testimony about the \u2018actual origin\u2019 of COVID-19. The author mentioned itself as an anonymous Indian girl who worked at Fort Detrick and had returned to India from the US. It is obvious that whoever did this, had very poor knowledge of India, else it would have been Samanthabai Hill at least!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Claim:<\/strong> The user, apart from insinuating that the virus originated at the US Lab, also claimed that she and her advisor Dr. Frank Plummer knew everything about the COVID-19 and that was the reason he was assassinated when he was flying from Kenya to China! It also claimed that the US had transported the virus into the seafood market in Wuhan, China through illicit means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Fact: <\/strong>The fabrication which is woven around the fact is the most effective. Dr. Frank Plummer was a Canada based Scientist who led Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory for several years. He was known for his break-through research on the study of HIV. Dr. Plummer passed away due to a Heart attack in February 2020 during his trip to Kenya where he went to attend an event. [23<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The Samantha Hill account is now deleted; however, its archived version is still available. [24<\/a>]<\/sup> And surprisingly, on the Indian sounding handle\u2019s post all comments are by Chinese Facebook handles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \"\"
            The FB post by the anonymous Indian girl [25<\/a>]<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

            There is a general sense that on social media anyone can come across any random content. And while this is true in broader terms, it doesn\u2019t really operate like this. The content most often travels through the links. It is possible that a Chinese netizen would be connected to someone who could be connected to Samantha Hill (presuming it to be a real entity), and therefore came across the post. But even in those scenarios, the original network of the user is almost always the first ones to respond, and if the content goes viral, it should have a fair amount of diverse user base, including the original network of the user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            However, as is the case with most propaganda posts, the spread is driven by a set of handles, which are mostly connected with each other. The same is the case with this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n

            Part II<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Tending to the Crop<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The narrative building doesn\u2019t happen in vacuum. One needs to create an entire eco-system. That includes a set of \u2018news platforms\u2019, a number of \u2018experts\u2019 or at least White Faces, and a message through all major social media \u2013 Facebook, YouTube and Twitter among others. The Chinese Communist Party, despite its vast resources and a complete dominance over the domestic audience, still hasn\u2019t mastered the art of global eco-system, though its learning fast. But till it develops its own ecosystem, it has to rely on friends. And friends, it has few.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n

            Chapter 5<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            the Russian DisInformation System<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

             <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            As noted at the beginning, Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky proposed theories about the origin of COVID-19 virus from the USA. He had left the details for others to fulfill, which was duly filled in by various \u2018experts\u2019 of Chinese state media, such as Romanoff. One of the key platforms that pushed these stories was being run from Canada \u2013 Centre for Research on Globalization, which ostensibly has Russian footprints. Zhirinovsky has traditionally known to be an erratic politician who comes up with radical ideas on most issues and hence remains sidelined in Russian politics. He is famously known to indulge in dramatics and startling news creation to gain popularity and draw attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Global Research<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/u><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Centre for Research on Globalization is a Montreal based website set up in September, 2001. Globalresearch.ca is the official English website of Centre for Research on Globalization, a Think-tank which owns Global Research TV and The Global Research News Hour. In May 2015, Global Research also established Asia-Pacific Research (APR) website, an independent media and research initiative with an editorial team based in Asia, the EU and North America. [26<\/a>]<\/sup> The website is owned by a former left-wing Canadian Economist & Author Michel Chossudovsky, also a professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Ottawa. Although the Globalresearch.ca has been portrayed as a Canadian website, various Canadian media have reported it to be a Russian misinformation dissemination operation. [27<\/a>] [28<\/a>]<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Earlier, in 2017, Globalresearch.ca was under the surveillance of NATO’s Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence or StratCom for spreading pro-Russia propaganda and disinformation. [29<\/a>]<\/sup> In <\/strong>August 2020, US State Department released a report that stated Globalresearch.ca had published\/re-published articles of seven writers who don\u2019t even exist and were created by Russian military intelligence[30<\/a>]<\/sup>. Globalresearch.ca was also exposed by a Canadian online fact-checked magazine TheWalrus.ca for propagating outlandish conspiracy theories. [31<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            GlobalResearch founder, Chossudovsky has written for various Russian media such as Sputnik News and Voice of Russia (that later merged with Ruptly) [32<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Global Research and Larry Romanoff<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            On February 6, 2020 – <\/strong>Romanoff wrote the first article on COVID-19 \u201cChina\u2019s Coronavirus \u2013 How the Western Media Spin the News\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>defending China over the lab leak theory. In the article he also mentioned that CIA and NED created thousands of accounts on Weibo and WeChat, purporting to belong to native Chinese residents in China but which are mostly managed out of Langley, Virginia, and which they use in attempts to promote disaffection in China. He however did not provide details for any of his claims. [33<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            On February 24, 2020 – <\/strong>he wrote another article \u201cCOVID-19 May Have Originated from the US? Japanese TV Broadcast\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>referencing a Global Times article [34<\/a>]<\/sup> that stated TV Asahi Corporation of Japan reporting that the US government may have failed to grasp how rampant the virus had become on US soil. He did not mention the reference of Asahi TV report anywhere in the article. [35<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            On March 4, 2020-<\/strong> He wrote an article on Globalresearch.ca titled \u201cWhy Is the US Apparently Not Testing for the COVID-19 Coronavirus?\u201d <\/em>In the article it was for the first time that he mentioned about Fort Detrick. He highlighted that Fort Detrick shut down in 2019, thereby indirectly suggesting that virus may have escaped from FD lab. [36<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            On March 11, 2020- <\/strong>Another article by Larry Romanoff titled \u201cCOVID-19: Further Evidence that the Virus Originated in the US\u201d, repeated Fort Detrick as origin place for virus. <\/em>This article was shared by Chinese MOFA Spox Lijian Zhao two days later on Twitter (March 13, 2020), and later was recycled by Chinese MOFA and media for pushing the Fort Detrick story in 2021. [37<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            On March 21, 2020<\/strong>, Larry Romanoff wrote another article on Globalresearch, this time shedding light on the initial covid cases in South Korea and Italy. Through his article, Larry again attempted to create more dilemma over the origination of virus and not possibly from China. [38<\/a>]<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            His articles get deleted from Global research!<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/u><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            First ever article published by Larry Romanoff on Global research\u2019s website was on 24th<\/sup> September 2019. [39<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            He goes on to write many articles in till 10th<\/sup> April 2020 – 72 to be exact. [40<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n