Could the mistrust Bush has engendered around the world actually make a bird flu pandemic more likely? Sounds crazy, but read this, from Lebanon's Daily Star:

The citizens of South Lebanon appear to be ignoring the threat of bird flu, which has reached Romania and Turkey, with the hunting season continuing despite severe government warnings....

The Daily Star visited bird sanctuaries in South Lebanon, where work continues as normal, regardless of the warnings of the environment and health ministries.

An owner of one of the sanctuaries, 45-year-old Mohammad Masri, said he did not believe in the existence of bird flu, adding: "This is an American creation aimed at distracting the people from their economic and political problems."...

Carrying a butchered chicken, Umm Walid, a resident of Sidon, said: "Chicken is the cheapest food; why do they want to prevent us from buying it?"

She added: "I assure you this is not bird flu, this is an American flu, a flu of personal interests and ambitions." ...

Yikes. Thanks for elevating our standing in the eyes of the world, George.