The rest of the world?

[smunchkin]

The superflu would definately spread to the whole world which would also mean that they would be in the same technilogical disarray. I doubt they would be concerned about getting to the u.s. with or without dreams. Also it is fair to believe the rest of the world would assume it was the damn americans that brought this plague upon us, wanting nothing to do with us. Further more other nations probably dont have the same egotistical view of the u.s. as the average citizen would. I am not trying to offend anyone but every country probably believes they are the superior and would say to hell with the americans let them take care of there of thier own.

[randallFlaggfan1]

Seeing how the Superflu is an airborne illness, I think we have to assume that Captain Trips spread world-wide.

[aeroplane]

The flu would have spread around the whole world regardless, seeing that only half a dozen people in any country (including China) would need to get sick to bring that particular region to its knees.

However, what Starkey and Creighton did by agreeing to delibrately release the virus probably saved the US from getting nuked. Sooner or later someone in a reasonably developed European or Asian nation would have put two and two together. Given that they'd have a few more weeks of time to work with (based on how fast the flu would spread naturally), that'd allow a particular country extra time to suspect the US and organize some sort of offensive.

[Checkman]

The flu would have spread around the whole world regardless, seeing that only half a dozen people in any country (including China) would need to get sick to bring that particular region to its knees.

However, what Starkey and Creighton did by agreeing to delibrately release the virus probably saved the US from getting nuked. Sooner or later someone in a reasonably developed European or Asian nation would have put two and two together. Given that they'd have a few more weeks of time to work with (based on how fast the flu would spread naturally), that'd allow a particular country extra time to suspect the US and organize some sort of offensive.

Interesting idea. Something of a variation on the idea of saving the village by destroying it. Which isn't as stupid as it sounds to those who have served in the military (me, U.S. Army 1986-2000). The terrible math of combat. The barn door was open the cows are out. In order to ensure that the few survivors left aren't forced to survive in a nucelar wasteland Starkey acts to esnure that the Superflu moves even faster and hopefully will paralyze the system before somebody decides to push the button in some type of suicidal spasm. Very interesting. I would be willing to bet the Mr. Kind probably didn't consider that angle when he was writing the novel in the early seventies , but it is an interesting idea.

[Sarkisaur]

I like how the rest of the world was left a mystery. Obviously it was a global problem, which he made clear. All it'd take would be one infected person on an airplane.

Looking forward to The Stand: China Edition! :P