The COVID-19 Pandemic: LIHOP?

Early in 2017, the Obama administration guided the new Trump administration through table top exercises that, among two other types of crises, had a major pandemic.

There were 3 role-playing scenarios: hurricane, pandemic and cyber incident.  

Obama team discussed need to anticipate requirements, stay ahead of challenges and provide resources quickly. 

The goal was to acquaint Trump officials with how to coordinate around major incidents.  

The pandemic role-playing scenario involved:
 -"Novel influenza" with infections in Asia and Europe
-Efficient person-to-person transmission
-Insufficient lab capacities
-Travel bans
-Lag time before it comes to U.S.
-Need for vaccine
-Ventilator shortages
 Sound familiar?  

In event of a pandemic, Trump team was told:
-Pandemics can start in other countries and don't respect borders
-Science must guide decisions
-Federal/state collaboration is key
-Consistent messaging needed
-Social distancing recommended
-"Days - and even hours - can matter" 

Thirty Trump officials attended the exercise (Cabinet and senior White House staff). 

See also this piece.

This is very reminiscent of all the warnings to the Bush administration about 9/11 type attacks and the multiple NORAD drills that simulated hijacking attacks.

Like with 9/11 and the Bush administration, the question becomes-- is this really just "incompetence"? Or was there some malice here so they "let it happen on purpose" because they WANTED disaster?

Trump has previously said that only after everything crashes, can America be made "great again".