Throughout the novel, the author blames several entities for the worldwide outbreak, including civilians, the government, the military, illegal smugglers, and the medical professionals. Explain the role each of these entities played in the outbreak, and discuss what actions each could have taken to help avoid the worldwide epidemic.

In Chapter Four, Turning the Tide, the governments of several countries implement forms of the Redeker Plan, which involve the killing of several thousand innocent individuals in an effort to end the outbreak. Explain each version of the plan. Do you believe these actions were justified? Explain your answer in detail, using examples from the novel.

There are several references throughout the novel to real-world events, such as the "Shock and Awe" campaign of the United States against Iraq, the military recruitment game "American Army," the pullout of Israel from the west bank, and several...