U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to investigate the origin of COVID-19, is to try its old ploy of “weapons-of-mass-destruction-in-Iraq” in tracing the origin of the virus, according to a columnist.

In his recent online article “U.S.-China relations will not be flushed down the toilet”, Ken Moak columnist at Asia Times said the investigation “in some ways, was a replay of George H.W. Bush’s justification for invading Iraq.”

Biden last week demanded an explanation of the origins of COVID-19 from the U.S. intelligence community, even though many experts have expressed their disbelief that the virus escaped from a laboratory.

It is increasingly evident that Wuhan lab leak theory of COVID-19 is groundless and politically driven.

This is echoed by Moak, saying that “trying to pin the pandemic on China is all smoke and no fire, an attempt to garner support for Biden’s anti-China policies.”

The decision to investigate the virus’ origin “might be nothing more than catering to the domestic audience,” according to him.

Bush’s intelligence communities were ordered to find “evidence” that Iraq possessed “weapons of mass destruction (WMD)”. But the “evidence” was manufactured, giving the U.S. president an excuse to invade Iraq in 2003.

Based on history, Moak said it would not be a surprise if the U.S. intelligence community found “credible” evidence this time.

Whether the conclusion will be based on new intelligence or a reiteration of reports, he believes the aim is to claim that China is responsible for the pandemic and the huge losses associated with the virus.

The old trick is back again. “It will do nothing to bring the pandemic under control, but will exacerbate anti-Asian hate crimes at home and sink the U.S.-China relationship further,” he added.