It looks like the brilliance of George Bush is contagious:

An Italian scientist predicted a major earthquake around L’Aquila weeks before disaster struck the city on Monday, killing dozens of people, but was reported to authorities for spreading panic among the population.

The first tremors in the region were felt in mid-January and continued at regular intervals, creating mounting alarm in the medieval city, about 100 km (60 miles) east of Rome.

Yeah – science be dammed! How dare this foolish person panic people. I mean they ended up much better off – didn’t they?