Pandemics are very good at frightening people, and controllling people, but not so hot at killing large percentages of people.

I disagree. I think it is very likely that they've made something (or multiple somethings) that are highly lethal, airborne, and have a long enough incubation to spread like wild.

If not, theres no reason they couldn't just aerosolize something dangerous and spray it over a population. I would not at all put that past the u.s. government, or any other government for that matter.

I take this position solely as a matter of never underestimating the enemy.