23 August 2001 Dr. Bruce Alberts Dr. William A. Wulf Dear Dr. Alberts and Dr. Wulf: On behalf of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-United States of America (IEEE-USA), I am writing to suggest that the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering undertake a thorough scientific and technological review of the proposed National Missile Defense (NMD) initiative. As you are aware, the President has indicated his intent to develop and deploy a system designed for protection from long-range strategic ballistic missiles. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has confirmed that the Administration will add $1 billion to the proposed missile defense budget for that purpose. The priority the Administration has given to the National Missile Defense initiative, the significant financial resources required for its ultimate implementation, and its foreign policy implications have elevated the issue to unprecedented national and international importance. For this reason, we feel that it is incumbent upon the scientific and engineering communities to examine the proposals to the fullest extent possible from a technological point of view, and offer the inputs that they are uniquely positioned to provide. Because your members have a non-partisan and technical credibility to address high complex problems as well as access to the relevant classified information, we believe that the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering are uniquely qualified to analyze objectively and competently the scientific and technical feasibility of the proposed National Missile Defense initiative. To this end, we request that the Academies consider undertaking an urgent review of the proposed national missile defense initiative, focusing primarily on the technological and scientific aspects. We at IEEE-USA would be willing to meet with you to further discuss this issue and to offer technical support as appropriate. We are confident the Congress, as well as the nation's citizens, would welcome a careful analysis by the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering of the technical feasibility of the National Missile Defense initiative. Recognizing your long and distinguished history of addressing major issues of national significance, and the respect with which your studies are accorded, we urge serious consideration of this proposal. IEEE-USA is an organizational unit of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc, created in 1973 to promote the careers and public policy interests of the more than 230,000 electrical, electronics, computer and software engineers who are U.S. members of the IEEE. If we can be of further assistance, please contact Bill Williams in our Washington office at (202) 785-0017 x 8331 or email at bill.williams@ieee.org. We look forward to your response. Sincerely, Ned R. Sauthoff, Ph.D. cc: Senate Armed Services Committee | Top of Page | Policy Log | Public Policy Forum | IEEE-USA | Last Update:
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