Changes

The International scientific community of technicians with knowledge to teach and manufacture weapons of mass destructions likewise consist of independent persons, some with no national loyalties to the nations who have signed International agreements barring the spread of WMD, i.e. the knowhow, potential "duel use" technologies, or the end manufactured result.  A young person trained today, be it in a NATO country or an al-Qaeda training camp, in the methods of producing stockpiles of WMD, has an entire lifespan to communicate his knowledge to whomsoever he pleases.  And a persons political or ideologial views can change over a lifetime.  In the old Soviet system, scientists were often retired to special Gulags apart from the rest of society, so as there would be no chance they can reveal the potential lethal knowhow to unauthorized persons.

The International scientific community of technicians with knowledge to teach and manufacture weapons of mass destructions likewise consist of independent persons, some with no national loyalties to the nations who have signed International agreements barring the spread of WMD, i.e. the knowhow, potential "duel use" technologies, or the end manufactured result.  A young person trained today, be it in a NATO country or an al-Qaeda training camp, in the methods of producing stockpiles of WMD, has an entire lifespan to communicate his knowledge to whomsoever he pleases.  And a persons political or ideologial views can change over a lifetime.  In the old Soviet system, scientists were often retired to special Gulags apart from the rest of society, so as there would be no chance they can reveal the potential lethal knowhow to unauthorized persons.

One of the most troubling aspects of the War on Terror is understanding that scientific knowledge itself has become a weapon in the hands of dangerous persons against innocent people.  It was the knowhow to fly a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet that what most people regard as civilian transport into the duel use technolgy of manned missile attack.

One of the most troubling aspects of the War on Terror is understanding that scientific knowledge itself has become a weapon in the hands of dangerous persons against innocent people.  It was the knowhow to fly a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet that changed what most people regard as civilian transport into the duel use technolgy of manned missile attack.

In times of crisis, the habit has been to call upon our best, brightest and most talented individuals to find solutions.  This ghas usually in the past meant scientists and technicians; now we have discovered in the War on Terror knowledge itself has become a dangerous thing, and new gadgets and technology cannot defeat terrorist cells who do not wear the easily identifiable uniforms as is custom throughout Western world.  In fact, we've discoverd past scientific and technical solutions in warfare now threaten the civil populations of the nations that discovered and built them.  Knowledge indeed is a weapon.

In times of crisis, the habit has been to call upon our best, brightest and most talented individuals to find solutions.  This ghas usually in the past meant scientists and technicians; now we have discovered in the War on Terror knowledge itself has become a dangerous thing, and new gadgets and technology cannot defeat terrorist cells who do not wear the easily identifiable uniforms as is custom throughout Western world.  In fact, we've discoverd past scientific and technical solutions in warfare now threaten the civil populations of the nations that discovered and built them.  Knowledge indeed is a weapon.