For more information, contact: David Albright or Corey Hinderstein (202) 547-3633
Last week, members of the United States Senate received a letter signed by five leading nuclear nonproliferation experts, urging their support for the Iraqi Scientists Liberation Act of 2002.
Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced the measure to the Senate on October 8, 2002. The effort is designed to facilitate Iraqi scientists and their families leaving Iraq so that inspectors can interview them beyond the reach of retaliation by Saddam Hussein. Because they are unlikely to be able to return to Iraq, this legislation would allow these Iraqis to receive asylum in the United States.
Offering asylum to Iraqi scientists would be important in a number of ways. First, it would improve the inspection effort by encouraging the scientists' candor and offering incentives for exposing illegal programs. This legislation would also make it more difficult for Iraq to reconstitute its WMD and ballistic missile programs, by denying Iraq key technical experts.
The signatories of the letter agree, "This legislation complements the process of creating a re-energized and strengthened inspection system. The United States must take a leadership role in supporting new initiatives to strengthen efforts to enforce UN Security Council resolutions."
The signatories of the letter were David Albright, President, Institute for Science and International Security; Dr. William C. Potter, Director, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute for International Studies; Henry Kelly, President, Federation of American Scientists; Gary Milhollin, Director, Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control; and Frank von Hippel, Professor of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University.
Click here to view the sign-on letter.