The World Future Society U.S. National Capital Region Chapter on September 23, 2004 will host a dinner discussion of emerging weapons of mass destruction and the new and changing threat this will present to U.S. national security efforts. Forrest Waller is Senior Scientist and Corporate Officer in the Strategies Group of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). His group has surveyed emerging technology developments with the potential to create "new kinds" of WMD or disruptive military technologies. The findings are thought-provoking and not a little scary. Mr. Waller will explain upcoming changes in information technologies, biological technologies, nanoscale technologies, and advanced energy sources and materials. In each of these areas, he finds the potential for improved weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and/or enablers of discrete new WMDs. Next time, the planes might not need pilots...
(PRWEB) September 17, 2004 -- U.S. Homeland Security Efforts, to be effective must address the new and emerging weapons of mass destruction threats and correctly assess them far enough in advance to engage and prepare our defense efforts to thwart possibilities of harm to our nation and its citizens.
Pivotal to this effort is foresight into the emergent technical changes and development in producing new forms of weapons of mass destruction. As time progresses, the ability to cause great harm to large amounts of people via proliferation of sophisticated and less sophisticated, but nonetheless, innovative and destructive technical means is growing. Technologically empowered angry groups and individuals have changed the national security focus of the United States. The Oklahoma bombing in 1996, African Embassy bombings in 1998 and the events of September 11, 2001 have all demonstrated weapons of mass destruction in practice. What next? What new means could be used to cause harm large amounts of people in the U.S. and around the world?
Awareness and foresight is the best means we have to be able to understand both the probability of occurrence of use, as well as the likely impact, of these new emergent weapons of mass destruction. Foresight offers us the only means to take steps to assess and mitigate those risks cost effectively and in time to improve our national, and our friends and allies, security. Since its founding in 1966, the World Future Society has provided a non-partisan forum for the discussion of all subjects affecting the future. One of the earliest subjects centered on the future of national defense in the wake of the Cuban Missile Crisis and its aftermath and how to assess and prepare for scenarios during the Cold War. At this time in our nations history," said Chapter President Limor Schafman, the World Future Society U.S. National Capital Region Chapter is pleased to draw upon the experience and expertise of our members, and their network of future thinkers, to offer an informed and insightful discussion of new emergent weapons of mass destruction threats in the age of the War of Terror to benefit the U.S. public."
Forrest Waller is Senior Scientist and Corporate Officer in the Strategies Group of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Mr. Wallers group has surveyed emerging technology developments with the potential to create "new kinds" of WMD or disruptive military technologies. Mr. Waller will explain upcoming changes in information technologies, biological technologies, nanoscale technologies, and advanced energy sources and materials. In each of these areas, he finds the potential for improved weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and/or enablers of discrete new WMDs.
See Forrest Waller discuss Emerging Weapons of Mass Destruction Technologies: Impact on U.S. Security", 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Chevy Chase Pavilion, Friendship Heights, Washington, D.C. To sign up, visit the National Capital Region World Future Society website at www.natcapwfs.org.
About National Capital Region World Future Society (NatCapWFS): Our organization is serving future interested and thinking citizens across the Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia region. NatCapWFS is the center for ideas, within the Region, that studies, explores and shapes the future. NatCapWFS hosts monthly events open to the public. For event information, visit: www.natcapwfs.org.
About SAIC: Science Applications International Corporation employees are dedicated to the delivery of quality scientific and technical products and services contributing to the security and well-being of our communities throughout the world. Founded by Dr. J. Robert Beyster and a small group of scientists in 1969, SAIC, a Fortune 500® company, now ranks as the largest employee-owned research and engineering firm in the United States. SAIC and its subsidiaries have more than 44,000 employees with offices in over 150 cities worldwide.
Contact information:
For Press:
Limor Schafman
President
T: 703.205.0729
http://www.natcapwfs.org/
For Reservations:
Ken Harris
Treasurer
T: 301-657-3731
harriskw@erols.com
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