The reliance of the United States on electronics for every aspect of its citizens' lives makes the U.S. vulnerable to an emerging threat.An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack could be triggered by a nuclear warhead detonated at high altitude over America. The resulting blast would create an EMP, a shockwave that could "cripple military and civilian communications, power, transportation, water, food, and other infrastructure." Even if a high-altitude EMP kills nobody at first, it would paralyze a large section of the United States. The lingering practical and economic effects would take anywhere from hours to years to resolve: when secondary effects are considered, an EMP could be even deadlier than a direct nuclear strike against the mainland. Indeed, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett has written: "Where the terrorist airliner attacks of 9/11 killed thousands, a terrorist EMP attack could indirectly kill millions and conceivably cause the permanent collapse of our entire society."This threat emanates most notably from Iran -- a country that has been building up its ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities, and whose president has promised that "a world without America" is possible. Our country is currently unprepared to deal with the threat of EMPs, as American politicians are not taking the threat seriously. One important measure to counteract the EMP threat is hardening our infrastructure against such an attack. But the most vital step is development of an adequate missile defense system. When it comes to the EMP threat, the United States cannot afford another failure of imagination.
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is the only nonpartisan policy institute dedicated exclusively to promoting pluralism, defending democratic values, and fighting the ideologies that threaten democracy. FDD was founded shortly after 9/11 by a group of visionary philanthropists and policymakers to support the defense of democratic societies under assault by terrorism and militant Islamism. Our Leadership Council of Distinguished Advisors includes former FBI Director Louis J. Freeh, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former National Security Advisor Robert “Bud” McFarlane, former Ambassador Max Kampelman, Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), and former CIA Director R. James Woolsey.Those affiliated with FDD come from many backgrounds and political perspectives, but all believe:• No one should be denied basic human rights, including minority rights, women’s rights, and religious freedom.• Free and democratic nations have a right to defend themselves and an obligation to defend one another.• Terrorism, the deliberate use of violence against citizens to achieve political objectives, is always wrong and must never be condoned.An activist think tank with a solid track record of transforming ideas into actions that get results, FDD uniquely combines policy research, counterterrorism and democracy education, strategic communications,and investigative journalism.The Foundation for Defense of Democracies focuses its efforts where opinions are formed and, ultimately, where the war of ideas will be won or lost: in the media, on college campuses, in the courthouse, and in the policy community, both at home and abroad.
