Letters to the Editor

Director

Emergency Services

Valley Health System

Winchester, Va.

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Imagine new technologies that could put into the hands of first responders, law enforcement officers and emergency management officials the ability to maintain communications in a major disaster, quickly locate victims of injuries or serious illness, track down criminals and terrorists in real time and better enlist the public’s help in protecting our safety and homeland security.

Now imagine if our own government decided to block access to technological innovations that could save lives in the next September 11 or the next Katrina.

Amazingly, that scenario is not far-fetched. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) decision to block the importation of millions of new models of wireless broadband cell phones and handsets into the United States puts the latest advances in life-saving, anti-terrorism technology out of reach for those on the front lines in the battle to keep our communities and our nation safe (“Patent protection,” Editorial, July 17).

President Bush has the authority to overturn this unreasonable decision, but the clock is ticking. If the ban is allowed to go into effect today, the implications of the ITC’s decision are profound and perverse — terrorists overseas could actually get access to advanced cell phones that are out of reach to Red Cross volunteers or local firefighters in America.

The Bush administration should stop this harmful decision.

DICK ARMEY

Chairman

FreedomWorks

Washington

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