NanoWebsites and Rogue States Scientists and Engineers

I want to start a discussion or debate.

Yesterday's news that Iran was providing advanced materials, high-tech weaponry to insurgents crossing from Syria into Iraq that could penetrate U.S. protective armour, not to mention (ok, you caught me, I'm "mentioning") the late October announcements related to Iran helping Syria with chemical weapon development got me thinking about this country's scientists who are accessing this and other nanotech-related websites.

This country has a recently re-iterated national policy to "wipe off the face of the map" another country. Look, I'm not naive, everything is available on the web, to everyone. Furthermore, johndoe@hotmail.com could be Osama bin Laden for all we know, but, do we have to make it easier for these insane governments with national policies to kill innocents.

The #1 lesson of the Holocaust is "when someone says they are going to kill you, believe them."

North Korea, Iran, Cuba and a few others are on a U.S. list, and when most of Nanotechnology.com goes to a subscription-based model, we will not be allowed to accept subscriptions from residents in those countries (even if I wanted to). But, I want the web-based nanotech and advanced materials communities to consider DELETING them now.

Persia, and then Iran, have a couple dozen centuries' history of producing scientists of note. The technological and scientific level in Iran is way beyond what the average world observer assumes. Many (if not most) of these scientists just want to pursue their research. A couple hundred have signed up on our site: dozens in the last 6 weeks alone.

It is folly to believe, even with their best intentions, that their work will not be co-opted by their currently hate-filled government.

They can find it all on the web. Nothing is hidden - By the power, efficiency, effectiveness, and organization of our websites, do we have to facilitate their flow of research information, data and ability to contact other scientists?