The United States is facing a serious national security challenge that needs be addressed immediately but hasn’t generated much concern from

political leaders. This is the conclusion of Michael Maloof in his new book, A Nation Forsaken. The challenge he says we face is the potential impact of an

electromagnetic pulse (known as an EMP).

His book describes various scenarios ranging from a nuclear explosion by a rogue nation to a terrorist assault using less sophisticated weapons to a

natural phenomenon. Any one of these scenarios could push America or part of the country back to the 19th century in an instant.

Movies and television programs often use EMP as a plot device. The resulting impact reminds us how vulnerable our electronic grid is and how such a

disruption could ruin society and our way of life. But Michael Maloof goes on to explain that the potential problems could be much worse than what we see in

the media.

Once an EMP attack or natural occurrence fries our unprotected electronics, it would begin to shut down other systems in a devastating cascade. The

collapse of our national grid would wreck telecommunications, transportation, banking, energy production, food delivery, and emergency services. This could

lead to a shutdown of automated control systems that control large sections of American industry that monitor utilities, telecommunications, and oil and gas

pipelines.

He also documents the potential threat from a solar storm. NASA estimates that it could result in large-scale blackouts affecting 130 million people at

a cost upwards of $2 trillion.

Given the potential threat from natural or man-made EMP disruption, we should demand that government agencies address the threat now while we

have time to fix these vulnerabilities. This natural security threat deserves as much attention as tracking down terrorists who threaten our way of life. I’m Kerby

Anderson, and that’s my point of view.