Re: Urgent Request for Medical Isotope Production Support

[slaback@micf.nist.gov]

Regarding U.S. support of medical isotope production
I find the situation very curious.  Here is a technology
that most would describe as essential to the practice
of modern medicine.  At the time that the world was
dependent on a 40 year old (whatever that means) Canadian 
reactor the most the the U.S. would do is to partially 
redirect the mission of one of its facilities.

Canada has now committed to building TWO reactors (one
simply as a back up) to meet these needs.  I ask you,
who is demonstrating farsightedness here?

Ignoring parochial national pride issues, faced with the
opportunity of a virtual monopoly it is clear that the
U.S. would count the teeth in the gift horse and then
form a committee to debate their quality.

A little risk adds spice to life.
Lester.Slaback@NIST.gov