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368 a signal that is little more than a carrier wave or radar pulse—if we can understand it. The direct contact scenario would raise other questions. Do we need to take defensive measures? If so, who is in charge? In 1994, the social implications group proposed a number of policy initia- tives to prepare governments and international organizations in advance of contact. These focused on educating officials most likely to be involved in responding to contact, and on setting up procedures within their orga- nizations to make Humankind’s responses more effective.”* At the national level, searchers and their allies could brief government and political leaders more pointedly, informing officials and politicians of the possible cultural, social, economic, and political implications of contact. Such potential consequences are more likely to get the attention of public officials than purely scientific findings. (In this context, it would be useful to periodically remind national security agencies that they might uninten- tionally detect evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence.) Briefings could be extended to the international level, including both foreign governments and international organizations. Officials should be made aware of the full panne nt feet thane en ee toe a range of possible consequences, not just those we prefer. Harrison proposed his own set of steps, with the United States his appar- ent focus: acknowledge the possibility of contact; develop a workable orga- nizational or committee structure; develop different contact scenarios, then rehearse appropriate responses; improve credibility by resolving juris- dictional issues; be realistic about how quickly a coherent and credible report could be issued; resist groupthink. Harrison recognized that these efforts would be hampered by public perceptions of low credibility and competing organizational priorities.” ...asmall group of desperate men, who to gratify insatiable ambitions had allied themselves with the thing in the sky, men who were guilty of treason against the entire human species. Tr... A TAA. oT. DI 1 1... 130 Many advocates of the radio detection scenario have foreseen no urgent need to respond to an alien signal. According to Morrison, Sagan, and others, we will have time to analyze the incoming message and to frame an appropriate reply; radio astronomers generally have seen no technical reason to rush. Vakoch questioned that assumption, arguing that the rules of the game might change once we know that intelligent life is out there.*! If we extend our thinking beyond the astronomical community, we find that the desire to send immediate communications to detected aliens is Annex: Preparing Who Speaks for the Earth? —Fred Hoyle, The Black Cloud*