Mr. Xxxxx XxXxxx
Military Affairs Staffer
Senator XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Dear Xxxxx,

            I hope you're physically well, and not too harried, after the 
wrench of September 11.   Before September 11, I'd made some progress, which 
I believe can still bear fruit, on getting missile defense boondoggles judged 
in a sort of "engineer's court" -- and in doing work I hoped would lead 
to more stable and lower nuclear balances, set up in ways comfortable for 
Americans, Russians, and other members of the world community.   

       
Ann Druyan, Carl Sagan's widow, a distinguished cinematographer, and a director 
of the Council for A Livable World had taken some interest, and provided 
some collaborration of my background (Carl Sagan was an investor of mine, 
in the 1970's. )    I've felt, and still feel, that if I could get my background 
checked in a workable way, I could accomplish a lot of use to the country 
and the world.    I've also made some progress on work I think can be of 
direct use in American-Russian relations - work that I believe remains important, 
now that Bush and Putin have failed to resolve their differences about Missile 
Defense.  

	Some weeks ago, I sent the following in an open postcard to 
Mr. Arthur O. Sulzberger, Jr.  Publisher of The New York Times, at the suggestion 
of an associate of mine close to the Times.  

******

"Dear Mr. Sulzberger:

"    I need an exception to NYT policy, and feel I have to ask you, or someone 
you designate, for the permission.  Our nuclear weapons systems and ongoing 
and prospective negotiations about them involve instabilities.  I would 
like to communicate with Sam Nunn and Ted Turner's  NUCLEAR THREAT INITIATIVE 
in ways that can work.  

"      I am asking that (reporter's name), or 
someone (s)he designates assist me in Washington over three days time -- 
meeting with some NTI people to discuss a presentation on stability - then 
spending a day helping to prepare a presentation the NTI people, as they 
are, can understand and use.   Some explosive instabilities need to be avoided 
by the people who must make and maintain the relevant agreements.  The system 
crafted needs to be workable for what it has to do, have feedback, damping, 
and dither in the right spots with the right magnitudes.  The things that 
need to be checkable should be.  

"       I will try to pay my debts appropriately, 
and think perhaps I can.  I feel that the TIMES staff spend more than 10% 
of its time on defense and offense.    It should be more like 3.5%.  I feel 
that the reduction can be done, step by step, with each step win-win.  


Robert Showalter

* * * * * * *

I don't have a yes, but don't feel completely dismissed on this matter, 
either.   You may, if you wish, contact the reporter whose number I gave 
you to discuss this.   I'd be glad to discuss the matters involved in detail 
with you.

The work I'm trying to set out has an important, if unwelcome message -- 
that sometimes, organizations must face facts in ways that can be umpired, 
with information flows that can be checked for stability which must continue 
as the channels continue to carry messages.   I can't just casually bring 
this message into NTI circles, because it goes against some bad but entrenched 
habits of some of the distinguished people involved.  

To get this, and 
some other things done, I need, more than anything else, to get my background 
more solidly investigated.   

There is an effort moving in that direction 
at the University of Wisconsin -- and if you, on an informal basis, could 
express an interest in getting the matter investigated (without bias) that 
could do me great good.    A phone call from you could change my life for 
the better.   I also believe that it would permit me to serve the national 
interest in ways that seem important to me, and perhaps you'd judge to be 
important, too..  

Is there any possibility that you might consider making 
such a call?   I'd be deeply grateful.   I'd be grateful to give you any 
information I could to help you form a judgement on this, if you'd like.    
I can be reached at (608-829-3657)  and I'll try to call you tomorrow, to 
see if there might be a time when I could speak to you.   

Whatever happens, 
I'd be honored to talk to you, for any time you'd find such talk of interest.   
You're doing important work, and I admire you and Senator XXXXXXXXXXX very much.

Thank you,

Bob Showalter

7205B Old Sauk Rd.  Madison, Wi  53717
(608) 829-3657