The only effect this will have is to further alienate many skilled engineers and promising students, who are already at a great disadvantage due to language barriers. http://listserv.utk.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0310&L=jesse&D=1&O=D&P=4946 http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/wonews/oct03/1003ofac.html "Treasury Department ruling puts IEEE on the spot, but could affect other groups, too 15 October 2003On 30 September, the U.S. Treasury Department (Washington, D.C.) informed the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) that it must continue to limit membersrights in four countries embargoed by the United States: Cuba, Iran, Libya, and Sudan. The ruling means, among other things, that the IEEE, the worlds largest engineering association (and the publisher of this magazine), cannot edit articles submitted by authors in those countries, making it effectively impossible for most such work to appear in IEEE publications. " ============================================ Excerpt from the second URL: It is noteworthy to mention that at least in the case of Iran, where this ban has had the most effect; Iranian IEEE members submit dozens of papers for publication to IEEE publications on an annual basis. Since the establishment of the first Student Branch in 1997 in Iran, much effort has been made to introduce IEEE and its goals to the Iranian community. Iranian Student Branches have been very successful in organizing technical activities. More than 50 conferences, workshops, and short courses have been organized during the last few years, all of which are well attended by students and professionals. ========================================== "Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."