The links between security and globalization were highlighted by the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, DC, and the subsequent long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Lingering poverty, inequality, religious extremism and war can sow discontent and resentment as unprecedented global mobility lends access to education and travel in other countries. Despite use of drones, cyber-warfare and other advanced weapons technology to mount counterterrorist attacks, the marginalized can strike out at vulnerable urban or economic centers. Annual global defense spending exceeds $1.6 trillion. Containing the trade in weapons, whether nuclear bombs or assault rifles, and preventing them from falling into the wrong hands remain a challenge.

Egypt Warned U.S. of a Qaeda Plot, Mubarak Asserts

CIA fails to heed warnings from Egyptian government about September 11.
Patrick E. Tyler
June 4, 2003

Downer Raises New Weapons Fears

Precursors, chemical compounds, biological compounds could have been taken over the Syrian border around the time the war started.
Tom Allard
June 5, 2003

Powell Says Attacks Bear Hallmark of Al-Qaeda

Suicide attacks in Saudi Arabia unrelated to Israeli-Palestinian conflict, asserts Powell.
Judy Dempsey
May 13, 2003

A Bombing Shatters the Saudi Art of Denial

Religious terror in the birthplace of Islam, but "the first enemy they must behead is the denial itself."
Neil MacFarquhar
May 18, 2003

Is It Legal to Stop North Korea’s Nuclear Exports?

Still no consensus on how to handle North Korea's nuclear threat.
David E. Sanger
May 18, 2003