There is also reason to suspect that Tehran, which had a hand in the destruction of the Marine barracks in Lebanon, Pan Am Flight 103 and the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, was also involved in the World Trade Center blast.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Second thoughts about defense

Indeed, this may be one reason why Igor Sechin, Mr Putin's right-hand man, who oversaw the destruction of Yukos and the Exxon deal, has kept away from America.

ECONOMIST: Where BP failed, Exxon succeeds

On the one hand, it would very much like to see the destruction of terrorist networks run by the likes of Osama Bin Laden and other groups based inside Afghanistan, because Muslim separatists operating in China's far-western provinces are thought to be getting support from Afghan-based groups.

BBC: China asks US to look beyond Nato

On the one hand, Administration officials have expressed alarm at the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles with which to deliver them.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

As every day's headlines bring new reports of the deadly weapons programs of terrorist-sponsoring states (notably, Iraq, North Korea and Iran), it must be assumed that such a hand-me-down, sea-launched missile could be used to deliver a weapon of mass destruction to our shores.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Serious about defending America

He had seen at first hand its malevolent influence, under various guises and through various fronts, working by stealth for the West's destruction.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: 'Courage'