During his time in office, the United States has moved steadily toward the deployment of a shield against ballistic missile attack.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Testing, testing

Daim Zainuddin, Malaysia's economic czar, also has some heavy-handed moves to explain: Kuala Lumpur's currency restrictions which shield its ringgit from attack as it tries to reflate the economy.

CNN: A NEW COURSE

The administration's plan for a thin, land-based defence shield to protect America against limited missile attack from a North Korea or an Iran had few friends.

ECONOMIST: Missile defences

When Mr Teller speculated that a defensive shield could be constructed in space to destroy an attack by missiles, Mr Reagan was immediately enthusiastic.

ECONOMIST: Edward Teller

We have it within our means to develop a multilayered missile defense system that could protect us from attack from rogue states, as well as shield us from missiles fired from ships off our shores.

FORBES: Atomically Aiding Our Enemies

The Blue Shield network, which works to protect cultural property from attack in the event of armed conflict, has also urged Egyptians to prevent actions that could result in the damage or destruction of their cultural heritage.

UNESCO: Heritage and press freedom in Egypt alert

Lawyers for the developer, Larry Silverstein, filed papers in U.S. District Court in Manhattan to urge rejection of American Airlines' claim that the 2001 terrorist attack was an act of war that should shield the airline from liability.

WSJ: NY developer: Airline reneging on 9/11 promise

If American technology develops as expected, by 2018 the new shield would cover almost all of NATO's European members against an Iranian attack only a small part of Turkey would be exposed.

ECONOMIST: Missile defence in Europe: The next salvo | The