A PLAN FOR GLOBAL SECURITY1

(1) Two facts made the attacks of September 11 possible: globalization and human nature.
Neither is likely to change much. Even if Al Queda is destroyed, even if other terrorist groups
are disrupted, even if some of their state sponsors are punished, we will live with the
knowledge that it can happen again and again.

(2) The 1990s produced a paradigm through which to view the world: globalization. It held
that capitalism, trade and technology were transforming the world and breaking down old
obstacles and viewpoints. Global capitalism was the only game in town, and countries had to
play by its rules or be left behind—far behind. Politics would have to accommodate itself to
these new realities. Thus, politics would now have to move from the center stage (most
important role) to a supporting role.

(3) Since September 11, however, we seem to have been looking at the world using a new
paradigm. Politics is back, culture is back, ideology is back and above all, government is
back! Other unwanted changes caused by the attacks will stop and comedy and irony will
return, as will cruise vacations and binge shopping. However, one shift that is likely to persist
is the renewed centrality of government. After a decade of the dominance of business,
economics and entertainment, government has returned because it is needed to fulfill its
fundamental role: to provide security for its citizens.

(4) You can see a renewed interest in government everywhere, from television newscasts to
newspaper pages. Who would have predicted before this terrorist act that the solution to poor
airport security procedures in America would be (by public approval) to hand it over to the
federal government? This would have been unthinkable then. And this new attitude spills over
beyond law enforcement. In an October 2001 Newsweek Poll, 52% of Americans said that
they would prefer a government that provides more in services, even if it cost more in taxes!

(5) We have seen since this incident--and we will see it over the next few years--governments
counter, or fight against, terrorism aggressively. Governments are doing this by shifting from a
law enforcement approach (which operates after a crime is committed) to a national security
one (which tries to prevent crises*). They will also watch, monitor and regulate areas of life
that were once considered untouchable, like the Internet. In fact, just before the September 11
incident, a few European governments suggested some limited regulation of the Internet, but
such plans were widely denounced as unacceptable. Now, however, it looks like the way of the
future. The speed, openness and accessibility of the 1990’s will have to eventually give way to
regulations and limitations to combat terrorism.

(6) However, unless it is thought through very carefully, this new paradigm of government
and security will not be compatible with a free society or a free economy. In the aftermath of
September 11, American government has been operating at constant alert, increasing its
inspections and controls of goods and people at its borders whenever it was thought
necessary. Similar changes were seen in most governments around the world. Countries that
felt particularly threatened like Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt moved to a state of virtual
emergency particularly threatened like Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt moved to a state of
virtual emergency. Those that feared disorder above all else passed measures blocking travel
and slowing trade. Beijing passed a law prohibiting any Arab citizen from entering China.

1
Newsweek by Fareed Zakaria. (crisis is singular; crises is plural)
Obviously, that is an extreme measure not comparable with the ones being taken by Western
countries, but it highlights the danger of the road we are now taking. If the only way to
counteract terrorism is to stop, control, check and inspect (with its constant moves to high
alert status), over time this new system will slow down the global economy.

(7) There is a better way; one that blends together the smartest elements of the two
paradigms. It has at its heart two features: good information and global cooperation. The
former requires that goods, services and people who are legitimate be cleared in advance so
that border inspectors can focus their energies on the smaller set of unidentified objects or
people coming in. This means that when you buy an airline ticket, you submit your passport
number and get ‘pre-cleared.’ However, even this intelligent use of information and
identification systems will not relieve the choke points at national borders. A new global
system is needed, in which all countries—those from which people and goods leave as well as
those where they enter-have to share information and adopt similar standards of random
inspections. Governments should commit themselves to these new security procedures as part
of joining the World Trade Organization, or WTO (just as they agree to change economic and
financial rules). If you want to participate in the bounties of the open world economy, you
have to be willing to bear the small costs that arise.

(8) What we need is a smart system that uses technology, information and global cooperation to
beat terrorism at its own game. ‘Government ‘now has its moment in the sun; however, it would
do well not to blow it.

I. ANALYZING THE TEXT. Follow the instructions given.

1. P1: Find the word in the text that means:

cause to stop; interrupt the flow (temporarily) _____________

2. P1: What does it refer to?

1. P2: Find the words in the text that mean:

a model (or term) to explain something _____________

barriers; interferences _____________
adjust _____________

2. The September 11 attacks have caused changes in the approaches to many fields
including the Internet. True or false. Correct the statement if false.

5. P4: What does these new realities refer to?

3. P3: Find the words in the text that mean:

sessions of excessive eating, drinking, etc. _____________

continue on; carry on _____________
acceptance _____________

7. P4: What does this refer to?

 8. P4: What does then refer to?

9. P5: What does this refer to?

10.P5: What does one refer to?

11.P5: Find the word in the text that means:

(publicly) rejected _________

12.Today, people need governments to restore globalization.

True or false. Correct the statement if false.

13.P6: Find the words in the text that mean:

suitable _____________
the years following (an event) _____________

14.Western countries have taken the strictest measures to prevent terrorist attacks toward
their citizens after the September 11 attacks. True or false. Correct the statement if
false.

15.P6: What does the ones refer to?

16.P6: Find the word in the text that means:

emphasizes (gives importance to) _____________

17.P7: What does two paradigms refer to?

18.P7: What does former refer to?

19.What is needed to fight terrorism seems to be the provision of information exchange

and collaboration between countries. True or false. Correct the statement if false.

20.P7: Find the words in the text that mean:

places that are congested ____________

by chance; unplanned; haphazard ____________
riches; benefits ____________

21.The writer implies at the end of the text that the government now has the central role,
but it shouldn’t adversely affect democracy by placing excessive restrictions on it which
would result in their losing this central role. True or false. Correct the statement if false.

II. VOCABULARY.

A. Match the synonyms in the two groups:

___ 1. disrupt a. benefits; riches

___ 2. binge b. continue on; carry on
___ 3. paradigm c. central (role)
___ 4. denounce d. basic
___ 5. approval e. select by chance; unplanned
___ 6. fundamental f. continual
___ 7. combat g. barrier; interference
___ 8. heart h. interrupt; interfere with
___ 9. random i. fight against; counteract
___ 10. persist j. a model to explain something
___ 11. obstacle k. acceptance
___ 12. alert l. eating excessively
___ 13. bounties m. public rejection
___ 14. constant n. state of) watching for danger

___ 1. shift a. (to) satisfy

___ 2. highlight b. overcome; fight against; combat
___ 3. to accommodate c. actual; almost
___ 4. fulfill d. choose; accept; approve
___ 5. incident e. suitable
___ 6. blend f. change
___ 7. legitimate g. emphasize; give importance to
___ 8. counteract h. adjust; to adapt
___ 9. adopt i. mix together
___ 10. compatible j. lawful; rightful; authorized
___ 11. virtually k. event; case; occurrence