U.S. signs anti-terrorism pact.

• Author: Book, Elizabeth G.
• Position: Washington Pulse

An anti-terrorism agreement signed by Secretary of State Colin Powell with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), should be viewed as a "landmark" document, because it is the first of its kind encompassing the entire region, said Catharin Dalpino, a foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution.

The pact calls for the parties to freeze the assets of terrorist groups, strengthen intelligence sharing and improve border patrols. The agreement "has even had a slight proliferation effect," said Dalpino. No sooner was it signed that Beijing proposed a similar arrangement for the "Asean...