The dramatic September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were the opening salvo of a long, difficult war that terrorists have declared on the United States. The military operations abroad, the security measures at home, and the economic repercussions worldwide will affect virtually every American.
For U.S. multinational corporations, terrorism and the robust response to it by the United States and its allies will increase the political risks of doing business in many parts of the world. The immediate threat will be in Islamic countries, including those beyond the Middle East. The new dangers posed by political violence – combined with the steady weakening of the global economy – have made the environment for international business particularly challenging.
