United Nations chief Kofi Annan appealed Sunday for Europe and the United States to support a radical overhaul of international security to combat terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction and regional conflicts. "We must strengthen our collective defenses," Annan told a conference of world security officials. He said the plans represented the most far-reaching reform of the international security system since the United Nations was founded in 1945. They call for tougher rules to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, a trust fund to help poorer nations fight terrorism, a drive to strengthen public health defense against germ warfare and a more proactive approach to allow for quicker action against potential threats. "In today's world we may also face threats that are not imminent, but which could become actual with little or no warning and might culminate in nightmare scenarios if left unaddressed," Annan said.
