  The observation of large E1 strength near threshold in the electromagnetic
dissociation of 11Li poses a fundamental question: Is the large E1 strength due
to the threshold or is it due to a low lying E1 state? Such molecular cluster
states were observed in 18O and in several nuclei near the drip line. We
discuss the nature of the "threshold effect" as well as review the situation in
Molecular (and Particle Physics) where such Molecular States are observed near
the dissociation limit. We suggest that the situation in 11Li is reminiscent of
the argon-benzene molecule where the argon atom is loosely bound by a
polarization (van der Waals) mechanism and thus leads to a very extended object
lying near the dissociation limit. Such states are also suggested to dominate
the structure of mesons [a_0(980), f_0(975)] and baryons [Lambda(1405)] with
proposed Kaon molecular structure (e.g. by Dalitz) near threshold. The
inspection of such states throughout Physics allows us to gain insight into
this phenomenon and suggest that a new collective Molecular Dipole Degree of
Freedom plays a major role in the structure of hadrons (halo nuclei, mesons and
baryons), and that quantitative tools such as the E1 Molecular Sum Rule are
useful for elucidating the nature of the observed low lying E1 strength in halo
nuclei.
