I agree with Amazing, Bigboi and the other "hawks".
War has rules. The perpetrators of this have written their own rules that state: "There are no rules." They've shown that innocent people are legitimate targets--just as much or moreso than military targets.
Will the world ever be rid of terrorism? No. But what helps terrorism flourish is the backing they have. Without wealthy and politically influential support, terrorists are nothing but rock-throwers. Countries that hide and provide succor for terrorists are just as complicit as the getaway driver of a person who kills a shopkeeper during a robbery: accessories to the crime are equally culpable.
Thus, terrorists have changed the rules of warfare, and their sponsor countries have given them the nod in this. I say we fight back using the same rules. We don't TARGET innocent civilians, but we don't flinch at using weapons of mass destruction to cripple our enemies (the terrorist cells) and their equally-responsible allies (supporting countries).
Assuming the perpetrators turn out to be Muslim extremists under Bin Laden, which the physical evidence is starting to support, I say we give his political allies (Afghanistan and any other country that hide or supports him in the least) X hours to turn over Bin Laden and ALL his cronies. Otherwise, we treat them as allies of a war enemy, and attack accordingly Afghanistan's military and government targets. If they turn the terrorist leaders over and acknowledge their responsibility, then let the Doves work out a deal with them.
Then we move on to the next terrorist group. In a war you don't sit back and play defense, you go on the offensive. We don't stop until the enemy surrenders. Since that will never happen, we don't stop until the terrorists are crippled, decimated, EVERY known leader captured or killed. As intelligence pinpoints which lieutenants are taking up the fight, we kill them before they have a chance to plan the next attack. We let the terrorists and their allies call the truce, sign the treaties, surrender. We don't stop until they beg us to.
Japan was taught this lesson. They were a nation that was as fanatical as, but a bit more honorable than, these Muslim extremists. Their Emperor was considered a god to them. We resorted to drastic measures--two nukes--but it quickly lead to Japan's surrender, and now they're an ally.
Do I think these terrorists will ever be allies or friends of the western world? No. But if the neighborhood bully wont be my kid's friend, he'll for damn sure be terrified of being his enemy, and his parent's will be afraid not to keep him in check.
Maybe I'm breaking my cardinal rule, and posting in anger, but the important concept, to me, is that we cut the knees out from under the terrorists by taking out their support.
Hmmm