terrorism is an act of savagery. it's not an act of civilization. i think the best way to destroy the evil of terrorism is to defy it w/ civilization. to decay into hatred and bigotry is simply to let them win, to accept their lack of civilization and allow ourselves to be dragged down into the stone ages.
we do need to retaliate. but i'd rather they be done as legally as possible. i'd like to see the responsible people treated w/ the respect they didn't give their opponents. it would demonstrate to their suppoters that the usa is not as "unholy" or "infidel" as they think.
if we just bloody ourselves and sink into the ancient tit-for-tat of vendetta, then we strengthen their resolve. i'd rather take the wind out of their sails.