Danger In Our Midst

Whenever a major terrorist attack occurs, the politicians speeches are all the same "The terrorists are all barbarians, they will not succeed in destroying our values or undermine our way of life". Some even make an effort to understand the outrages and enter into a dialogs with the terrorist. The war on terrorism will never be won till we understand the Arabs and their grievances. The war may not be won in any case.
Suspicion, predjudice, fear and hatred are as much tools of the terrorist as bombs and mines. They will target anyone, even their own people in an attempt to achieve political or religious goals. Our use of Superior Fire Power is not working yet it is satisfying and a time honored way of trying to end terrorism. I hear it all the time "Exterminate the SOB's, Drop the bomb, Kill them all, Apocalypse Now". Did we not do all these things in Vietnam while trying to save the country from the communists? It did not work then and it will not work now. Politicians also tell us it is better to fight them in Iraq than in our own back yard. The same argument was used from 1964 to 1974. Just how was a Viet Cong soldier wearing sandals cut from old tires and carrying pouches of rice and a AK47 with a few precious rounds of ammunition susposed to swim across the Pacific Ocean and strike LA or NY? This is not 1964 or 1974 it is 2005 and the terrorist can strike anywhere no mater what we do with our superior fire power. They can make us feel and think exactly what they want us to feel and think. The question is, Will we let them?
Governments are responsible for the security of their citizens, yet the politicians incharged can't move too far ahead of public opinion. Restrictions and controls are inevitable for the safe guard of society. It is impossible to prevent all attacks but it is still possible to make life difficult for the terrorists. Future attacks must be met with overwhelming public pressure. If no such attacks occur we will be able to sleep in peace and quiet, lucky to enjoy both security and all our liberties.