Mark,

Just to reemphasize your point. Our reaction to the destruction of the World Trade Buildings (effect on the stock market, home land security laws, etc.) arguably caused more damage to the U.S. than the direct loss of the buildings. This showed Bin Laden's correct perception of our basic weakness, i.e. damage amplification through panic and over-reaction. Imagine if we had a "politically correct" President who was morally unable to respond to terrorist actions against us. All the enemy would need to do is correctlly schedule terrorist actions to keep hammering down our economy. Also once it was demonstrated that we were cowards, there would surely follow on copy-cat terrorist actions that would further accelerate our collapse.

Bush's reaction was precisely what was required. First destroy bin Laden's organization and then go after anyone who benefitted from bin Laden, e.g. Saddam. Sure, lots of people hate us in the Middle East (they hated us anyway) but no responsible organization that wishes to survive is going to follow Bin Laden's tactics.

Gary