"I found this quite thoughtful. Other opinions? "

I think that terrorism is not anything new. What is different is our advanced technology. The fear of advancing technology is not new, some think that advancement in technology should be hindered or stopped all together. The significant of the advanced technology is in this context is that it's result is "it makes a smaller world" and it allows more raw mechanical power for individuals to control. Example, if you have the money you can charter any airliner or even in the "very black" market buy nuclear bombs or in different vein buy elections.

911 isn't really that significant in terms in real threat to people in general. It's significant in that demonstrates that a real threat is not just a fantasy- it demonstrates that terrorists could blow up an entire city with a nuclear bomb. Now, suppose instead of terrorist from abroad, suppose that a domestic cult like "Heaven's Gate" had decided to take over 4 planes and tried to hit the same targets. Our response would be a crackdown on similar types of cults in America. In a domestic cult terror attack it wouldn't have focused our attention on the Middle east- and the various problems of the Middle east would still exist and still be a "threat to the West".
The main significant of 911 was that it opened our eyes so we could see a problem- a significant problem and one that should be "solved yesterday". But there are more problems and perhaps more urgent in terms a rational criterion.
The idea that "It's time to fight dirty" is pathetic. Terrorism, torture, and murder in general are not effective means to control- they certainly are a simple and quick means of control. It's a common way of controlling people, and there is no shortage of dim witted rulers who will try to control by means of threat of death and pain, who are not by any accident are leading countries which are wallowing in poverty and ignorance.

Now, one example of a large problem that we are not dealing with is our prohibtion of drugs. This problem will probably not be dealt with because their isn't the political will in order to resolve it.

As far as advancing technology, I think the problem isn't that it happenning too quickly, but rather that it's being hindered by numerous govt policies. And if there is any "doom" it will be due this continued hinderance or additional restrictions- particularly in regards to opening the frontier of Space.