The response to 9-11 has been counter-productive in the extreme. Just the torture of Iraqis, standing alone, all by itself, is a major victory for al-Qaeda.

Add to that the heavy-handed approach to terrorism, in effect creating more terrorists than could possibly be killed and turning sympathetic populations against the US and there's a disaster. A disaster costing money and lives, and will be for a long, long time.

Osama bin Laden could not have written a better script for al-Qaeda. OBL couldn't have asked for a better response.

No one in the world would have objected had the US response been lethal and targeted. In fact, they would have helped. Had there been a systematic search for OBL and al-Qaeda, demonstrating respect for the innocent and an understanding of cultural differences, coupled with rewards, the US would be safer and a lot of people would be alive.

But to kill thousands upon thousands of innocent people on the way to killing terrorists (defined as those who kill innocent people) the US has squandered lives, money, credibility and it's moral authority beyond OBL's wildest dreams.

And it could have been done right, and al-Qaeda been on the run. From everyone.

Arf