What would be the purpose of a terrorist attack? Here are some guesses, and a look at what's happening.

1: Kill and maim Americans.
2: Cost America money.
3: Damage American prestige throughout the world.
4: Reduce American influence throughout the world.

I mean, if you were a terrorist that would be a pretty ambitious agenda. Not one you could hope to achieve by yourself.

Lessee:

1: Americans killed overseas are just as A: American as if they were standing in Omaha, and B: dead. They don't have to come over here to kill us.

2: Untold billions have been spent and wasted, running into the trillions over time, on everything from bullets to bombs to waiting in endless lines to extra security help watching the Golden Gate Bridge.

3: America, Israel and Iran are the most poorly regarded countries in the world. Abu Ghraib, CIA renditions, Guantanamo will remain in the memories of the ROW as long as they live, making a mockery out of any US claim to moral superiority.

4: And the ROW is starting to look to China in combination with other countries as a counter-balance to the arrogance of what was the world's only superpower.

It's been successful beyond their wildest dreams. Just as WTC was a fantastically successful attack in their terms, costing next to nothing, the reaction of the US has been even more damaging.

And some people say that it's all worth it because there hasn't been another WTC.

There hasn't. It's been worse. If anyone else had done to us what we've done to ourselves SINCE WTC, we'd be nuking the world the way a scorpion in pain stings itself.

Go figure.

Arf