Hi Charles,

Knowing your background, I suspect you are as good a person to ask as any -- how do we deal effectively with terrorists? Talking strictly tactics with no worries about the niceties of existing treaties and protocols. There is a certain appeal to keeping it very, very simple: you engage in terrorism, we will hunt you down and kill you. You harbor terrorists, don't come crying to us after things happen. (Make sure the Pakistani ambassador, for instance, hears that directly from the President's lips). We said that in the wake of 9/11 but have not really followed up. Supposedly we know where Osama bin Ladin is but won't go in and take him for fear of offending a sovereign nation. Screw sovereignty if they tolerate his presence.

Personally I think it's impossible to eradicate terrorism that way, not without addressing the underlying causes and resentments. We could kill the top 5000 known terrorists tomorrow and a hundredfold more would spring up to replace the "martyrs." When people believe in a cause (however misguided) and aren't afraid to die, you've got a hell of a problem on your hands.

Any ideas?

Mike

PS -- hope all is well with you.