Some thoughts on the War Against Terrorism.

Like so many others, I'm still numb over the disgusting and tragic waste of human life that took place on September 11th of this year. May God comfort the souls of the victims and their families. Unlike so many others, I'm NOT on the Revenge bandwagon. Although the tragedy was unforgivable, I cannot help but think: would it have occurred if our government had not ceaselessly meddled in the affairs of the middle east? The perpetrators of the attack were burned to death immediately and are still burning in hell right now. Their quote-unquote 'leaders' MIGHT be found and punished, but it ought to be understood that their LIVES are punishment as it is. Consider Osama Bin Laden (if it IS him who engineered the attack):
The creature (not 'man', there are qualifications for true manhood and it doesn't deserve the title) is a millionaire, but it crouches in filthy caves filled with rats and scorpions. Its rancid brain pulsates with thoughts of vengeance and killing. It has no friends or family, only its fellow killers. Its chosen host country is a dismal lunar landscape filled with beggars, thugs, starving children and suicidal women. It shouts its evil commands over the sound of exploding bombs. And no matter what its ideology, hell's gates yawn for it.
That being said, it IS a noble crusade to cleanse the Earth of terrorism. And this task makes the Augean Stables seem like a breeze. It will require ingenuity, forethought, patience, and unfortunately, a price we might all have to pay with our own blood.

A few military modifications come to mind immediately:
1. Adapt the Harrier Jump-Jet into a troop transport, or simply create a new VTOL troop carrier. Currently military helicopters have this function, but the Harrier has far better speed and range.
2. Immediately re-educate all Military personnel and reservists in commando and counterterrorism techniques.
3. Have all civilized nations agree to grant automatic airspace access to counterterrorism units.
4. Develop non-lethal alternative munitions for hostage situations (for example, a new form of smoke grenade that also contains a non-lethal sedative agent, providing cover AND knocking out enemies).
5. Pull exposed, smaller military units OUT of hostile territory (The USS COLE was far, FAR from home when it was attacked, as were the Marines in Beirut).

Imagine YOURSELF caught in a terrorist attack: Your office building invaded and sealed off by madmen with bombs and guns. With one spray of bullets, your closest co-worker DIES right in front of you, for no other reason than for the terrorists to show "We're serious."
Are you armed? Probably not. Are you sedentary and/or overweight? More bad news. Do you know unarmed combat, or have any kind of self-defense training? It seems negligible in the face of a machine gun, but know this: ODDS ARE YOU WILL NOT BE RESCUED. Think about how many terrorist attacks have taken place and a successful counterattack eliminated the terrorists without harming any of the hostages. In most cases, some hostages not caught in the crossfire were 'executed' anyway by the terrorists merely in order to reinforce their demands.
Here's a cold and brutal truth: WE CANNOT NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS. WE MUST BE AS RUTHLESS AS THEY. God forbid, but if I was a leader and a group of terrorists ordered ME to follow a certain course of action or they'd blow up a bus of schoolchildren, I would not negotiate. I would pray for forgiveness, apologize to the children's families, and send in the commandos. Depending on the success of the mission, some or all of the scenario's children would die. But EVERY TERRORIST WOULD BE KILLED AS WELL, and I would PERSONALLY BURN AND DISMEMBER THEIR BODIES AND THROW THEM TO PIGS, AND BE PHOTOGRAPHED AND VIDEOTAPED DOING IT.
Afterwards, when the world knows of that horrific fate, we'll see how many terrorists sign up for new assignments.
Let us all pray that it does not come to this. Instead of another War To End All Wars, let us evolve as a race OUT of the cycle of hatred, vengeance and killing.