To: Ex-INTCfan who wrote (43555 ) 10/25/2001 2:10:29 AM From: Sully- Read Replies (3) | Respond to of 65232 Ex-INTXfan, I believe you & I'm sure there are many liberal minded folks who believe the same thing. Bin Laden & those of his ilk have made it clear that they intend to kill & maim as many innocent Americans as they can. This is not something that polite conversation, negotiations & hand holding are going to resolve. My POV on the issue is not about political beliefs (liberal vs. conservative). At least it shouldn't be. This is about understanding who we are up against & how to effectively deal with them. All too often, Americans tend to take sides based on our political parties. This is not one of them unless we want to pay a high price for our freedom to squabble amongst ourselves. No doubt Democrats tend to be more in favor of talking out our differences & Republicans tend to favor carrying a big stick. In fact, it seems that it is much easier for those at the extremes of our political parties to see the vast differences within our own ranks than it is to see the differences in the thinking of these sick fanatics who wish to kill all of us. Why is it then that some of us cannot comprehend the huge differences in how the Bin Laden's of the world think & act? IMO, it is painfully apparent that this situation calls for clear, concise & persuasive action that is relentless until our objective is achieved. If we allow these murderers to operate freely, they will surely be back for more blood......... Heck, they told us they would kill many Americans within the USA & they did......... they told us we are all targets.......... we are hated infidels who deserve to die........ they told us they would be back for more....... & they have made it clear that they are willing to die in the process. Why is it so hard to understand that this is not a group that wishes to discuss their differences? Heck, they have a long history of violence, murder, mayhem & terror. It crosses many centuries. What makes any of us think it will be different this time? We need to weed them out & destroy their ability to come after us. We need to make them fear for their own lives. If they are on the run, sleeping with one eye open & their peers are dropping one by one, then they will be hard pressed to peruse their dirty deeds. If their sources of funding dry up & their training facilities are destroyed, they will be hard pressed to achieve their goals. If they have no place to call home or to rest their heads, they will be impotent. Then perhaps we can talk about our differences. However, if we take the soft approach up front, they will only see us as weak & fearful cowards. They will surely fulfill their promise to kill Americans anywhere & anyway they can......... they already told us they will.