From a reader:
Jonah:
First time, long time, etc…
Re: Really, really bad. What exactly is bad about it? Yes, it would be terrible for the innocents to suffer a horrible death, but I am convinced that such an act does nothing more than proclaim how utterly uncivilized the evildoers really are. The fact that they are even dangling the threat is evidence enough of the correctness of our policy. These people are complete wackos! It is self-evident that any policy other than extermination/reform is pointless. The terrorists can not be reasoned with. They can not be negotiated with. They can not be mollified.
Thankfully, unlike the Spanish, most Americans are [not] going to be bullied. Not after 9/11.