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"I am convinced that diplomatic and foreign policy efforts are the only methods of actually controlling terrorism."
Yes, indeed. If we reduce terrorism to those hiding out in caves, we are missing the larger point. Terrorism has been used as an effective tool of statecraft for some time. Look at Yasser Arafat getting his Nobel Peace prize and lining his own pockets with stolen billions. Terrorism has worked for him, if not for his people. Look at the Iranians and their proxies. They have gotten much mileage out of a few pounds of explosives and foolish young boys looking for their virgins.
So what kind of diplomatic and foreign policy efforts would you suggest?? In dealing with this rabble, I prefer Mao's dictum that: "Political power grows from the barrel of a gun".
And I WOULD suggest that terrorism's rightful place in the heirarchy of public policy debate should be near the top. Are we willing to defend ourselves? Would we rather buy off or appease such monsters? Do we have faith in our own culture and place in the world? Are we worthy of those that came before us? Or shall we fiddle and wait for the next big building to burn??
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