I agree with many things you have to say Warbler - but from the terrorists point of view ramming planes into buildings has been 'the' answer - it has got the West involved in a situation where they have lost many middle-eastern friends and allies, invaded a country with no links to terrorism - yet call it part of the war on terror (well, it is now), made martyrs out of those who have died already in the fight vs the West and has acted as a magnet for the some of the young, impressionable and disillusioned Muslim youth into extremism and then terrorism.

It is difficult to believe that Bush was not advised by his military that invading countries would have had this effect, let alone what do we actually do now that we are 'in control' of these countries - the new members of the government that we have set up for them are being assasinated nearly every week - along with Iraqis serving in the police - the fear of the people of Iraq and Afghanistan must be as high as ever...

Shimraa is correct in saying it is battleground where the West and the insurgents and terrorists can engage - but sadly it's not us doing the engaging. The situation there seems lost - and if it then the 'war on terror' - ineffective as it has been so far - will seen to be also lost. What do the West do now? Hopefully looking at the reasons as to why we are hated and reviled in the middle east, begin to understand the actions of the past and present and form a dialogue with these extremists will be a start - though I don't see this very likely...