Rather than military action, many letter writers here have advised the US to change its foreign policy. The question is: How and to whose agenda?

Should the US switch its backing from Israel to the Palestine Liberation Organisation? But might that not provoke the same sort of terrorism from militant Zionists? Should the US appease the Iraqis? But would that not raise the ire of the Saudis? Maybe the superpower should even start backing the Taliban. But the Iranians are going to be up in arms.

Is the US supposed to be running all over the world trying to please every little group so that the carnage we saw in New York City and Washington DC shall never be repeated?

Perhaps some would wish the US to isolate itself completely and have no foreign policy whatsoever. Even if this were possible for a superpower, Muslim fundamentalists would still see its pervasive culture as a threat to the religious purity of their countrymen. To destroy the 'Great Satan' might still be deemed a laudable objective.

It is far better that the US should use every means at its disposal to root out terrorist organisations that, given a chance, will not hesitate to use nuclear, chemical and biological weapons against inoffensive civilians. This includes going after their state sponsors. The task is not as impossible as some would have us believe. Where in the world is the Japanese Red Army today.