[ASA Vet]

we're going to have to lose a city before Americans will really believe we're at war

I think you're being too optimistic.
One city gone would merely interfere with the sheeples TV watching patterns for a day or two.
Most of them have already forgotten 9/11.

[Restorer]

I disagree. The problem with 9/11 is that Bush has been too effective at fighting terrorists. Thus people have been allowed to subconciously think of 9/11 as an event, like an earthquake, not part of a process, like a war being waged against us.

Oddly enough, successes for the terrorists will brings their descturcion closer, while their ongoing failure to succeed in their attacks is actually a victory for them.

This is because their only real military asset is our reluctance to pull the plug of niceness and PC on them. Losing an American (or probably even a European) city would result in the immediate, permanent opening of a large, economy size can of whup*ss, followed shortly after by their annhilation.