The first step to really winning this war is to admit that Islam is the modern equivalent of National Socialism and deal with Muslims exactly as we dealt with the Nazis in WW2. It will come to that anyway - Islam will force it as per its doctrine - so we might as well take care of business now like responsible adults and take out the trash. This pretense that "anybody could be a terrorist" is insulting in the extreme to loyal Americans and gives courage to our enemy.
By the way, a bag search does exactly zero good in securing the subways.
You are correct. It will all come to this eventually. I believe, unfortunately, it will happen when more Americans are slaughtered in the US. On your last point, if I have a bomb in a bag, and I know it will be searched. I will not board the subway. I may go elsewhere, but it will deter me, and therefore secure that particular subway from my particular intent.