[Little Ray]

I would agree with his argument - IF the attackers were a national entity at war at us or had previously issued an ultimatum as a prelude to war. Under those circumstances, the WTC was as much a legal target as any German or Japanese city in WWII.

However, our attacker was not a national entity and they launched an unprovoked (from our view anyway...) attack on us. Basically, our enemies are in the same class with pirates and bandits - enemies of all mankind.

[Question_Assumptions]

He had a point when he claimed that the Pentagon was a legitimate military target and I've said as much, myself. But I think the thing missing from all of these equivalency arguments is that while it was awful that so many civilians have died from American actions, the world would have been a much more horrible place for all civilians if they were ruled by Tojos, Hitlers, Stalins, Castros, Saddams, and bin Ladens than they would be having their activities overseen by the United States. Whether we win or they win matters a great deal.