[Frumanchu]

Why is it not reasonable to be proactive.. to go to the root of the problem and correct it....

Good point. Let's mount an attack now on Libya, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and any other nation known to harbor and/or sponsor terrorists. Why wait until they do this again? Solve the problem.

The truth is these people covet the power and influence of the United States. Given the same power, do you honestly think these people would bring peace to the world? Does our foreign policy need to change? Absolutely...we need to stop treading so lightly and take firmer positions. Stop worrying about what the European Socialist Union or anyone else will think and focus on doing the right thing.

[matrix_dweller]

Good point. Let's mount an attack now on Libya, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and any other nation known to harbor and/or sponsor terrorists. Why wait until they do this again? Solve the problem.

The truth is these people covet the power and influence of the United States.

OK, foreign country bombing check list:
Libya - 1985
Syria - via proxy Israel a couple times (what's $3B/yr for, anyhow), plus during Lebanon in 1983-84
Iraq - 1991 - present
Iran - 1987, and via proxy Iraq 1980-1988
Pakistan - scratch that, they have the bomb, (plus we got them accidentally while bombing Afghanistan)
Afghanistan - 1998, Could be a problem since we armed them to fight the Soviets, and they won, but we're better than the Red Army, albeit an ocean plus a few thousand miles away with no direct land route to invade.

Huh, looks like we already attacked all these countries. Maybe they're not only covetous, as you point out, it could be that they're pissed too!