1. It is unwise to go 10,000 miles to punish the terrorists responsible for this when bin Laden has bragged that he has over 2,500 soldiers within the borders of the United States. The first priority is to eliminate that threat. For several years, the FBI has been "populating" the terrorist cells and "tracking" them. This strategy is an obvious failure. The FBI should be removed from the responsibility of dealing with these terrorist cells. After declaring war, these cells will become ENEMY ALIENS. This permits a combination of the Secret Service or the US Marshal Service, in conjunction with Military Intelligence, to round up these terrorist cells. As they are enemies, they can be tried by courts martial and executed following wringing information out of them. The FBI budget dedicated to the "populating and tracking" of these cells should be transferred to the Marshal Service, Military Intelligence, and the construction of temporary brigs or lock-ups for the terrorists as they face their courts martial and the wringing of information from them.
2. While the cells are FINALLY being dealt with, internal security has to be rebuilt, at least partially along the lines of the US Commission on National Security in the 21st Century. A Homeland Defense Administration that includes Immigration and Naturalization, US Customs, and the Coast Guard should be established as a cabinet level body. The US Department of Education should be abolished, with most of the money going to this department to strengthen security along the borders and in seaports and airports.
3. The Foreign Aid and UN Budgets should be eliminated, with the savings being transferred to the military. Patriot Missile batteries and fighter interceptor bases need to be built around our major metropolitan areas. The interceptors should be able to provide intesecting circles of cover, so that air cover over the cities is sufficient, and fighters are always available for scramble. The military needs rebuilt, and a lot of the funds can be freed up for this by ending the Balkan intervention.
4. The immigration system needs overhauled. We need a series of "mini Ellis Islands" to receive prospective new Americans and process them as we did a century ago. There should be a ten year moratorium on immigrants from nations associated with terrorism.
5. As these steps are being taken domestically, the foreign front will also be addressed. Make it clear through diplomatic circles that MECCA has been targeted by both ICBM and SLBM missiles, and that one more attack on the US could lead to its destruction, following sufficient warning to evacuate civilians. This means ANY attack of any kind, particularly a suitcase nuclear bomb attack. Other important sites will follow.
6. Under the cover of the targeting, begin to change foreign policy away from taking sides in conflicts in which the United States has no vital interest. As long as other nations leave us alone, and treat us with respect, we shall reciprocate.
7. Locate, Fix, and destroy, militarily, the bin Laden organization in Albania, the Sudan, and Afghanistan. Eliminate base camps through the use of fuel air bombs where practicable. By this time, bin Laden will have no soldiers within our borders through which he can strike back even if he survives the strikes.
8. Find bin Laden's money. Steal bin Laden's money by any means practicable. Hack the money out of the computers where it resides, if possible. Find out who else is supplying bin Laden's money. If they are from Muslim states, tell them to ask their leaders how many missiles are targeted on their holiest of holies.
9. Cut off bin Laden's CIA money and see if it is possible for some other intelligence agency to hack in on his satellite telephone transmissions.
10. Pubilicly investigate the internal and external policies of past Administrations that led to this disaster. Anyone who is established as being guilty of malfeasance or nonfeasance should be punished accordingly.
Exit Strategy: Some of this has an end, such as actions against bin Laden, punishing corrupt and incompetent intelligence personnel, etc., but the safeguarding of the people of the United States has no exit strategy. It is an on-going responsibility of the government.
I'm not convinced the leaders of Arab states care as much about Mecca as they do their own hide and their own money. I'd target the missiles on them.
Great writeup, by the way.