This is where we differ. You believe if we do anything, we are heading for disaster. I believe if we do NOT do something, we are heading for disaster.
I will admit it would be much easier if a country had declared war against us rather than an idealogy, but we are in a war even if you can not see it.
There is a cancer alive in this world today called terrorism. For over 40 years, the nations of the world have treated these terrorist acts as a crime. The terrorist have a certain advantage when we treat it as a crime. They lose that advantage when we treat it as war.
The nation states in the middle east have been able to support terrorist with very little down side to themself. President Bush has put them on notice, no more.
What is step three you ask, I don't know but it is not too late for these countries to take themself out of contention for that honor.
So you wait for your "proof" I only hope it is not one of loved ones the die so you can be morally certain who to go after.