Terrorist groups in the news

Here's the scenario: a terrorist act is committed. People die, lives are destroyed. Someone claims responsibility and their name is plastered in headlines all over the world. It happened in London. It's been happening as long as I can remember.

Something we've learned about terrorists- negotiation doesn't work. You can coddle them or kill them, but you can't negotiate with them. They're like serial killers. They are intent on the act, committed to the end, which is evidenced by the many suicide bombings.

The English have a policy of discussion and understanding. It works so well there's a whole society of Arab dissidents in London. They are organized and even have their own newspapers! Gee, if ya can't beat 'em, welcome them in!

So what can we, the "cowboy" Americans do? I think the first thing ought to be NO NEWS FEATURING EXTREMIST GROUPS. Don't hand them the fame they seek. The next thing (and I'll probably get nasty letters for this), claiming responsibility for a terrorist act is more than a political statement, it's a confession of murder and should be viewed that way. Whether they pulled the trigger, flipped the switch or took the credit, they are guilty of murder. They should be taken out and shot!

You say, "but we're civilized. We can't do that." Well, our civilized approach isn't working. As long as we are namby-pamby about terrorism, more innocent people will die. Is that what we want? Wouldn't we be better off without a few radicals?

After 9-11, most Americans were unified in the fight. Now that the memory has faded, we're back to the old game of spewing partisan rhetoric. We love to backbite and blame. Will it take another tragedy to bring us together again?

I say no more American lives should be needlessly lost. Put Saddam's head on a pole in front of the White House. If we had done that years ago when we had the chance, imagine how many lives would have been saved! We're told they know where Bin Laden is but the country harboring him won't let us get him. That makes them part of the terrorism! Give them a deadline... midnight on Saturday or your country goes up in flames.

We must not allow extremists any more power. We have to act, hard and fast. Either that or get used to living in a world filled with fear.