Possibly, Carol, particularly as we know it's organized now.   Assume for the moment that trying to fix the problems would only cause different ones later on. After all supporting the Mujahideen's attempts to drive the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan are part of what got us here as is the US's defense of Kuwait. Ben Laden's prime
motivation for starting all this was the presense of US troops in Saudi Arabia, sacred ground, duing the first Gulf War. By your rules, we can't use force to change their governments, anyway (I'm OK with that) Any non-military attempt at modernization or liberalizaton of governments in the region plays in to Al Qaeda's hands, too. One of their main arguments is that Westernization is diluting Islamic purity and the madrasas are turning out young men who agree with them every day.

Now what? Can't give into their demands. Remember what they want most was putting up Taliban-like states across the region, a situation worse than what we have now. As you said, you can't attack the countries that support them and UN sactions would have the same effect. What's left? Putting the West on alert permanently and violating the civil rights of everyone who is or looks Arab?