Dianavan,
I would agree with you that the terrorists seem to want the things you mention - but I am a long way from certain that this is all they want. This could well be just the tip of an iceberg of suppressed anger, frustration and who knows what else. I don't find their actions rational (not by my definition of "rational", admittedly) and so I cannot even assume the rationality of what drives them. They seem to be striking blindly at innocents - that leads me to believe that blind hate plays a role. There may have been rational reasons there, once; but the operative word here is "blind". How to show such people the light - even assuming I have it to show in the first place?

Ake,
I never doubted your sincerity, mate. And if we differ in our opinions here and there - vive la difference!