To understand the mindset of the Islamic terrorists, we must study the history of the spread of Islam. It has always been done by the sword.
The spread of Islam into Europe was halted in Provence and the Moors were driven back into Spain. In 1492, they were driven out of Spain into North Africa.
In Eastern Europe, the armies of Sulieman the Great broke on the walls of Vienna and the spread of Islam by the sword was stopped in Europe.
In Africa and Asia this was not the case and today Islam is the major religion in many countries - Indonesia, the Philippines, all of the 'Stans - and in India, the Moghuls ruled right up until the British Empire took over and even now, there is continual violence between Muslim and Hindu.
The point is, that the desire to spread Islam throughout the world, while it has waxed and waned over the centuries, has never died. bin Laden and crew are simply the latest group to fan the embers into flame.
The goal, as it has always been, is to bring the world under Islamic law.
Unless people understand this and realize that we in the west have not caused this latest effort by the radical Islamists, the west is lost.
You cannot negotiate with a fanatic and that's what everyone seems to want to do.
It has never worked in the past, and it won't work now.