Art, the decision on how to respond to a violent attack's a difficult one isn't it - kick arses and risk, as you quite rightly say, fuelling the spark of revolution, or negotiate (which often is synonymous in people's minds on 'both sides' with 'giving in') and risk every minority-interest group with a grievance seeing hi-jacking/bombing as the best means of getting their way.

Either way, the result looks about the same to me. I don't think it matters what 'we' do or don't do, thugs will always be thugs and they will always find an excuse to indulge themselves in thuggery. And how do you negotiate with multiple and disparate groups who appear (to me at any rate) to have no allegiances other than a mutual hatred of 'The West'? (No judgment there - they may well be justified in hating us).

I guess what I'm saying is that, although we can have our own views and put them out here, no-one truly has the definitive answer - too many unpredictable variables in the equation. I'd hate to be a politician at the best of times - can't do right for doing wrong - and I reckon whichever way they (the politicians) jump they're on a hiding to nothing in the present climate. Very sad.

Cheers,
Johnny