Donuel:

The three point plan you itemize is excellent, in theory, as long as we are willing to consider the use of multi-kiloton explsives and the massascre of 5000 humans who were non-combatants and innocent of known offense as a big crime.

Justice is a process used to channel and remdiate crime.

War is a process used to stop destructive acts by a declared enemy who has by action or formal word revealed a destructive intention toward the state declaring war.

Ben laden, in his fatwah has declared that it is the duty of good Muslims to rise up and kill Americans and take their money, according to the bit posted here recently. In addition he announced a major strike against the United States of "unprecedented force" a few weeks ago, but whe one occurred he insisted it wasn't him!!

Whether it was him directly or not there are good reasons for believing he was involved, based on the known connections of known participants. Subject to later information, of course.

Hopw many or how much crime do you think it takes from one organized group before "war" becomes an appropriate term?

If it is warm your scenario still holds, with one exception. Leave the tribunal out of it and the military force enforces the edicts of the best intelligence we can bring to bear.

A lot of the same people will--one way or another--get rubbed out of their current identities.

The military process will prbably cost less, be faster, and be more of an incentive against similar future recurrence, I think.

Always willing to be wrong.

A.