I am sure that Lloyds of London and the worldwide insurance market (or at least their lawyers) will be interested in this new definition of "War", if it can be made to stand up in court.

If the atrocities of 11th September can be construed as an "Act of War", it will save the insurance industry billions, as such risks are almost invariably excluded! The cost of compensation and rebuilding will then fall on the US taxpayer, which might change a few attitudes.

If, however, the current situation cannot be defined as "War", the legal position of any country which unilaterally bombs another on the unproven assumption of its complicity in an act of terrorism committed thousands of miles away, without any formal declaration of hostilities, is almost certainly dubious.

The world changed on 11th September, but international law, and the Geneva Conventions didn't. My perception is that the events of that dreadful day were a failure of Intelligence, and most of what has happened since has been an understandable but regrettable failure to consider the full implications and downside possibilities of retaliation. "Turning the other cheek" is not the natural option, but it could be a good idea to give the impression of doing so while a legally and morally defensible solution was devised. I had hoped that the delay that occurred before the bombing started was being used for such consideration, but, alas, it was not.

I'm sorry, but the words of Randy Newman's "Political Science", written way back in the mid 70s, keep running through my mind.

"No one likes us, don't know why. We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try. All around, even our old friends put us down - Let's drop the big one, and see what happens....."

I don't hate the USA, and don't know many who claim to, most of whom do so out of envy more than spite. However, in foreign policy matters, the judgement of your leaders is often suspect. The US is a big place, with big ideas, high ideals and great people. On balance the rest of the World probably needs the US more than the US needs the rest of the World.

But you do tend to be insular, and, like a man rushing from a darkened room into bright sunlight, when you do foray abroad, it can take you a while to get your vision straight.

I hope that this time that happens soon enough to save us all from the interminable conflict that currently seems inevitable.

Alan