I heard on National Public Radio this morning that the Austrailian government is getting some flack from the population because the U. S. government had warned them that several Indonesian countries were ripe for terrorist attacks, and the government did not warn it's citizens. Bali was one of those countries where terrorist acts appeared to be likely. The government was given high marks, however, for taking such swift action in returning its wounded citizens to Austrialia where better medical facilities are available.

Australia has suffered a great loss. Most of those killed and injured were young people. My sympathy goes out to the people of Australia, and to all countries that lost citizens in this senseless slaughter.

Terrorists must be eleminated wherever they are found. I do not believe they can be reasoned with. The only thing they respect is a show of force, and kowtowing to them, as so many on this forum seem to believe to be a better course will just cause more deaths. No country is immune to similar attacks, and the terrorist attack by the sniper in the Maryland/D.C./Virginia area shows that no one is completely safe.

DougR