Here's the thing. The imperialists used the events of 9/11 to maximum effect, in utilizing it to legitimate the massive military intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq. They couldn't give two shits about who was responsible. It was their 'golden ticket' so to speak. It's misguided to believe that they would have behaved differently were they to have been informed as to the 'real culprits.'

Sure we'll take a few YEARS to work out a kind and gentle way to do something while they hit us again!

Yes, it would be quite helpful to attack those who clearly seek to do us harm. Terrorism many times is a law enforcement problem, this isn't traditional line-and-column fighting, it's hard core guerilla warfare. As the Iraq War has shown us, it is important that if we are going to attack another nation that it be strictly in our interests. Retailation is clearly a necessity, but it must not be done arbitrarily either. Otherwise, we are going to continue breeding the same terrorism which we seek to curtail.

Yes...know before you go!

Most definately a neccessity. The federal government must have indisputable evidence that the regime is responsible in order to know what they are up against.

Yes, I am glad we did after 9-11. We should make a complete case to the world and make sure that we have the right group of terrorists responsible for what happened. We have done the same thing on Iraq, we've made a compelling case.

Yes, then we can know who or what to attack. Dubya needs to do this so we don't do anything way too hastily and we can conduct this process in a diplomatic manner.

Our agents have been on it. We need to investigate every aspect of the disaster to learn why it happened, who did it, how we can retaliate, etc. This is a very basic and general idea. But we need to be careful not to spend all our time investigating it or new areas to investigate will pop up (anthrax, drinking water poison threats). We need to keep increasing security, keep investigating, learn what to do.

Absolutely. I've seen the rash responses done by people who feel wronged and desire immediate revenge. Get all the proverbial ducks lined up before accusing. This is what the good people of the Middle East are asking our leaders to do before responding. Even if the evidence points to Osama bin Laden, AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER. There has to be a better way of solving the problem.

Although our first inclination was to retaliate when your country was attacked. I don't think that there was one American that could sit back and relax on 9/11. I don't think there was one American that could actually think rationally about the whole ordeal w/in the first 24 hours. I myself, could only think of one thing: HATE. But when I began to talk to people of Mid East decent and see how the majority were saddened and upset at this inhuman incident, I realized that we were not alone in our mourning. The whole world was mourning w/ us. I think we need to really think this thing through, yet, the American public will NOT rest until we find resolve. I feel that the Taliban and bin Laden are the culprits of this whole deal and they need to be punished. I also feel that going to war w/ a country of many innocent people, would be foolish. Taliban needs to be overthrown and the Afghan people given back their country.

I might be twisting the intended meaning here a bit, but I like this option if we mean a "complete investigation" of alternatives for direct retaliation from the U.S. I don't mean to side with naive peacenik lefties that think Bin Laden and his ilk can be placated. But I do understand that the Taliban's grip on their country is quite fragile. Today's news had them seeming to beg the U.S. to attack them (saying they had hid Bin Laden, after previously saying they didn't know where he was, etc...) -- seems to me like they know that a bold U.S. strike is the only thing that might help them solidify their rapidly eroding support all over Afghanistan. So I advocate patience only out of a pragmatic sense that it would be far superior if rival Muslims (rather than the U.S.) deposed the Taliban and then were enticed to expel or turn over Bin Laden and his gang. It might wind up making Bush look weak, but it's the right thing to do.

This is essential.

DEFINITELY. ABSOLUTELY. We have to deal with this the same way we would if we were the jury in a murder trial. We must go over all evidence, if there is any, consider all legitimate suspects other than the defendant (who I am thinking is bin Laden), and remember everything that was said or done prior to the event. I have said it once, I will say it again, the mastermind behind all this could have been an American! The terroist, American, Afghan, Arabian or whatever, could be DEAD for all we know. I hope we do not have to resort to using force AFTER we conduct a complete investigation, we should react non-violently. Definitely the best solution. Mr. President, I hope you are taking notes.

I think it's better to just retaliate against all terrorist groups. They're all the same.

This would be essential.