Bruce Schneier, a world renowned security profesional, has an amazing post detailing What the Terrorists Want and what we can do about it.
I have always respected Bruce because of his clear thinking and un-willingness to give in to the fear of a threat when liberty is at stake. He always sees clearly that “hyped” security is no security at all, because that feel-good feeling only makes matters worse.
It’s time we calm down and fight terror with antiterror. This does not mean that we simply roll over and accept terrorism. There are things our government can and should do to fight terrorism, most of them involving intelligence and investigation – and not focusing on specific plots.
But our job is to remain steadfast in the face of terror, to refuse to be terrorized. Our job is to not panic every time two Muslims stand together checking their watches. […] Our job is to think critically and rationally, and to ignore the cacophony of other interests trying to use terrorism to advance political careers or increase a television show’s viewership.
“There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” Winston Churchill