I compared the Western Alliance (jeez, that sounds Orwellian!) to a lynch mob. Not becuase there is no evidence, but because there was no attempt to prove to the Taliban that the evidence was sufficient to warrant Osama's 'extradition'. That is what I meant by refering to having to "talk politely to scumbags" in order to take care of business.

The unhappy reality is, the Taliban would have shrugged it off as 'inconclusive', or something just as dismissive. I think the West in general, and the USA in particular, have finally learned something that Israel has known for a long time. You cannot deal reasonably with people whose hatred has made them unreasonable.

There is no point in trying to negotiate with people whose major goal in life, instilled in them from birth, [u]is to kill you, or die in the attempt.[/u]

Such people celebrate the hijackers as heroes, while we mourn the victims of their poison.