[thecavemaster]

I agree on the point of erring on the side of caution in circumstances of immediate threat is dangerous to the lives of the forces in harm's way. However, to take the "bomb 'em, bomb 'em" approach would have precipitated a possible full scale nuclear disaster in the Cuban missile crisis. A show of will, of "we will not stand idly by" AND diplomatic negotiations, including an amazing exchange of letters between Krucshev (?) and Kennedy, prevented a possible catastrophe. Also, the threat of being blown out of the water does not impact a radical extremist Muslim in the same way in does the average Joe.