"You say nature has had billions of years to evolve into something that would... what? destroy everything on the planet? What good would that do a species? "
Evolution doesn't care about what "good" something does to the species. Selection occurs on the individual level, and doesn't plan ahead.
Several species HAVE evolved that more or less wiped out other species. An estimate puts around 90% of all species ever to have inhabited the planet to be extinct now.
And self-replicating nanites WOULD inevitably evolve. If they somehow selfreplicate, they will inevitably make mistakes once in a while. Some of these mistakes would be better at reproducing, and these would proliferate. That's evolution. If the speed at which they evolve is dramatically faster than carbon based lifeforms, we might even have a problem. More realistically, if they produce some nasty sideeffect that is bad for us and good for them, then we might have a serious problem.
Luckily, selfreproducing nanites are extremely tough to make.
"In short, terrifying Americans and swaying their opinion one way or another is now only a secondary goal. Literally killing as many Americans as possible has moved up to #1. "
No. If they wanted to kill as many americans as possible, they would have waited an hour or so. They would have gotten about 10 times as many casualties. No the goal of this terrorist act, was to make america go to war, and in doing so, getting the rest of the Moslem world to hate America, hopefully leading to global war between Islam and the West. *That* is the goal of OBL. And we're playing right into his hands.
"When somebody threatens American insterests (like, say, blow up a few hundred of our Marines stationed abroad with the consent of the host government, or bomb airliners, or attack US-flagged oil tankers, etc.), it is both necessary to respond and to respond with the appropriate amount of force. If the amount of force is too little, the US is considered to a bunch of push-overs, with everything we own essentially up-for-grabs. "
So why doesn't this deterrent work ? You yourself quote a number of occasions where USA has done this (Diplomatic pressure, ultimatum, war) and always, the outcome is the same: nobody backs down. When you go to a government, saying:"Do this, or we'll bomb the crap out of you" ALL governments always have, and always will refuse to do whatever it is.
Sometimes war is inevitable: WWII was inevitable by 1936 (but not before) WWIII was avoided because USA back then knew what needed to be done after WWII: The Marshall plan. If the allied forces had done something like that after WWI, then maybe WWII could have been avoided. Germany doesn't keep peace with america now because they fear american might, they keep peace with america because the two nations are friends.
In the end, that's the only way to have peace.
All that "peace through superior firepower" is stupid, simplistic and horribly dangerous.
"1: Relax ban on foreign assassinations only in cases where the person in question was put into power or heavily supported by the American gov't in proxy wars. That would allow us to get rid of problems that we have created like the situation in Iraq. "
It's interesting. I've been voicing that opinion as well among some of my very pacifist friends. I consider myself a pacifist as well. I beleive that political assasinations are incredibly nasty, but I prefer them to war, and economical sanctions. "Economical sanctions": It sounds so mild, almost harmless. Yet, it kills exactly the wrong people: it kills civilians, children, elderly. It weakens the spirit of the poor and oppressed, making rebellion less likely. It does not hurt Osamas or Saddams. It strengthens them.
I can't see why it should only be for CIA constructs though (except for the ironic fact that CIA constructs mostly seem to be the problem..) If USA is determined to kill some Taleban for hiding OBL, then I'd much rather they popped a few of the Taleban government officials, than bomb their already fucked country even further back to the stone age.
Political assasinations on the other hand could be targeted at Osamas and Saddams, making future Osamas and Saddams think again before they do something likely to piss America off.
Of course, there are some operational issues with assasinating Saddam or Osama. Like finding them.
But still....
"Islam is a religion build on conquest and conversion at the point of the sword. You may hear otherwise from islam scholars and the media, but all you have to do is look at history. "
thonot already replied, telling why this is a silly argument, but in addition, you're making the terrible mistake of calling Islam the ennemy.
It is not. Islam can easily live in peace with other religions, and mostly do so in large parts of the world. There are those, like Osama Bin Laden, who wishes for an all out war between Islam and the "infidels". Luckily, these people are few and far between. Unluckily, OBL plays his cards brilliantly. And we play right into his hand. He wants a war. What he does, is he executes a heineous atrocity of hitherto unimaginable scale. USA obligingly and predictably responds in exactly the way he knew they would: By bombing the shit out of Afghanistan.
What will this lead to ? Pakistans already rather extremist (but so far managebly so) moslems are of course going nuts, burning american flags etc.
Iran is condemning the inevitable loss of civilian life. Bin Laden is, of course, still at large in Afghanistan, and now there is no chance in hell that they will ever under any circumstances be delivered out. I doubt he will be found. His next logical step will be further terrorist attacks in USA, to keep people spooked, and to make sure the few people talking peace in America won't be heard. He may flee to some other moslem state, in order to goad America into bombing them as well. His hope is to make America look as ugly as possible in the eyes of Moslems everywhere, in order to turn this into a war between the west and Islam. I hope he fails, but if we keep playing into his hands, he might succeed.
But what to do then ? I certainly understand the wish to capture and kill OBL, and I agree: He must die. But he must die in a way that doesn't create ten new Bin Ladens. The best way, would be if he was denounced and killed by Moslems. The Northern alliance maybe. I can only hope that the longterm US plan is to give large scale humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, while supporting the northern alliance, and see it through, so Taleban falls forever. Further, USA *must* change it's foreign policy. If you look at it cynically, it is way cheaper, and way more effective to buy peace by giving aid, than by beating the shit out of those who hate you. Make them love you in stead, by helping them economically, by educating, etc. This is the only way to make democracy happen, and it is also an absolutely certain way of making democracy happen. Even a regime as horrible as Taleban could have been "educated" and "aided" away. Now of course, they can't. So end this war as quickly as possible, help Afghanistan rise again, and stop pampering the Israelis. Stop letting them get away with stuff you wouldn't suffer anyone else to do. Just be fair and impartial towards Israel and Palestine.
Also, it shouldn't be USA shouldering this alone. It should be UN, and we should ALL be involved.
"Also, I think you and the rest of the world should wait to judge the USA by our actions. Our leaders are all over TV right now telling everyone to be tolerant and that this will be a long term effort against terrorism and that no quick reaction will solve the problem. "
I truly hope you're right. And, I must agree from watching some more news, that it looks like the
initial reactions have been tempered a bit now.
"Regarding the poll results, a lot of emotional things were said, but I don't believe that Americans want to punish just anybody around the
an emotional reaction then you can understand. I've been really shook up about it myself."
Again, it seems like you're right. I was pretty emotional about it as well, initially. And I can certainly understand that this atrocity causes immense anger. I haven't judged USA for anything regarding the WTC disaster.I just hope that Bush will look around, when the worst emotional smoke clears, and see an american people that truly wants to resolve this permanently, not an angry mob that demands retribution.
"And do you know how many Palestinian terrorists would hide behind the UN force. Get real people. The palestians routinely kill each other.." etc.
Yes I do. So, the ME peoples are assholes. This gives us the right to be assholes as well ? No.
Wrong.
"I just once would like to hear some of you Europeans acknowledge the fact that it isn't all Isreal and the US's fault that these people prefer to kill each other instead of living peaceable together. "
Hereby acknowledged. It isn't ALL Israel and US faults. As I wrote, the allied forces after WWII, which includes most of Europe, bears a lot of the blame. But some of us moderated our policies since then.
"If anything most of the troubles in the third world are the fault of you damn Europeans and your fucking inbred Royals that wanted world wide conquest and created these artificial borders in the first place. "
Absolutely true. And before that, the Danish were a viking society- We routinely sailed to south Europe to burn, pillage rape and plunder everything that moved. We were complete bastards.
In recent history (until about WWII), Europe has indeed been evil in the extreme.
But we changed. And we would like to see you guys change as well.
I know my history, I also know what's going on now, and I don't like the role of Denmark in many foreign affairs, but I don't rave and shout and say Denmark is perfect, even though I know it's not. Why do many americans lash out, as you just did, when someone points out flaws of USA ?
"Point is, do you think the type of mind that would train their children such things would care if they had a legit excuse or not ? "
You're asking the wrong question. You should ask yourself "What does it take to make people train their children for war ?".
And what it takes is desparation. and hate.
There's a reason these guys hate the US. In their daily lives, what they see is american built apache helicopters attacking and killing them daily, as retribution for extremist acts of terror. Sure they hear about the peace process, but nothing happens, except Israeli tanks rolling into Gaza, people being arrested arbitrarily etc.
In their news, I'm sure that the enormous amount of UN resolutions being vetoed by the US fills a lot more than it does in America (or Denmark for that matter).
They hate you, and will continue to hate you, as long as you help and support their suppressor. Some of them hate you enough to do something like WTC.
And of course that is wrong. I completely condemn what was done. I'm *not* trying to excuse it in any way. I'm just trying to explain why. Because the why of it contains the solution, and the solution is not to invade Afghanistan. That's just an easy convenient way of satisfying a temporary understandable bloodlust.
Of course the culprits must be found and punished, but the longterm solution to end terrorism is to be fair and just and *decent* in foreign policy. NOT to serve self interest at the expense of others.
here's a viewpoint from Denmark, truly one of
these "hobbit villages" you speak of.
I must say I like hobbits though. They are nice and friendly, if somewhat naive at times.
Let me first tell you what the reactions of this hobbit, and most of the other hobbits here were:
Tears for WTC. Flowers at the US embassy. A statement from our primeminister that we extend our fullest support for the US.
That said, why do you think NATO (to which my hobbit village contribute some farmers with pitchforks) immediately invoked article 5 (the one-for-all article) ? This was partly to show our support and commitment, but mostly I think, to try to curb the american revenge which is sure to come. America has, understandably, gone completely insane with lust for vengeance. 70% of americans (CNN) support military action against terrorist havens, *even if thousands of innocent lives are lost* 70% also insists that it is of the utmost importance that the *right* culprits are identified first, which means that a staggering *30%* don't give a hoot who dies, as long as there is some sort of military action.
WTF ? Is the american people then any better than the terrorists who did this horrible act ?
Yes, USA have done many good deeds. So have Denmark, and so have many others. The afghan Mujahedin were true heroes, fighting oppression. Then they won, and most of them became Taleban. Now they are not heroes, now they are villains.
The jewish people were oppressed for centuries, culminating in the Holocaust. Then the allied forces gave them their own land. (taking it away from those that already lived there). Now, the Isreaelis are bad guys: They have several standing UN resolutions against them (check www.un.org) and would have dozens more if US hadn't vetoed them. They are sending combat helicopters to fucking bomb civilians *every* week.
And the US is backing them. Holocaust is 50 years ago. It does *not* entitle Israel to act as it does, and never has. The seven-day war was 25 years ago. Even if "the other guys started" it does not entitle Israel to act as they do, and never has.
The US need to stop backing Israel, for the simple reason that they are wrong. Without the blatant carte blanche to act as they please, given by the US, there might be peace in Israel and around: Israel would be forced to give concessions, and peace could happen.
Read up on UN's resolutions etc, check the number of times US has vetoed anti Israel resolutions. Look at the resolutions that have been passed. Judge for yourself.
There is a reason we hobbits suck at war: We hate them, and we don't need to fight them, because we're generally well-liked. When we do have to, we come with our pathetic pitchforks and fight, but we don't do so eagerly. That's what americans do, fight eagerly.
I'd rather be a hobbit.
That is not to say that I would like to see this money be repaid, not at all. But the only people I hear defending the U.S.'s current position are quickly branded as unenlightened neanderthals who know nothing about any goings on outside their little hobbit villages. While I agree that the United States does in fact need to rethink alot of its foreign policy I cannot excuse those who would villify us for doing our best. Progress takes time. And for a country that had Jim Crow laws on the books up until 50 years ago, I think we've come a pretty long way. We've still got a long way to go, but to quote the bible: "let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
Whether you want to admit it or no, he is still right.
The israeli government has been using terror just as bad or worse as the worst palestinians. The palestinians send a suicide bomber, the Israeli send apache helicopters. The major difference is that the isreali terrorist acts are state sanctioned. Do you realize how many UN sanctions against Israel have been vetoed by the US ?
Do you realize that only because of US veto's and Israeli veto, no UN peacekeeping forces are on the west bank ?
I hate violence, and the horrible attack on WTC literally left me crying. I fear the US response (I am Danish) I'm afraid America will go in, guns blazing, killing thousands of innocent civilians to get to Bin Laden.
Though killing Bin laden would be good, doing so at the expence of thousands of civilians would be as atrocious as the WTC bombing it self. I hope the american people can see that, even if your president cannot.
I must say I find the overview somewhat lacking, but maybe it's just because of my personal pet science:-)
Anyway, extra suggestions:
Evolutionary algorithms
Swarm intelligence
Distributed AI
Alife
Check it out with google. mucho interesting AI stuff.
Slashdot Mirror
"You say nature has had billions of years to evolve into something that would... what? destroy everything on the planet? What good would that do a species? "
Evolution doesn't care about what "good" something does to the species. Selection occurs on the individual level, and doesn't plan ahead.
Several species HAVE evolved that more or less wiped out other species. An estimate puts around 90% of all species ever to have inhabited the planet to be extinct now.
And self-replicating nanites WOULD inevitably evolve. If they somehow selfreplicate, they will inevitably make mistakes once in a while. Some of these mistakes would be better at reproducing, and these would proliferate. That's evolution. If the speed at which they evolve is dramatically faster than carbon based lifeforms, we might even have a problem. More realistically, if they produce some nasty sideeffect that is bad for us and good for them, then we might have a serious problem.
Luckily, selfreproducing nanites are extremely tough to make.
"In short, terrifying Americans and swaying their opinion one way or another is now only a secondary goal. Literally killing as many Americans as possible has moved up to #1. "
:"Do this, or we'll bomb the crap out of you" ALL governments always have, and always will refuse to do whatever it is.
No. If they wanted to kill as many americans as possible, they would have waited an hour or so. They would have gotten about 10 times as many casualties. No the goal of this terrorist act, was to make america go to war, and in doing so, getting the rest of the Moslem world to hate America, hopefully leading to global war between Islam and the West. *That* is the goal of OBL. And we're playing right into his hands.
"When somebody threatens American insterests (like, say, blow up a few hundred of our Marines stationed abroad with the consent of the host government, or bomb airliners, or attack US-flagged oil tankers, etc.), it is both necessary to respond and to respond with the appropriate amount of force. If the amount of force is too little, the US is considered to a bunch of push-overs, with everything we own essentially up-for-grabs. "
So why doesn't this deterrent work ? You yourself quote a number of occasions where USA has done this (Diplomatic pressure, ultimatum, war) and always, the outcome is the same: nobody backs down. When you go to a government, saying
Sometimes war is inevitable: WWII was inevitable by 1936 (but not before) WWIII was avoided because USA back then knew what needed to be done after WWII: The Marshall plan. If the allied forces had done something like that after WWI, then maybe WWII could have been avoided. Germany doesn't keep peace with america now because they fear american might, they keep peace with america because the two nations are friends.
In the end, that's the only way to have peace.
All that "peace through superior firepower" is stupid, simplistic and horribly dangerous.
"1: Relax ban on foreign assassinations only in cases where the person in question was put into power or heavily supported by the American gov't in proxy wars. That would allow us to get rid of problems that we have created like the situation in Iraq. "
It's interesting. I've been voicing that opinion as well among some of my very pacifist friends. I consider myself a pacifist as well. I beleive that political assasinations are incredibly nasty, but I prefer them to war, and economical sanctions. "Economical sanctions": It sounds so mild, almost harmless. Yet, it kills exactly the wrong people: it kills civilians, children, elderly. It weakens the spirit of the poor and oppressed, making rebellion less likely. It does not hurt Osamas or Saddams. It strengthens them.
I can't see why it should only be for CIA constructs though (except for the ironic fact that CIA constructs mostly seem to be the problem..) If USA is determined to kill some Taleban for hiding OBL, then I'd much rather they popped a few of the Taleban government officials, than bomb their already fucked country even further back to the stone age.
Political assasinations on the other hand could be targeted at Osamas and Saddams, making future Osamas and Saddams think again before they do something likely to piss America off.
Of course, there are some operational issues with assasinating Saddam or Osama. Like finding them.
But still....
"Islam is a religion build on conquest and conversion at the point of the sword. You may hear otherwise from islam scholars and the media, but all you have to do is look at history. "
thonot already replied, telling why this is a silly argument, but in addition, you're making the terrible mistake of calling Islam the ennemy.
It is not. Islam can easily live in peace with other religions, and mostly do so in large parts of the world. There are those, like Osama Bin Laden, who wishes for an all out war between Islam and the "infidels". Luckily, these people are few and far between. Unluckily, OBL plays his cards brilliantly. And we play right into his hand. He wants a war. What he does, is he executes a heineous atrocity of hitherto unimaginable scale. USA obligingly and predictably responds in exactly the way he knew they would: By bombing the shit out of Afghanistan.
What will this lead to ? Pakistans already rather extremist (but so far managebly so) moslems are of course going nuts, burning american flags etc.
Iran is condemning the inevitable loss of civilian life. Bin Laden is, of course, still at large in Afghanistan, and now there is no chance in hell that they will ever under any circumstances be delivered out. I doubt he will be found. His next logical step will be further terrorist attacks in USA, to keep people spooked, and to make sure the few people talking peace in America won't be heard. He may flee to some other moslem state, in order to goad America into bombing them as well. His hope is to make America look as ugly as possible in the eyes of Moslems everywhere, in order to turn this into a war between the west and Islam. I hope he fails, but if we keep playing into his hands, he might succeed.
But what to do then ? I certainly understand the wish to capture and kill OBL, and I agree: He must die. But he must die in a way that doesn't create ten new Bin Ladens. The best way, would be if he was denounced and killed by Moslems. The Northern alliance maybe. I can only hope that the longterm US plan is to give large scale humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, while supporting the northern alliance, and see it through, so Taleban falls forever. Further, USA *must* change it's foreign policy. If you look at it cynically, it is way cheaper, and way more effective to buy peace by giving aid, than by beating the shit out of those who hate you. Make them love you in stead, by helping them economically, by educating, etc. This is the only way to make democracy happen, and it is also an absolutely certain way of making democracy happen. Even a regime as horrible as Taleban could have been "educated" and "aided" away. Now of course, they can't. So end this war as quickly as possible, help Afghanistan rise again, and stop pampering the Israelis. Stop letting them get away with stuff you wouldn't suffer anyone else to do. Just be fair and impartial towards Israel and Palestine.
Also, it shouldn't be USA shouldering this alone. It should be UN, and we should ALL be involved.
"Also, I think you and the rest of the world should wait to judge the USA by our actions. Our leaders are all over TV right now telling everyone to be tolerant and that this will be a long term effort against terrorism and that no quick reaction will solve the problem. "
I truly hope you're right. And, I must agree from watching some more news, that it looks like the
initial reactions have been tempered a bit now.
"Regarding the poll results, a lot of emotional things were said, but I don't believe that Americans want to punish just anybody around the
an emotional reaction then you can understand. I've been really shook up about it myself."
Again, it seems like you're right. I was pretty emotional about it as well, initially. And I can certainly understand that this atrocity causes immense anger. I haven't judged USA for anything regarding the WTC disaster.I just hope that Bush will look around, when the worst emotional smoke clears, and see an american people that truly wants to resolve this permanently, not an angry mob that demands retribution.
"And do you know how many Palestinian terrorists would hide behind the UN force. Get real people. The palestians routinely kill each other.." etc.
Yes I do. So, the ME peoples are assholes. This gives us the right to be assholes as well ? No.
Wrong.
"I just once would like to hear some of you Europeans acknowledge the fact that it isn't all Isreal and the US's fault that these people prefer to kill each other instead of living peaceable together. "
Hereby acknowledged. It isn't ALL Israel and US faults. As I wrote, the allied forces after WWII, which includes most of Europe, bears a lot of the blame. But some of us moderated our policies since then.
"If anything most of the troubles in the third world are the fault of you damn Europeans and your fucking inbred Royals that wanted world wide conquest and created these artificial borders in the first place. "
Absolutely true. And before that, the Danish were a viking society- We routinely sailed to south Europe to burn, pillage rape and plunder everything that moved. We were complete bastards.
In recent history (until about WWII), Europe has indeed been evil in the extreme.
But we changed. And we would like to see you guys change as well.
I know my history, I also know what's going on now, and I don't like the role of Denmark in many foreign affairs, but I don't rave and shout and say Denmark is perfect, even though I know it's not. Why do many americans lash out, as you just did, when someone points out flaws of USA ?
"Point is, do you think the type of mind that would train their children such things would care if they had a legit excuse or not ? "
You're asking the wrong question. You should ask yourself "What does it take to make people train their children for war ?".
And what it takes is desparation. and hate.
There's a reason these guys hate the US. In their daily lives, what they see is american built apache helicopters attacking and killing them daily, as retribution for extremist acts of terror. Sure they hear about the peace process, but nothing happens, except Israeli tanks rolling into Gaza, people being arrested arbitrarily etc.
In their news, I'm sure that the enormous amount of UN resolutions being vetoed by the US fills a lot more than it does in America (or Denmark for that matter).
They hate you, and will continue to hate you, as long as you help and support their suppressor. Some of them hate you enough to do something like WTC.
And of course that is wrong. I completely condemn what was done. I'm *not* trying to excuse it in any way. I'm just trying to explain why. Because the why of it contains the solution, and the solution is not to invade Afghanistan. That's just an easy convenient way of satisfying a temporary understandable bloodlust.
Of course the culprits must be found and punished, but the longterm solution to end terrorism is to be fair and just and *decent* in foreign policy. NOT to serve self interest at the expense of others.
here's a viewpoint from Denmark, truly one of
these "hobbit villages" you speak of.
I must say I like hobbits though. They are nice and friendly, if somewhat naive at times.
Let me first tell you what the reactions of this hobbit, and most of the other hobbits here were:
Tears for WTC. Flowers at the US embassy. A statement from our primeminister that we extend our fullest support for the US.
That said, why do you think NATO (to which my hobbit village contribute some farmers with pitchforks) immediately invoked article 5 (the one-for-all article) ? This was partly to show our support and commitment, but mostly I think, to try to curb the american revenge which is sure to come. America has, understandably, gone completely insane with lust for vengeance. 70% of americans (CNN) support military action against terrorist havens, *even if thousands of innocent lives are lost* 70% also insists that it is of the utmost importance that the *right* culprits are identified first, which means that a staggering *30%* don't give a hoot who dies, as long as there is some sort of military action.
WTF ? Is the american people then any better than the terrorists who did this horrible act ?
Yes, USA have done many good deeds. So have Denmark, and so have many others. The afghan Mujahedin were true heroes, fighting oppression. Then they won, and most of them became Taleban. Now they are not heroes, now they are villains.
The jewish people were oppressed for centuries, culminating in the Holocaust. Then the allied forces gave them their own land. (taking it away from those that already lived there). Now, the Isreaelis are bad guys: They have several standing UN resolutions against them (check www.un.org) and would have dozens more if US hadn't vetoed them. They are sending combat helicopters to fucking bomb civilians *every* week.
And the US is backing them. Holocaust is 50 years ago. It does *not* entitle Israel to act as it does, and never has. The seven-day war was 25 years ago. Even if "the other guys started" it does not entitle Israel to act as they do, and never has.
The US need to stop backing Israel, for the simple reason that they are wrong. Without the blatant carte blanche to act as they please, given by the US, there might be peace in Israel and around: Israel would be forced to give concessions, and peace could happen.
Read up on UN's resolutions etc, check the number of times US has vetoed anti Israel resolutions. Look at the resolutions that have been passed. Judge for yourself.
There is a reason we hobbits suck at war: We hate them, and we don't need to fight them, because we're generally well-liked. When we do have to, we come with our pathetic pitchforks and fight, but we don't do so eagerly. That's what americans do, fight eagerly.
I'd rather be a hobbit.
That is not to say that I would like to see this money be repaid, not at all. But the only people I hear defending the U.S.'s current position are quickly branded as unenlightened neanderthals who know nothing about any goings on outside their little hobbit villages. While I agree that the United States does in fact need to rethink alot of its foreign policy I cannot excuse those who would villify us for doing our best. Progress takes time. And for a country that had Jim Crow laws on the books up until 50 years ago, I think we've come a pretty long way. We've still got a long way to go, but to quote the bible: "let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
Whether you want to admit it or no, he is still right.
The israeli government has been using terror just as bad or worse as the worst palestinians. The palestinians send a suicide bomber, the Israeli send apache helicopters. The major difference is that the isreali terrorist acts are state sanctioned. Do you realize how many UN sanctions against Israel have been vetoed by the US ?
Do you realize that only because of US veto's and Israeli veto, no UN peacekeeping forces are on the west bank ?
I hate violence, and the horrible attack on WTC literally left me crying. I fear the US response (I am Danish) I'm afraid America will go in, guns blazing, killing thousands of innocent civilians to get to Bin Laden.
Though killing Bin laden would be good, doing so at the expence of thousands of civilians would be as atrocious as the WTC bombing it self. I hope the american people can see that, even if your president cannot.
I must say I find the overview somewhat lacking, but maybe it's just because of my personal pet science :-)
Anyway, extra suggestions:
Evolutionary algorithms
Swarm intelligence
Distributed AI
Alife
Check it out with google. mucho interesting AI stuff.