Unfortunately, the official American reaction was to panic.

Don't Panic!

It is all very well to talk about a global war on terrorism. To win it, however, you have to fight it -- on every front.

We must do everything we can to help the region's more moderate and friendly regimes — the Saudis and others — defeat terrorism and improve the protection of foreign workers and oil facilities. Equally important is stepping up aid and antiterrorism assistance to Pakistan. Yes, these fights have a military dimension — but the primary struggle is political, ideological and economic. We can't win it by force or on the cheap. Victory will come only through strengthening local allies and reformers, not by trying to impose our own political values.

Anthony Cordesman argues that al Qaeda's latest attack was more 'successful' than the Madrid bombing. I need him to explain this further, but his point cannot be dismissed.

As Stratfor points out regularly, the decisive battles in the war against Al Qaeda must be fought in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. And while cruise missiles, UAVs, tanks, and SEALs will play a role, ultimately its success or failure does not hinge on the military.

This war can be lost by the military, but they cannot win it for us.

Focus!