possibly noteworthy wrote:
The purpose of terrorism is to provoke an overreaction. Its real aim is not to kill the hundreds of people directly targeted but to sow fear in the rest of the population. Terrorism is an unusual military tactic in that it depends on the response of the onlookers. If we are not terrorized, then the attack didn't work. Alas, this one worked very well.

This always reminds me of the scene in Brazil where they're having dinner, there's a bombing in the hall, and the staff comes along and puts privacy screens between the injured patrons and those still enjoying their meals as if nothing happened.

RE: You don't realize it, but we're at dinner right now.