The really dangerous thing is this notion of it being a "war on terrorism". This is what has screwed everything up -- the British have abandoned it, and for some reason Obama abandoned it, and now has taken it up again. "War" (for better or worse) has come under a whole raft of codified agreements, but the "Cold War" screwed them up (endless war that isn't quite a war).   Treating the people involved as warrish enemies gives them a status they don't deserve, and yet they are a threat. But terror is always a threat: there were anarchists in the 19th century who did all kinds of dastardly deeds (including blowing up lots of people, assassinating presidents, etc.). The Obama dilemma is (typically) that he wants to keep doing the Commander-in-Chief, war is always and forever, in order to keep bolstering up executive power. They all do, it is part of the genetic code. But it makes for a horrible mess if you are also trying to put them under a justice code.

yours,

Peter T.