We’re terrified when a terror attack happens, and we’re also terrified when it’s thwarted. We’re terrified when we give terrorists trials, and we’re terrified when we warehouse them at Guantanamo without trials. If a terrorist cooperates without being tortured we complain about how much more he would have cooperated if he hadn’t been read his rights. No matter how tough we’ve been on terror, we will never feel safe enough to ask for fewer safeguards.

Terrorism is a political tool. Its purpose is to force a more powerful political adversary to act more in the way you want it to by causing fear. Responding, as seemingly all Republicans and too many Democrats are, with mindless cowardice only moves the terrorist’s goals forward. It’s as simple as that.