Apparently you and Osama Bin Laden are on the same page on this point.
There's a name for the tack you just took. Not being a logician I don't know what it is but it can't be flattering. Demonizing me instead of attacking the argument...
Personally, I think the results of terrorism and murder speak for themselves-you turn whole nations against you, and become reviled in history as barbaric. If you survive long enough to read the histories that are written, that is, which many people who have chosen this "total war" path do not manage to achieve.
Terrorism is not Total War and it is because it is not total war that it can drag on and on.
In any Total War one side survives and one doesn't. Total war leads to final and complete victory. there are many examples but just in case your education in history is lacking here's just a few.
American Civil War - some consider this the 1st total war, I don't but anyway how many guys in grey uniforms you had to fight off lately? Can you say end of slavery? How about union restored. Lots'a bubbas like to think the south will rise again. Hasn't happened yet and probably never will.
WWI - Central Powers defeated which resulted in the end of monarchies in Europe and rise of European democracies and yes even in Germany a democracy - it was a democracy unti 1933 when Hitler did his thing (mostly because the Allies failed to totally crush the Germans).
WWII - Germany - annhilated - no more NAZI's. Japan - annhilated - nuff said.
Ancient times - Rome crushed Carthage - end of that problem for them. In fact Rome crushed pretty much everyone they went up against until 200 AD or so. No one dared to fight them - again - after they'd been beaten - it was a losing proposition. Result 800 year empire.
The best way to end a war and make sure you don't have to fight that particular enemy again is to wipe him out.
That won't end war but it sure as hell will make it so you don't have to fight the same guys over and over again.
You guys who want war to be clean can preach about brutality and barbarism and what everyone else thinks about you afterwards all you want but the fact is the guys who fight to win and use what ever means is necessary are still alive when its all over. Because they've wiped out their opponent they'll have the luxury of pandering to you sheep and pretending to be all civilized. Right up until the next war.
I'll paraphrase a common quote:
Sheep can sleep easily at night because brave and brutal men are willing to do what ever is necessary to protect them - even when those self same men are slandered and called evil by those self same sheep!