The underlying lesson of September 11 is that the United States can no longer defer the hard decisions. The overwhelming tragedy of the attacks has provided a mandate to change business as usual in American foreign policy and work on constructing a positive and enduring relationship between the United States and the Islamic world.

America's goal must be to prevent future strikes by its enemies. The United States cannot afford to allow an emotional desire for quick retribution to override its long-term national security interests. It would not be difficult to make things worse rather than better.