Dealing with terrorism: a public health agenda

For the public health community, the terrorism wreaked on the United States is stunning, but not necessarily surprising. It was a shrieking reminder to us all that desperate and hopeless peoples will follow extremist minorities, that poverty and insecurity, compounded by smoldering pockets of war and the cautious engagement, if any, by the rich world breeds the destruction of 11 September. That horror spread its message in nanoseconds across the world, evoking cries of alarm and sorrow, life sacrificing rescues, and loud calls for vengeance and a “crusade” to counter the “jihad”, expending more material and human resources for more death, disability, and damage to the lives and futures …