KBF, that is such a simplistic view of the way Americans see this situation. As a former RAF pilot now living over here, I can assure you that most of them are well aware of what's going on, and that they fully realise that this requires more subtlety than a mushroom cloud. Don't believe that CNN represents the average American's intellect - CNN has it's own agenda.
I, for one, have been extremely impressed with the measured response to this crisis over here in the US. How would the UK have coped if someone had flown two BA jets into NatWest Tower or the Houses of Parliament? It could easily have been done. The US has suprised the extremists by it's resilience, and by the outpouring of national pride. Americans got up at the "one count" after a low blow. Bin Laden and his cronies never have, and never will, understand the American culture. They're not Admiral Yamamoto ("...awaken a sleeping giant...").
Anyone who has done an exchange tour over here can testify to the genuine friendliness of Americans; they simply don't understand the hostilities of others towards them, or anybody else for that matter, and they are starting to realise that it is poverty that breeds extremism, more than ideology. But hit them, and they will hit back - harder. It's the creed they built their independence on. We Brits were slow to learn that in the 1800's.
BEagle's posting was quite insightful...