The language of conventional jurisprudence ("...judicial process, proving guilt beyond reasonable doubt, observing international law...") is totally irrelevant in the context of the events of 11 Sep. To draw analogies with the correct response to domestic burglary is particularly bizarre. The scale of the destruction and loss of life, and the means by which they were wrought, demand new thinking. The first requirement is to defend our civilisation against further similar attacks. We mightthus buy enough time to evolve a new international treaty governing terrorism, methods of identifying terrorists and eliminating them. The conventions that evolved on Piracy might serve as an example.