I am sure that "terrorist" is a term few people apply to themselves. This gets at a core component that is missing in our military and diplomatic strategy: know your "enemy." The government says it doesn't negotiate with terrorists, but they overlook the fact that traditionally, in Arab and Islamic societies, exchanging hostages was (and still is) a common part mediating conflicts. In Islam, many crimes, especially murder, are punished by secular authorities through fines or blood money. Exchanging money and hostages has been business as usual in the Middle East, and it isn't thought of as a terrorist tactic. In cases where Islamic communities have taken hostages, killing them has been a new development, in response to Americas puzzling unwillingness to negotiate like civilized people. We should also consider that those we take prisoner, especially the non-combatants, and hold in Guantanamo or Abu Grhaib can be viewed as hostages we have taken. Not negotiating is a bad strategy.