I don't find it that hard to understand the mindset of the terrorist. All you need to do is imagine that the situation was reversed. Imagine a world dominated by a Muslim nation with overwhelming military might. Imagine that they installed military bases pretty much wherever they wanted, one outside of New York, a couple in the midwest and one in Florida, right across from Disneyworld. Imagine that they used their military might as a wedge to inject their culture, their values, and their religion into our daily lives. Would this piss you off a little? Even if you are an exceptionally patient and open minded sort who would never think of doing anything violent, what about the redneck gun-nut down the street. Do you think he might get unhinged watching Muslim soldiers march around his home town like they owned the place? The desperation behind terrorism is born of powerlessness. They're faced with an increasingly intrusive foreign influence, backed by an overwhelming military, and they feel helpless to do anything about it. It's not so hard to understand how some of them might reach a point of such despair that they'd be willing to die to strike back.