Do the math - 1. One American is killed by one "terrorist". 2. Americans kill 1,000 of "them" including the "terrorist" for each American killed. 3. Out of the surviving friends and families of the 1,000 killed the "terrorists" are able to recruit 10 people for each "terrorist" killed. 4. There are now 10 "terrorists" to replace the killed one. (A total of 10 "terrorists".) 5. One American is killed by each of the (newly created) "terrorists". 6. Americans kill 1,000 of "them" including the "terrorists" for each American killed. 7. Out of the surviving friends and families of the 1,000 killed the "terrorists" are able to recruit 10 people for each "terrorist" killed. 8. There are now 10 "terrorists" to replace each of the killed ones. (A total of 100 "terrorists".) 9. One American is killed by each of the (newly created) "terrorists". 10. Out of the surviving friends and families of the 1,000 killed the "terrorists" are able to recruit 10 people for each "terrorist" killed. 11. There are now 10 "terrorists" to replace each of the killed ones. (A total of 1,000 "terrorists".) 12. One American is killed by each of the (newly created) "terrorists". 13. Out of the surviving friends and families of the 1,000 killed the "terrorists" are able to ... Yes, and spectacularly ineffective it was too. After the Japanese government had told the government of the United States of America that it was willing to surrender - provided that the Emperor was allowed to retain his tradional place in government? Unfortuately if you create "the other side" faster than you are killing them it isn't going to work out that way.