Det er naturligt at Præsident Obama reagerer på blodbadet i Orlando, og at han bruger store og formodet skræmmende ord ("Terror" må formodes at være frygtindgydende). Desværre bruger han ikke det mere præcise begreb "Islamisk krigshandling", på trods af at Islamisk Stat har taget ansvar for angrebet. Gjorde han det, ville det have nogle logiske konsekvenser. Primært at han ville være nødt til at erklære formel krig mod Islamisk Stat, aktivere NATO, og internere alle IS-støtter i USA.
At flage på halv er åbenlyst mindre risikabelt end at tage den egentlige udfordring op.
En foreslået rationel og proportionel reaktion:
"This attack makes it obvious that we need to obliberate Islamic State, which poses a clear and present danger to US security. For that reason, I have instructed carrier groups to prepare for battle, and requested a formal Declaration of War from Congress. In this grave context, any potential objections from our staunchly loyal ally Turkey will be of lesser importance. Finally, I have submitted an apology to the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, for not accepting his invitation to jointly defeat and exterminate the treat to humanity that Islamic State constitutes. Going forward, we shall support Russia and the government of Syria in total and relentless war against this evil."
