> lust for draconian punishment
That's a bit harsh, I was just pointing out that this guy is directly responsible for six deaths and it should be taken into the context of the article.
> so why now?
But to your main point, there's a big, big difference between a shooting from a disgruntled employee and a coordinated terrorist attack. The later is deliberately killing and creating an atmosphere of terror for political means. They intend to change US policy -- or else.
Do you think countries should take these attacks in stride, and change their policies to what the terrorists want? Should the perpetrators always get the minimum sentence? Should we release them and give them visas to stay in the country? Where is the line?
> These letters made three demands: an end to all US aid to Israel, an end to US diplomatic relations with Israel, and a pledge by the United States to end interference "with any of the Middle East countries' interior affairs." He stated that the attack on the World Trade Center would be merely the first of such attacks if his demands were not met. In his letters, Yousef admitted that the World Trade Center bombing was an act of terrorism, but this was justified because "the terrorism that Israel practices (which America supports) must be faced with a similar one."