All that is known for sure this morning is the enormity of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. Leaping to conclusions about the identities and motives of the terrorists is a mistake.

The people who hijacked and crashed airliners into the two World Trade Center towers and plunged another jet into the Pentagon put on a terrifying, concerted display.

Watching videotape of a passenger plane plow into the south tower was ghastly. Minutes later, seeing both symbols of American economic strength and vitality implode in volcanic plumes of dust was a moment that will forever change this country.

This terrorism will come to naught. As another enemy learned a generation ago, a sleeping giant has been roused.

Those who undertook this murderous plot no doubt watched their well-coordinated assault unfold on that ubiquitous global common denominator, CNN. Their cheers will evaporate into the ether.

They are gravely mistaken if they assume the United States government will not respond with a swift, sure and punishing response of its own.

As the staggering death toll unfolds from today's horrific events, our own anger must be measured and focused. Today's madness would be grievously compounded by a mindless backlash against any ethnic group.

The Statue of Liberty was still carrying a torch aloft as smoke engulfed Manhattan. Those who misunderstand us, who seek to destroy us, have not taken down the Statue of Liberty. What she represents has always been America's best response to villainy and tyranny.