Terrorism... What's the point?

I saw an ad on the discovery channel for a show documenting 9/11 and it got me thinking.  What is the point of terrorists doing the things they do?  I mean did they really think our government would just roll over and do nothing?  Instead we go off to war, which pisses them off and results in more terrorist action (carbombings, suicide bombings), which results in more military action, which leads to more terrorism...  The whole situation is a fucked up lose/lose scenario.  What do these fucking insane idiots hope to accomplish!?

The purpose of terrorism is not so much the main mean to achieve a goal as it is to spread TERROR and demoralize the enemy. 

>>15
The main difference here being that Christian extremism is confined mostly to the continental US.  Islamic terrorism is a problem that affects countries all over the world.

>>6
Good point.  Maybe things would be less fucked up if an Imam, or Cleric or SOMEBODY would grow a pair of balls and step up to the plate and say, "You're a disgrace to our religion."