Part of that is handling the problem before it becomes a problem.

Which requires an understanding of the problem.

#1. What breeds terrorism?

#2. How can each breed be countered?

#3. For the existing terrorists, how can we neutralize or contain them?

THIS ONE shall require a process which is quite a Stranger to Murican polit-speek: deep, thorough debate, some new awareness of Who we are, How we are perceived by Others (Yes: there are Other than Murican POVs in the World) -- and maybe toughest of all:

the Changing of some of >OUR< Habits. Too. Scary, ain't it?
I think we're doomed then. Too much of our psychological make-up is based upon Might Is Right.

I don't think this will change until we run into someone bigger than us (US).

Until that point, it is economically, emotionally, and just about every other way, easier and more satisfying to smite the opposition into submission.