Every hear of the hundred year war? Since we don't seem to want to go postal on them, it's going to take a real long time. Your talking about roughly 50 nations that have terrorists. This doesnt end with Afganistan and Osama. How many nations are going to kill, turn over or arrest the terrorists? Iran, Syria, Iraq, etc etc. This may last a real long time. The only example I can give is during the 18th 19th centuries and the battles with Pirates, lasted a long time. If we had a ultimatum and were willing to use nukes it would be just about over all ready. But if we can put a lot a preassure on these nations they may solve the problem for us. However, I dont think it will happen with all of them, so we may have several generations living through wars before the problem is solved.