Ok, assuming your points are correct, you can retaliate against a known, organized force (or person), but you cannot retaliate against a nebulous group of peopl

Ok, assuming your points are correct, you can retaliate against a known, organized force (or person), but you cannot retaliate against a nebulous group of people who exist in different parts of the world, many of whom share completely different ideologies. You cannot "retaliate" against terrorism any more than you can retaliate against car crashes and deaths from cancer.