I think there needs to be a little more to it than that...
The US is in a tough spot. Countries hide and protect and aid terrorists, and the US has a right to defend itself. At the same time, every time the US does that, disaster unfolds. Iraq did not go well, and a few years into the war people were hating Bush instead of supporting him.
Also, I think there needs to be a little empathy to the terrorists beyond 'recoil'. They're human beings too, and while there's nothing wrong with a soldier killing another soldier in a war, I think there should be a little respect there.
Something else this thread reminds me of:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15255357
Now here is somewhere US military power and strict law could do some good.