goes like this:

Behind all the political rhetoric being hurled at us from abroad, we are bringing home one unassailable fact--[terrorism is] a crime by any civilized standard, committed against innocent people, away from the scene of political conflict, and must be dealt with as a crime...
[I]n our recognition of the nature of terrorism as a crime lies our best hope of dealing with it..
[L]et us use the tools that we have.  Let us invoke the cooperation we have the right to expect around the world, and with that cooperation let us shrink the dark and dank areas of sanctuary until these cowardly marauders are held to answer as criminals in an open and public trial for the crimes they have committed, and receive the punishment they so richly deserve.

William H. Webster, Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation,
October 15, 1985

Then I ask what is so American about skirting around our founding principals that have held us in such high regard by the world in order to give these very same cowards a huge propaganda victory over us.  By making us alter our ethos even by the littlest of measures the terrorists win a huge victory.  After all, it is a primary goal of terrorism to cause the targeted society to abandon the principals that the terrorists hold in such low esteem.  Once one string gets the tug, more follow.
I hope this is, in some small way, helpful.  

peace