In any conflict, be it small or large, dialogue should be the first step. Try to get the countries involved to understand that the terrorists were wrong to do what they did. Show goodwill. This is the first step to cooperation with those countries to get the terrorists. Indeed, the people may never come around, but an attempt to resolve the conflict without the use of force would have been made.

After 11 September 2001, the US started an investigation to look who was responsible. After that everything moved really fast and 7 October the first bombs fell in Afghanistan in a joint operation with the British army. That is less than a month. No sign of talks with the local authorities. Instead of trying to bring the criminals to justice, the US took justice in it's own hands. And to make it worse, the US didn't fight a clean war. The US uses torture and instead of trying the main antagonists in court, they were shot dead.

Long story short, the US acted like a bully instead of trying to talk things out first. This makes the Middle East see the US as a bully instead of a rational country.