PATIENCE is a virtue...and this cannot be more true than at the present time.

As what history will probably describe as one of the most brutal and bloody events of the 21st century - much larger in death-toll than Pearl Harbour - unfolded in the American cities of New York and Washington yesterday, it became increasingly obvious that some pundits and politicians were hell bent on instant revenge and reprisals.

We will probably never know what went on behind the scenes as President Bush was shuttled from safe house to safe house and what was going through his, and his main advisers', minds as the full scale of the devastation became obvious.

But within minutes of the first blast, the finger was being pointed at a number of relatively well-known terrorist organisations and their leaders. And President George Bush vowed "retaliation for evil and despicable acts of terror".

Obviously there must be action taken to ensure that this sort of carnage cannot ever happen again.

This will, undoubtedly and inevitably, involve military action of some kind and Prime Minister Tony Blair has already offered UK the assistance of UK forces if neccassary after a meeting of defence and security chiefs at Downing Street this morning.

All UK military assets are to be put at the disposal of the Americans if they can identify a target for retribution.

The Americans have, on past occasions, not been slow to hit back at what is seen as terrorism against their nation.

Their response is likely to be on a scale that has not been seen before.

All we ask is that they show patience and ensure that they hit the right target. And when they hit it, to hit it hard.