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Keller @ Large: You Can Hurt Us, But You Can't Defeat Us

BOSTON (CBS) - Thursday in Washington, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis told a congressional committee that "Boston is a stronger city" because of the way we handled the terrorist attack, and he was right.

Anytime we rediscover the professionalism of our health-care and law enforcement people and the generosity and community spirit that lives here, it strengthens our confidence in what we've built and where we're headed. Our tourism business dropped after 9/11, but not this time, a sign of how our reaction strengthened our image around the world.

Listen to Jon's commentary:

Keller at Large May 10 2013

Commissioner Davis went on to say this: "I hope the people who committed these atrocious acts know there is a futility in their efforts." And of that, I'm sorry to say, I'm not so sure.

While it's still not clear exactly what the two idiots involved thought they were going to achieve, consider the usual goals of the terrorist: killing and injuring people; inflicting economic damage; attracting attention to their sick politics; and enhancing the fear of future violence and chaos.

On most of those fronts, it's hard to argue that they failed.

There's been a terrible human toll and serious damages to business. Attention has been re-focused on jihad and its proponents. And there's plenty of lingering fear, anger and confusion to go around.

We hope to find out soon from the surviving "suspect" if he thinks his crime spree was "futile."

Whether he does or not, put me down in favor of no mercy for him, as one small step toward making sure other, future would-be mass murderers understand what the commissioner was really saying – you can hurt us, but you can't defeat us, and we can defeat you.

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.

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