Christopher Jones, an assistant political science professor, opened up his POLS 382 Foreign Policy Decision-Making lecture, reminding students that “this is a time of speculation and rumors.”

The European Union has called Tuesday’s terrorist attacks acts of war, a phrase echoed by world leaders, including U.S. President George W. Bush.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called it a criminal attack as he extended the offer of aid to the U.S. He also declared today a national day of mourning.

Jones explained that terrorism is a political act.

“I think the U.S. will identify who did this,” he said. “This is not the Michigan militia.”

House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert called out to the nation to lower party line and stand “shoulder to shoulder” to fight this terror.

“Those who brought forth this evil deed will pay the price,” Hastert said. “We’re not sure who this is yet, but we have our suspicions. We will stand as Americans together through this time.”

Sen. Tom Daschle, D-North Dakota, called today’s events despicable assaults on the people and freedom.

“We — Republicans and Democrats, House and Senate — stand united behind the president,” he added.

America was in awe today over the complexity of the planning that had to go into an operation of this magnitude.

Jones said whoever orchestrated the attacks had to not only find people that were able to fly commercial airliners, but people who also were willing to die on the same day.

He said the next step is to determine the appropriate course of action to counter these attacks.