If Batman were a real entity in a real world, a situation like this would indeed play itself out as we've seen on screen. The joker is not a terrorist, although it would be easier to label him as such; he is more the anithesis to Batman's attempt to control the criminal element. Batman can be the hero or the scapegoat, whatever Gotham needs to move from darkness to light. This is an outstanding film; it transcends genres and should be nominated as Lord of the Rings was for similar reasons. It has so many layers and it is tasty too.