Shame On Spain

[Bombardier]

By EDWARD LUTTWAK

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

It must be said: Spanish voters have allowed a small band of terrorists to dictate the outcome of their national elections. It is a shameful downfall, and very surprising: That is not how democracies react when they are attacked by fanatics. Americans were visibly united and hardened by Sept. 11; the Italians overcame deep political differences in their determination to crush the Red Brigades; Israeli cohesion has only been increased by decades of terrorism. That is the normal reaction of democratic political communities based on respect for the will of many when they are threatened by the violent few.

That is not what happened in Spain. Before the Madrid bombs, all the polls forecast a victory for Mariano Rajoy of the Popular Party, for the very good reason that he was the chosen successor of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who has led Spain on the path of modernization and prosperity, with almost universally acknowledged success.

Three days before the elections, Mr. Rajoy seemed to be headed for victory over Socialist Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whom not even his mother would describe as a charismatic leader, and who certainly lacks a plausible economic policy.

What he does have is a foreign policy: to withdraw the 1,300 Spanish troops from Iraq, not merely to avoid more casualties, but to affirm that the Iraq war was an act of imperialist aggression that Spain should never have supported.

Mr. Zapatero is hardly alone in thinking that. On March 20, anti-war rallies are scheduled all over Western Europe. As the marchers deplore the war, which the Pope also condemned, they have one consolation: Saddam Hussein is alive and in good health, so that no irreparable damage has been done. He could still be restored to power, to resume ruling Iraq just as he did before, with mass graves and torture chambers. Even those who view the Iraq war as a strategic error for the United States, as I do, cannot take seriously the Zapateros of Europe, who seem bent on validating the crudest caricatures of "old European" cowardly decadence.

Spanish voters decided otherwise, though not without being the victims of last-minute manipulations there was no time to overcome. It is still more likely that the Madrid bombs were placed by the Basque ETA than any Muslim group, let alone the lingering remnants of al-Qaeda in their remote Afghan caves. In any case, with no firm evidence at all, it was an act of colossal irresponsibility for the Socialists and outrageously biased mass media to proclaim that the Madrid bombs were placed by Muslims rather than Basque fanatics, and that the Popular Party should therefore be defeated because it had sided with the United States in the Iraq war, thereby provoking Muslim hostility.

It is a matter of record that Osama bin Laden and other Islamists identified Spain as a priority target years before the Iraq war. Under Muslim law, no land conquered by Islam may legitimately come under non-Muslim rule. For the fanatics, Spain is still El Andalus, which must be reconquered for Islam by immigration and intimidation. So even if the bombs were placed by Islamists, the claim that Spain was only attacked because of Mr. Aznar's support for the Iraq war is utterly false.

Even if hard evidence were to be found that ETA was responsible after all, it would be too late: The Spanish political community has failed the test of terrorism — it has bowed down to the violence of the few, allowing them to dictate their will to the millions. There are bound to be serious consequences, because openly demonstrated weakness always invites further attack.

For one thing, Spain still rules the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the North African coast, which Islamists view as Christian colonies on Muslim soil. Having seen what bombs can do, they might well be tempted to see if a few more bombs can induce the Spanish to surrender the two enclaves. No democracy ever found safety in surrendering to aggressions, large or small.

It is a paradox, but the incoming prime minister, Mr. Zapatero, can only redeem Spanish democracy if he repudiates the popular mandate he has received, by proclaiming that there will be no withdrawal from Iraq because of any act of terrorism, Muslim or Basque.

We shall now see the broader European reaction to the Spanish events. For politicians in countries with both strong anti-U.S. movements and troops in Iraq — Italy, most notably — the risks are obvious and extreme. Any who are tempted to point to the Madrid attacks as a warning of what might happen in their own countries unless they withdraw from the coalition will be inviting terrorist attacks against their fellow citizens to validate their assertions. Nor will that species of real treason help them win elections.

The Spanish literally had no time to reflect between the Madrid bombs and the election. Elsewhere, voters are unlikely to follow in their path — they are much more likely to react to terrorism as democracies always do, by closing ranks to reject terrorists and all who side with them by advocacy or by justification, howsoever disguised or qualified.

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/.../BNStory/Front/

[DudeAsInCool]

There's a strong anti-war sentiment in Europe... The author made some good points. However, his statement

"As the marchers deplore the war, which the Pope also condemned, they have one consolation: Saddam Hussein is alive and in good health, so that no irreparable damage has been done"

is irresponsible. I almost stopped reading the article.

The Spanish vote may be emotional, and maybe even naieve, but they are entitled to run their own affairs. I, for one, agree with them on their antiwar stance in Iraq; but, on the recent terrorist attack, i think they should be more vigilent as opposed to passive - its a totally different situation.

The bottom line is I think its silly for the US to characterize countries and their leaders as bad guys, simply because they dont walk lockstep with American policies; at the same time, I hope the rest of the world wakes up when it comes to the real terrorists...they don't appear to be going away soon.

***

On another front, I saw that French soldiers almost captured Bin Laden. Wouldn't that be ironic if the French, who have been roundly critiicized for not joining the US coalition in Iraq, were to nab him. Then what would the French critics say?

[Bombardier]

On another front, I saw that French soldiers almost captured Bin Laden. Wouldn't that be ironic if the French, who have been roundly critiicized for not joining the US coalition in Iraq, were to nab him. Then what would the French critics say?

Historically, the French couldn't catch a cold.

I think Bin Laden has indeed been surrounded and "almost" caught a lot of times.

I'm waiting for the real event to take place, if it ever does.

[Shawn]

Historically, the French couldn't catch a cold.

It would require a very selective memory of history to come up with that analysis.

I see the author was a Canadian. The putz. Canadians, or at least the vast majority, didn't feel Iraq to be part of the "War on Terror". I'll stand behind that still. This attack in Spain apparently stems, if we are to believe what some say, from Spain's involvement in Iraq. Strangely, not on any sort of involvement in Afganistan. I wonder why. As the author would have remembered, Canada still has troops in Afganistan.

I feel it is useless to point fingers at another country that wants out of the very questionable presence in Iraq. That was the Socialist Party's platform before the attacks, though the attacks apparently swayed voters. You simply found one of the most biased news source in Canada.

-----------

Anyway, this was The Daily Show's take on the Spanish Election. It says some of the same things, but at least knows not to take itself seriously.

-----------------------------

transcript - March 15th, 2004

The election held under the most difficult circumstances over the weekend took place in Spain. In the wake of growing evidence that al-qaeda, not Basque separatists, were behind last week's devastating bombing, the Spanish people startled many observers by ousting prime minister Jose Maria Aznar's evidently not-so-popular Popular party which had been leading in the polls before last week. The Spanish voters' actions send a strong message to the world's terrorists.

If you think we're going to back down in the face of threats, you got us. We're going to back down.

(Laughter)

As a matter of fact, can we get anything else? The winner, instead, by a wide margin was Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his socialist party.

So if you're keeping score at home, so far our war in Iraq has created a police state country and socialism in Spain.

So no democracies yet, but we're really getting close.

(Laughter)

For more on the dire situation in Spain we turn to our senior Iberian analyst Steven Colbert. Steven, thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate it.

(Cheers and applause)

Once again thanks for flying back to be with us.

>> No problemo.

Steven, please explain to Americans these election results in Spain.

>> Oh, well, Jon, I thought the al-qaeda ran a very effective campaign. They went negative, but that sometimes works.

(Laughter)

You're saying that al-qaeda's goal was to get the socialists in power in Spain?

>> Well, sort of, Jon. They were really running an anybody-but-bush campaign.

(Laughter)

Steven, I'm sorry, how did you legitimize these bombings under the cloak of political strategy?

>> Jon, al-qaeda wanted to express displeasure with Spain’s foreign policy. Like any political organization, they had a variety of options; the rally, boycott, and e-mail campaigns getting very popular. They simply chose the unleashing of hell on earth with a wanton random destruction of all those who are not them. It's all summed up in al-qaeda's motto, “what wouldn't Gandhi do?”

(Laughter)

Well, unfortunately, now it looks like Spain is going to we draw its troops from Iraq and I guess from al-qaeda's point of view, the dispute is over, and I guess now the attacks will end.

>> Yeah. Almost. I mean, very close. There's just one more place Islamic extremists would like the Spanish to withdraw from.

And where is that?

>> That would be Spain.

(Laughter)

>> I'm sorry, I didn't -- they want Spain back. They used to control Spain. It's that simple.

That was 500 years ago.

>> Exactly, Jon. The wound is still pretty fresh. The defeat of the moors at the battle of Grenada still sticks in their craw. Let me put it this way. Not a lot of Islamic extremists name their kids Ferdinand or Isabella.

You can't possibly be suggesting this horrific violent act has its ultimate roots in the 15th century.

>> Of course not, Jon. For the roots you have to go back another 780 years to Tariq Bin Zayid, the governor of North Africa, you'll remember, the one who crossed the straits of Gibraltar conquering what we so flippantly call Spain by defeating the Visigoths who themselves rose to power after the Theodosius, the a-hole, granted them an independent barbarian kingdom in 828. Really, it's the roman's fault.

>>I have to lay blame for a lot of this violence on Romulus, and to a lesser extent Remus.

(Laughter)

Steven, this is absolutely insane. You're saying the only way that the violence ends, that what the terrorists want, is a reversal of 2,000 or so years of western history?

>> Yes. Although they prefer to call it a mulligan. (Laughter) Also, they want algebra back. (Laughter)

Jon: Steven, we'll be back right after this.

(Applause) (Cheers and applause)

[DudeAsInCool]

I wish Jon Stewart was running for President - Id vote for him in a heartbeat... :D

[method77]

The article is really stupid. The spanish voters punished Aznar for not telling them the truth about the bombings 2 days before the elections. He lied in front of the whole nation when he went on national tv when he told them the ETA was responsible so he can get away with his decision to join the Iraq war. They also punished him for taking part in that war even though 90% of the population was against it. I'd vote against Aznar too. The writer of this article obviously doesn't know nothing about the madrid bombings. He says that ETA is responsible even though the Spanish goverment and everybody said the opposite. I'm surprised that this article was written for a big paper like globe and mail. Pfft

On another front, I saw that French soldiers almost captured Bin Laden. Wouldn't that be ironic if the French, who have been roundly critiicized for not joining the US coalition in Iraq, were to nab him. Then what would the French critics say?

Do you actually believe that that war was started just to fight terrorists? Every civilised nation wants Laden captured dude, the French and most europeans don't agree with the US tactics on the matter.

[Malicious Intent]

The article is really stupid. The spanish voters punished Aznar for not telling them the truth about the bombings 2 days before the elections. He lied in front of the whole nation when he went on national tv when he told them the ETA was responsible so he can get away with his decision to join the Iraq war. They also punished him for taking part in that war even though 90% of the population was against it. I'd vote against Aznar too. The writer of this article obviously doesn't know nothing about the madrid bombings. He says that ETA is responsible even though the Spanish goverment and everybody said the opposite. I'm surprised that this article was written for a big paper like globe and mail. Pfft

^ This comment has been taken for my own use.

[method77]

if only I could speak better english

[DudeAsInCool]

Do you actually believe that that war was started just to fight terrorists? Every civilised nation wants Laden captured dude, the French and most europeans don't agree with the US tactics on the matter.

No, Ive been always been against the Iraq war, for the very reasons you stated. What did I say that made you think otherwise?

[method77]

What did I say that made you think otherwise?

nothing. I just wanted to say that lol

[DudeAsInCool]

Down with Grease :duck hunt: :duck hunt: :duck hunt:

[method77]

Grease?

[DudeAsInCool]

lol

[Shawn]

Grease

[method77]

where is olivia?

[MikeHunt]

I completely agree with the original post.

If you capitulate to terrorists no matter what the reason...it encourages more terrorism.

Kinda like giving the school bully your lunch money....does he go away and leave you alone?

NOPE. hitwall hitwall

[DudeAsInCool]

...the vast majority, didn't feel Iraq to be part of the "War on Terror". I'll stand behind that still. 

I think that most rationale people buy this. No one argues that Saddam Hussein was a thug. The Bush admistration wanted to invade Iraq before they were even elected to power--the problem is they didnt share their plan with the world. Instead they used 911 to fuel their campaign, rather than focus their efforts on Al Queda--and they thumbed their nose at the rest of the world in doing so. This is the issue... :read this:

[MikeHunt]

goddam lie ..DAIC...more fuel for the propaganda machine.

[Kooperman]

A former member of the Bush administration confirms that attacking Iraq was always a goal, even before 9/11/01 :

http://www.sundayherald.com/39221

[DudeAsInCool]

Come now, MikeH, don't you have any stronger ammo than that?

The above is a typical conservative response that seems to imply that the war critics are ...under the thumb of socialists, part of a propaganda machine, liars, or worse, (gulp) aiding the enemy,etc. bla bla bla. I think its intellectually dishonest to make accusations and make slurs simply because you dont like someone else's positions, when you havent read up on the subject when challenged.

The search for truth requires legitimate inquiry... On this issue, you might start with the Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz papers on spreading democacy in the Middle East, circa 1994, MikeH, before ATTEMPTING to criticize me when you havent done your homework. The subject matter has been covered in both conservative and liberal publications.. I challenged you to google the subject matter several weeks ago--I can see you didnt take the Coca-Cola challenge...

Speaking of propoganda, the Bush Administration has the largest spin press machine in the history of this country--the New Yorker did an indepth article in the beginning of the year. They seem to have gotten the message through to you, MikeH...but I ain't buying.