March 14, 2004
EUROPE AWAKENS
Norway’s Bjorn Staerk neatly summarises what we might call Europe’s pre-Madrid view of terrorism:
Everyone will claim to stand united against terrorism. Everyone always does. But there's "yes we stand united against terrorism in all forms" and then there's "yes we stand united against terrorism in all forms, but what are we doing in Iraq anyway, and haven't we brought this on ourselves by aligning ourselves with the insane policies of the Bush administration?"
The post-Madrid view could be a little different:
Will we settle for the usual condemnations of terrorism, then continue as before, apologizing for, understanding and downplaying the threat of Islamic terrorism, while we reserve our true outrage for the Americans and Israelis, or will we update our maps to reflect the post-9/11 terrain? Words of sympathy are not enough. Al-Qaeda counts on sympathy to increase our fear that we're next in line. Anger is actually more appropriate. It's the ingredient we've been missing these last years, for while we always condemn terrorists attacks and show sympathy for their victims, we never really get angry with the monsters who are behind it. I noticed that prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik described yesterday's attack as an example of "evil" on TV2, using a word (ondskap) that is quite strong, (big-E evil). That may be a good sign, and I'll be watching for more.
As will we all. I wonder what John Kerry’s foreign mystery leaders think about all this.
(Via contributor and unknown foreign leader J.F. Beck)
UPDATE. France gets it. From Le Monde, via Sullivan:
"If she did not know it yet, she knows it now: Europe is part of the battlefield of hyper-terrorism ... Nothing, evidently, no cause, no context, no supposedly political objective, justifies this kind of [large scale] terrorism ... If the trail back to Al-Qaida is confirmed, Europeans should rethink the war against Islamic fundamentalist terrorism, as did the United States after the attacks of September 11, 2001."
Welcome to reality.
UPDATE. Hey, you! HIT THE ARCHIVES and scroll down for any items you may have missed over the weekend.
Posted by Tim Blair at March 14, 2004 12:56 AM
It may be that permenant anger and resolve reaches a threshold when an event is so large that -- like the 9/11 or Bali -- it's the case that you either know someone killed in the attacks or that you know someone who does. And it's almost impossible not to know someone who was at the scene of the crime. With 3,000 people killed on 9/11 -- you can't avoid some personal contact. Bali and Madrid, as a matter of proportion to the population of Australia and Spain, are certainly in the same range.
And it's harder -- like whoever that idiot lefty Australian was who suggested he didn't know -- and didn't want to know -- any of the folks killed in Bali -- to find that with an attack on this scale, to simply pretend it happened to someone else.
No, I think this one clarifies the threat in Spain -- hopefully France and Germany won't be so slow to draw the lesson.
As I watched the dignified outpouring of Spaniards yesterday, I thought of the many scenes of Arab funerals and the ranting and raging and calls for revenge. I thought of the Shia public self scourging recently, juxtaposed against the scenes of floral arrangements at
Spanish Embassies.
And I wondered, "What now, Espana? What now?"
It’s not just a matter of scorning—since their acts are mutually reinforcing—to differentiate between ETA & the Islamists.
It’s a matter of blaming both of them for the attack & for what appears to be the strategicially designed ambiguity of the attack’s source.
They both created that possibility. An ETA man was recently caught heading for Madrid with massive explosives. Islamists have taken credit for 3/11/04 & many in the loosely organized Al Qaeda movement probably believe that it was Al Qaeda.
Posted by: ForNow at March 14, 2004 at 03:34 AMEurope will get it, and here's why. In Europe, young lefties generally travel any distance by train (whereas in America, it's usually an airplane). The terrorists have made a strategic error in choosing trains for their act of mass murder. Young lefties are going to be thinking long and hard about them now (just as they did in America, when the planes were crashed into buildings).
If the terrorists were ETA, they have murdered their own cause. If they are al-Qaeda, they're merely piling on more enemies. Either way, we're going to beat them.
Posted by: Rebecca at March 14, 2004 at 03:37 AMGood point, Rebecca. What will anti-globos be thinking on their train journeys through Europe now: "I hope I don't get blown up, but if I do, it's George Bush's fault!" ?
Posted by: bto rules! at March 14, 2004 at 04:34 AMIt's pretty revolting that 3,000 people killed isn't enough to persuade someone that terrorism needs to be taken seriously. It has to happen to someone you know, or a neighboting country, etc. Very similar to the lack of action in Rwanda a few years back...
Posted by: Jerry at March 14, 2004 at 05:15 AMAnger is actually more appropriate. It's the ingredient we've been missing these last years, for while we always condemn terrorists attacks and show sympathy for their victims, we never really get angry with the monsters who are behind it.He must mean "we" the Europeans, 'cause "we" the Americans got seriously pissed in 2001.
Welcome to the real world, Europe.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut at March 14, 2004 at 05:52 AMThere are two choices - appease appease and appease. Roll on your belly, put your legs in the air and hope that the same fanatics who's ultimate life goal is to carry out such atrocities "come to their senses" and leave you alone. You cant reason with these people - you just cant. It is a pity this tragedy has happened to bring that home to some people.
Americans found it in New York, we found it in Bali and now the poor Spanish in the heart of their country.
Posted by: Rob at March 14, 2004 at 06:45 AMNo inevitable union of the West I'm afraid. I think it'll be easier for the Spanish and Europeans more generally to blame Aznar and America for this. Provoking Islamic rage with Iraq? "Bombs dropped in Iraq explode in Madrid"?
Yes Europe will be more aware of terrorist dangers but they may shape their policies to appease Islamic radicals and distance themselves even for from the US. Not that it will help them any, France has already provoked a fight with the headscarf ban, even as they distance themselves from us.
Watch what happens with Iran closely. I personally don't expect many European members of a new "Coalition of the Willing" in this next conflict with a Muslim nation over WMD and international law.
Posted by: Narerm at March 14, 2004 at 08:06 AMFrance gets it. For a few weeks, at least. I'm afraid I've got to agree with Narerm. Once the intial shock has worn off, we're going to get a whole bunch of "Who blew up da train?"
Posted by: Farmer Joe at March 14, 2004 at 08:34 AMIf the same people blame Azner/Bush/Iraq for Madrid what happens to their claim that Iraq was/is unconnected to the war on terror? Will their pea brains melt?
Posted by: Julie at March 14, 2004 at 08:37 AMI expect it will be blamed on America. The urge to deny reality is powerful; just check out the Kerry website and see how many Americans view Bush as the greatest threat. The intensity of rage is directed, not at Islamo-fascists, but at President Bush. Reality is too frightening, so fantasy takes its place.
Posted by: Stephen at March 14, 2004 at 08:57 AMI will recognize Europe's rise from the bowels of evil as soon as they realize that terror in Madrid is just as evil as terror in Tel Aviv.
Until then, fuck the slimebag nazi Europeans.
Posted by: TXBOY at March 14, 2004 at 09:00 AMViva Espana.
I am European, but, today i do not cry for Spain.
Europe in general got what it deserved.
I am sick and tired of being called a zionist, a Sharon lover, because i defended israel against palestinian terror.
Welcome to the real world Spain, welcome to the real world Europe.
God bless America, god bless Mr Bush.
Kristian Hovborg.
Sweden.
I am from Israel. And I do feel strongly for the Spanish. Be assured that most of us here would not agree with the words of Kristian H. above.
May innocent people get to live in peace and liberty, and may the assassin bastards get what *they* deserve.
I also wonder what this will do for support of the death penalty in Europe and Spain. I looked around and the only stat I could find said that Spain's level of support for the death penalty is really low, down around 19%. Will pro-life Spaniards have a harder time justifying their stance if and when people are brought to trial for this act of mass murder?
Posted by: Ann at March 14, 2004 at 09:28 AMI will definitely feel better if I am killed by ETA rather than by al qaeda. Most definitely. Better.
Posted by: Fembup at March 14, 2004 at 10:14 AMI will definitely feel better if I am killed by ETA rather than by al qaeda. Most definitely. Better.
Posted by: Fembup at March 14, 2004 at 10:14 AMThere is no doubt in my mind that an awakening in Europe is likely. I have written more on this in my blog.
In particular the amazing solidarity of the Spanish people has really moved me.
Posted by: Adrian Warnock's UK Blog at March 14, 2004 at 10:27 AMI can understand the anger of Kristian Hovborg of Sweden. While it is wonderful for the future of our planet that the Europeans are, finally, beginning to wake up (or so it might seem), I too am angry that it took so long. Europe should have awokened during any of the dozens of terrorist attacks in Israel. Europe *definitely* should have awakened on 9/11. But they didn't. They blamed Israel. They blamed America. Our (America's) cultural and media leaders assited the Europeans with this process. To pretend otherwise is to give the appeasers in Europe a pass, and let them keep leading. Kristain Hovborg was brave to voice pro-American and pro-Isreal views in pre-3/11 Europe, but that bravery will have to continue, because as the months pass Europeans, like many Americans, will forget.
Posted by: Sergio at March 14, 2004 at 11:55 AMWe're not going to have to wait too long to find out what lesson has been learned from the attacks; Sunday's Spanish election results will set the tone for all the anaylsis and reactions that follow.
If Aznar's conservatives end up losing after being favored to win before the bombings, the less will be" Terrorism Works in Europe. Al Qaida's goal with these attacks were to punish the Spanish leader for his support of the United States in the war on terror, and the voters will vindicate that strategy if they shift their votes at the last minute and return the socialists to power. And the results will inevtiably be more strategically-timed bombings, just like Thursday's attack and any number of suicide bombings in Israeli over the years, and a retreat into spinelessness by other European nations, like France, because they will see that their strategy of going against the U.S. has struck a chord with voters.
Posted by: John at March 14, 2004 at 12:01 PMI think the election today (tomorrow?) will be telling. If they re-elect Aznar's party with a decent majority then their reaction is one of defiance. If they choose the socialists then it's appease, appease, appease.
Regarding Tim's post on Le Monde - As an American, I say who gives a flying f**k what a leftist french journalist has to say on the matter? Whether or not the French choose to join us, or for that matter Spain, Britian and the rest of Europe, we are in this to the bitter end.
I would love to have a big group hug of nations fighting together to defeat these barbarians, a true coalition of the willing. And, ofcourse,it would make our job easier, more satisfying, and probably more successful. But if tomorrow Bush sued OBL for peace and promised to give him all of the middle east it would not end AQ determination to kill the Great Satan.
If I sound bitter it's because I am. Over the past 3 years I, like every other American, have listened to lefties the world over vilify our country for their own digusting political purposes.
I feel deeply for the people of Madrid. I know what it feels like to wake up one morning, go about your daily routine and then have the earth stop moving. But I also remember the pictures of anti-war protesters in Madrid, Paris, Berlin and London carrying the Bush=Hitler signs.
You are either with us or against us.
I did not intend for this post to become a emotional rant. Sh*t happens. Sorry.
I think the election today (tomorrow?) will be telling. If they re-elect Aznar's party with a decent majority then their reaction is one of defiance. If they choose the socialists then it's appease, appease, appease.
Regarding Tim's post on Le Monde - As an American, I say who gives a flying f**k what a leftist french journalist has to say on the matter? Whether or not the French choose to join us, or for that matter Spain, Britian and the rest of Europe, we are in this to the bitter end.
I would love to have a big group hug of nations fighting together to defeat these barbarians, a true coalition of the willing. And, ofcourse,it would make our job easier, more satisfying, and probably more successful. But if tomorrow Bush sued OBL for peace and promised to give him all of the middle east it would not end AQ determination to kill the Great Satan.
If I sound bitter it's because I am. Over the past 3 years I, like every other American, have listened to lefties the world over vilify our country for their own digusting political purposes.
I feel deeply for the people of Madrid. I know what it feels like to wake up one morning, go about your daily routine and then have the earth stop moving. But I also remember the pictures of anti-war protesters in Madrid, Paris, Berlin and London carrying the Bush=Hitler signs.
You are either with us or against us.
I did not intend for this post to become a emotional rant. Sh*t happens. Sorry.
Yes, Spain's election is a key. If people "get it", we'll see Aznar's party returned with an increased majority. If not, then I will truly mourn for Europe.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at March 14, 2004 at 01:52 PMI said it shortly after 9/11, and it's so sick and deluded to even have to say, that it is going to take attacks on several European countries before these people understand it's _their_ problem, too - it's everyones problem - and I only hoped the attacks happened sooner rather than later. It's so f'ed up that those of us who already 'get it' have to sit around for years and years just waiting for these bastard f**k terrorists to get their S together enough to take it to new fronts. God bless Spain, and out of the horror of these events, let something good (anger, namely, being one of those good things) come out of this. Don't let apologists allow more attacks like these to happen.
Posted by: Kelly at March 14, 2004 at 02:02 PMMy guess is that the European masses "get it", but that a lot of EUrocrats don't. This issue has the possibility of breaking the bureaucratic/leftist media hegemony in Europe.
Posted by: Mark at March 14, 2004 at 03:29 PMNo - the Europeans 'got it' long before September 11 or Bali, because they had been dealing with it for much longer than Australia or the US. I grew up in England and remember my Dad going to work in London every day while the IRA was conducting its bombing campaigns in the '70s.
The fact that the Europeans 'got it' may have had something to do with the strength of anti-war feeling there a year ago, as it was obvious that the overthrow of Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with any War on Terror.
Posted by: Warbo at March 14, 2004 at 04:08 PM'Cept for, you know, the terrorist training camps in Iraq and the payouts to Palestinian suicide bombers and Saddam's vision of pan-Arab nationalism.
However, you're right about the terrorism conducted by the IRA, it should never have been ignored by the rest of us.
Posted by: Sortelli at March 14, 2004 at 04:31 PMCan't help but feel the protests in Spain are kind of weird. On one hand I'm heartened by the numbers of people, but there's all these accusations that the goverment is hiding information. This only a few days after the attack. Meanwhile I see news of arrests all over the news.What's the problem?
Then there's all the comments that Aznar is the number one terrorist, and so on. Not verty encouraging.
Posted by: Chris K at March 14, 2004 at 04:45 PMYou referring to the training camp inside the Kurdish zone, over which Saddam had had no control since 1991?
The IRA wasn't exactly ignored by all those Americans who used to send money to fund its activities. Reckon the British government should have taken them out?
Posted by: Warbo at March 14, 2004 at 04:53 PMYou are right Warbo. Those donations made to the IRA in Boston bars are a source of shame for me and for America.
Posted by: Theodopoulos Pherecydes at March 14, 2004 at 05:45 PMYeah, how long till we hear blatherskite about 1000 Spanish Jews who were warned not to travel by train that day?
Posted by: Mike Reynolds at March 14, 2004 at 05:58 PMBefore it's too late, would you Eurostriches please pack up the remains of El Cid and Charles Martel and ship them to America, so that they will remain on free soil.
Posted by: David Govett at March 14, 2004 at 06:01 PMit was obvious that the overthrow of Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with any War on Terror.
"This is a response to the crimes that you caused in the world, and specifically in Iraq and Afghanistan (news - web sites), and there will be more if God wills it," the man said, according to the Spanish government's translation.
Warbo--
Did Afghanistan have anything to do with the War on Terror? Or is this translation wrong?
Posted by: BMN at March 14, 2004 at 07:35 PMExactly! The invasion of Iraq gave the extremists another 'reason' to attack the West, another example they could point to and say: 'See, they really do hate us. We must fight back or be crushed.'
Iraq and Afghanistan are, in this sense, linked only retrospectively, brought together by their shared status as countries that have been invaded by the Great Satan.
The fact remains that Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with al-Qaeda, nothing to do with the September 11 attacks.
This appalling event in Madrid is precisely the sort of thing that those opposed to the war warned of.
If it really is the work of al-Qaeda or its allies, we are truly reaping the whirlwind.
Posted by: Warbo at March 14, 2004 at 07:49 PM"You referring to the training camp inside the Kurdish zone, over which Saddam had had no control since 1991?"
Oh yeah! That magical place, where it rained gumdrops and ponies danced across colorful rainbows, unspoiled by the touch of Saddam Hussein. That there was a terror camp in that vacuum was surely a coincidence.
Say, do you think it's still there?
Posted by: Sortelli at March 14, 2004 at 07:51 PMI'm not sure what you're trying to say, Sortelli. Are you suggesting Saddam DID have any effective control over what went on in the northern no-fly zone?
By the way, how goes the fight to liberate the people of Uzbekistan, or do you still support a regime that boils people alive?
Posted by: Warbo at March 14, 2004 at 07:57 PMThat Saddam was not directly related to Al Qaeda does not matter.
AQ and Osama are not the end-all and be-all of terrorism in the world, and the invasion of Iraq puts us in a much better position to undo the causes of terrorism and apply pressure to the states that support them. Jesus, terrorists have been trying to kill people for how long? To claim that the reason they're still trying to kill people is because we're now fighting back is absurd.
The extremists are losing the support of the people they're trying to sway. They're resorting to bombing their fellow muslims to stir unrest, why would they need to do that if interference from the west was inciting the entire Arab world into hysteria? Iran and Syria are busy trying to hold off rebellion and reform from within, they're not exactly marshalling the collective might of the angry Arab world.
"I'm not sure what you're trying to say, Sortelli. Are you suggesting Saddam DID have any effective control over what went on in the northern no-fly zone?"
Actually, I was asking if that terror camp was still there... seeing as invading Iraq had "nothing" to do with the war on terror.
"By the way, how goes the fight to liberate the people of Uzbekistan, or do you still support a regime that boils people alive?"
*snort* And your credibility on that issue was established when . . . ?
Posted by: Sortelli at March 14, 2004 at 08:03 PMPresumably that terrorist training camp is not there. But is that it? Is that the link between Iraq and terrorism? Is that why the coalition of the willing invaded? Oh no - I forget - it was the weapons of mass destruction; I mean it was the liberation of the Iraqis; I mean it was Saddam Hussein's extensive and terrifying links with terrorist organisations; I mean... Just keep changing the story until you think something fits.
On Uzbekistan, I'm not trying to establish any sort of credibility. I'm just pointing out that on the question of liberation, neither the Bush administration nor its apologists have any credibility either.
When did you develop your burning zeal to liberate the Iraqis? I'll bet it was some time between 12 and 18 months ago. The next time some warmongering president in the White House starts making plans to 'liberate' a country from a regime that used to be its 'ally in the war on terror', you'll be up on your hind legs baying for blood like the reliable lapdog you are. Might be Uzbekistan.
Posted by: warbo at March 14, 2004 at 09:17 PMIraq and Afghanistan are, in this sense, linked only retrospectively,
Warbo--
Wow! You can read their minds! When and where is the next attack?
Posted by: BMN at March 14, 2004 at 11:56 PMEl Cid was not Charlton Heston. He was an opportunist mercenary who fought for whomever paid the highest. It was luck that he was on the side of the Spanish Crown when we won his final victory.
Warbo,
The reason that you get so much static about your views of Iraq is that you appear to want to split hairs about the "source" of terrorism and are unwilling to look at the larger picture.
For example, Iraq *did* sponsor terrorists right out in the open. You ignore this apparently because *those* terrorists just killed Jews. But what of Abu Nidal? What of Ayman al-Zwahari? What of the Salman Pak terrorist training center in Iraq? Your protestations that there is "no evidence at all" for an Iraqi role in Western terrorism appears to be wishful thinking. You are correct that we do not have a specific, air-tight case that Saddam sponsored 9/11. However, it is absurd in the extreme to suppose that this is the end of the story. Indeed, some senior intel officials in the U.S. (Woolsey, for example) have stated publicly that they believe there is a link between Saddam and 9/11. Yes, yes, we don't know for sure at this point. But that is different from knowing with certainty that there is *NOT* a link.
Here is what I don't understand - the hard-left (Democrats and liberals please don't take offense) is entirely willing to believe wild-eyed conspiracy theories regarding a Bush-Cheney-Halliburton-NeoCon-Jews Cabal ("No War for Oil!!") but entirely unwilling to even entertain evidence for cooperation between Baathist thugs and religious extremists.
Why does your credulousness only cut one way?
Posted by: WildMonk at March 15, 2004 at 01:20 AMWarbore:
I don't know where you have been in the past thirty years (hiding under a rock is my guess), but Americans were quite aware of terrorism in Europe way back then -- so much so that some people thought my mother and I were crazy when we went on our trip to Europe in 1981. As for the so-called hordes of Americans donating to the IRA, that sort of thing was limited mainly to the northeast Boston-New York area, and much of that money came from either the mob or... leftist organizations that supported and still support quasi-Marxist outfits like the Irish Republican Army. (Side fact: believe it or not, Irish rock group U2 was a big influence in removing much of the cuddly-toyness from the image the IRA had over here in certain areas. There was a period of time when Bono actually had something useful to say, and he said it at length. If only... but that's another issue.)
Posted by: Andrea Harris at March 15, 2004 at 01:57 AMAnyone who believes those madmen need "another reason" to attack the West needs "another brain."
Posted by: Buster at March 15, 2004 at 02:10 AMThere was a period of time when Bono actually had something useful to say, and he said it at length. If only... but that's another issue.
I actually consider his campaign for African debt relief to be a model that all liberals should aspire to. Rather than take the Tim Robbins, Michael Moore, ANSWER route of demagoguing, he went and talked to Bush, Paul O'Neill, and Jesse Helms and came away with positive results.
Posted by: Chris K at March 15, 2004 at 03:11 AMWarbo,
Iraq had nothing to do with AQ and 9/11?
Repeat after me "nuclear, biological and chemical weapons proliferation and the cooperation between rouge states". Think, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, Libya, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Bingo... Al Qaeda!
HA HA, there were no WMD found in Iraq!
Right, and in the furture there will never be. They have been removed from that equation.
Until the anti-war people can start talking seriously about weapons proliferation and the cooperation between rouge states and terrorists I am unable to take you or your arguments seriously.
Why not Uzbekistan? Because Uzbekistan is not a US strategic priority. Yes, we do need to set priorities.
What are your priorities? Preventing another 9/11 on US soil while maintaining as normal conditions as possible? Or defeating Bush, just defeating Bush?
Until Democrats can create an intelligent strategy to deal with PEOLPLE WHO WANT TO KILL US, this former Dem. will be voting Republican.
Posted by: Stacy at March 15, 2004 at 04:01 AMThe test of their commitment to dealing with terrorism will be when everything has been repaired and the funerals are over.
Demonstrations are all very fine, but if they only serve as a national sympathy card, this will happen again.
We are all Spanish. We are all "infidels."
Posted by: AST at March 15, 2004 at 04:40 AMWhy are you fools all believing the Spanish are like us? They just voted to appease the terrorists in a big way! It was a blowout for the leftists and the biggest win for the communists in history. Now, I am not saying that these people deserve more terror attacks BECAUSE of the cowardly way they just abandoned us...but I sure as hell am NOT proud of them and their reaction to the terror attacks. For the first time in my life, it crossed my mind (note, just crossed my mind) that maybe in the future, conservatives will have to commit terror to make cowards vote the way THEY want them to. After all, terror just got a Communist-Socialist victory in a big way in Spain. This event is going to have TERRIBLE consequences.
Posted by: Kim Johnson at March 15, 2004 at 06:59 AMThe election in Spain just showed the world how weak democracy really is.
Posted by: John Peterson at March 15, 2004 at 07:02 AMYes, al-Qaeda just achieved a stunning strategic victory. I believe this is a major turning point in the war, and it just turned their way in a big way. The repercussions of this are enormous. Europe is now headed into the Islamic sphere of domination, and there isn't much that can be done to stop it. The USA will be alone within a couple of years.
If I were an outside observer I'd be tipping my hat to the cleverness of al-Qaeda. Since I'm very much an inside observer, tonight I'm just scared and despairing.
America has been defending the world from tyranny for 60 years, we know what it takes, so while Spain looks like it will retreat from the field of battle, America will just roll up her sleeves and get to the business at hand, killing terrorists. Of course Australia and UK will continue to help, they know what's at stake. I don't really want help from France or Germany or Russia, just a little neutrality would be nice. In November Kerry will be defeated, we are still at war and we will elect a man who knows we are at war, not a wussy boy who sees nuance. We are Americans, live free or die.
Posted by: Kevin at March 15, 2004 at 11:28 AMOn Uzbekistan, I'm not trying to establish any sort of credibility. I'm just pointing out that on the question of liberation, neither the Bush administration nor its apologists have any credibility either.
We hashed that out once already and you didn't have anything to say THEN, either. You have no credibility because you're just reduced to playing moral equivilence again. So for the second time, here's your bat and ball. GO HOME.
"When did you develop your burning zeal to liberate the Iraqis?"
Nineteen Ninety One.
Posted by: Sortelli at March 15, 2004 at 02:29 PMCongratulations to the people of Spain who had the courage to get rid of Aznar, the obedient lackey of Bush. Let the criminal USA continue it's occupation of half the planet ALONE and face the consequences of it's actions.
Pointing to what happened in Spain and saying to all the leftist, pinko, bleeding heart, anti war morons, "See, we told you so." Expecting them to join in the "war against terrism" is about as stupid as expecting them to believe that Bush really didn't invade Iraq to control the Middle east oil and to make his friends rich. He really did it for "Freedom and Democracy" and to make us all safe. The Ariel Sharon (Butcher of Beirut) school of diplomacy also point out that this is just like the Palestinian terrists in Israel-(Excuse me when was the last time Spanish bulldozers crushed whole villages and ethnically cleansed a whole society?)
Posted by: carlos rodriguez at March 17, 2004 at 12:05 PM