Ijaz: Aznar's Defeat a Stunning Setback in Terror War

NewsMax ^ | 3/14/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The defeat of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's Popular Party in Sunday's Spain election represents a stunning setback in the war on terrorism, contends Middle East expert Mansoor Ijaz.

Asked what Aznar's defeat means for U.S. allies, Ijaz told Fox News Channel's Rita Cosby, "It means they better get they're election flack jackets on, because this represents a dangerous mutation in the ability of terrorists to instill fear in governments all over the world that supported the United States."

Aznar had been ahead in the polls as last week began, but Thursday's Madrid train bombing had voters blaming him for siding with the U.S. in the war in Iraq. Spain currently has 1600 troops in Iraq.

"This particular election result in Spain is probably the single most important event that has taken place since the attacks on Sept. 11 because it demonstrates that terrorism, in fact, can pay," said Ijaz. "And now one of the governments that supported the United States has fallen."

Steve Pomerantz, former head of the FBI counterterrorism division, agreed, telling Fox, "To have an ally like Spain fall away from us, if that's what occurs, sends exactly the wrong kind of message."

[John Thornton]

I'm sure John Kerry has broken out the champagne tonight. I wonder if he is working with Al Quida to bring an "October surprise" like this to America?

[livius]

This particular election result in Spain is probably the single most important event that has taken place since the attacks on Sept. 11 because it demonstrates that terrorism, in fact, can pay,"

He's absolutely right. The Spanish folded at the first shot.

But AQ was helped enormously by the Spanish left, which organized riots (well, they called them "Peace Protests") outside of PP headquarters last night and even this morning.

[muawiyah]

It wasn't just this particular bombing that was a problem for Aznar. He had promised way back in 1996 to come up with a new plan for dealing with terrorism, particularly the Basque variety.

Then, he supported NATO in its war against Christian Serbia on behalf of Moslem Albanians in Kosovo.

By the time this election came around the Popular Party had managed to fritter away it's base - just the way George HW Bush did back when he betrayed us on taxes.

The Socialists didn't win a majority so they have to find a coalition partner. Given the extraordinarily high probability that AlQaida has a second attack on line for Spain the Socialists will be forced to come up with an anti-terrorism plan.

It is unlikely they will be able to do so. The consequence will be a loss of a vote of confidence, and Spain will have elections all over again, probably within months and not years!

[Longbow1969]

Sorry to say, but my absolute contempt for the Spanish has now exceeded my sorrow for their horrific losses in Madrid.

To cave in to Islamic terror, and do it in such a spectacular fashion, reminds me of the Europeans of the 1930's.

Do these people ever have the will to stand up to world threats?

These people ceded almost of all Europe to Hitler and had to be bailed out. The same population of jellyfish could barely be convinced to even pretend to stand up to the Soviet Union - and would surely have buckled early on had it not been for the US paying for nearly all of their defense. And here they are again cowering to the next global threat to come along.

I would almost like to see the United States tell the next European nation that gets bombed that we aren't interested in their problems and they are on their own. Saying that, I recognize we can't do such a thing - but I sometimes wonder if these people are worth saving over and over again.

Longbow

[Political Junkie Too]

This may just be another reason to re-exclaim "You're either with us or with the terrorists."

If Europe votes to be with the terrorists, then the United States will pick up their marbles and go home.

How about the recent off-shoring trend of the American corporations? Will companies rethink off-shoring their essentials if the world continually chooses to appease and surrender? There are all sorts of repercussions that have to be played out before we can be sure that this is a setback in the larger sense.

-PJ

[raloxk]

"Given the extraordinarily high probability that AlQaida has a second attack on line for Spain the Socialists will be forced to come up with an anti-terrorism plan."


I doubt that Al Qaeda has a seconf attack planned for Spain. Why should they, they won. Italy is likely the next target. This is one of Al Qaeda's biggest victories ever.

[raloxk]

"If Europe votes to be with the terrorists, then the United States will pick up their marbles and go home."

What would going home accomplish? Seems like you want to punish Spain but are not sure how.


"How about the recent off-shoring trend of the American corporations? Will companies rethink off-shoring their essentials if the world continually chooses to appease and surrender? "

Short answer: YES


"There are all sorts of repercussions that have to be played out before we can be sure that this is a setback in the larger sense."

Its a set back

[Right_in_Virginia]

AQ smells fear. Pray for the Brits.

[snooker]

I pose a simple question.

How do we know that the result would not have been the same with or without 311?

I suspect the polls are about as accurate as our polls. +/- 10%.

[OldFriend]

This hyperbole by our media is disgusting.

What chance really did the Popular Party have of being re-elected. 90% of the country opposed their troops being sent to Iraq.

If that number is true, and we have no reason to disbelieve those numbers, then the loss today is hardly monumental.

The socialists at this point do not have enough seats to control the government. They will have to make an alliance with a farther left group which will hamper any efforts to govern effecively.

The financial markets will fall and the sheeple will awaken from their grief and wonder what in the world they accomplished.

[GiveEmDubya]

The Socialists didn't win a majority so they have to find a coalition partner. Given the extraordinarily high probability that AlQaida has a second attack on line for Spain the Socialists will be forced to come up with an anti-terrorism plan. It is unlikely they will be able to do so.

You can say that again. You reap what you sow. They publicly and willingly surrendered to terrorists today. It is unfortunate, but there will probably be more attacks in the continent (if not Spain) sooner rather than later and they have no one to blame for their cowardice but themselves.

My sympathies are with those Spaniards who wanted to stand up for their country and stand with our country, but the forces of darkness have won the day. I can only hope that they stay safe from what is sure to be a dark period in Europe.

[conservativecorner]

The spanish are insane. Islam will consume europe, and it will be up to the US once again to save the friggin world. I must say that it mind boggling that europe can't remember the lessons of Hitler in the 30's.

[Gaetano]

I think Aznar and Co. looked like fools and liars when they persisted in blaming ETA for the bombing. I think this duplicity hurt them as much as anything among Spanish voters. But, then again what the hell do I know. I live in New Jersey, and have never been to Spain.

[Political Junkie Too]

What would going home accomplish? Seems like you want to punish Spain but are not sure how.

Europe has slowly been losing its identity to Muslim immigration. Even France is now recognizing this, and is resorting to silly laws like banning headscarfs (and Yamulkes, in an attempt to be fair) to try to stop it.

Going home would be an extreme solution, but if Europe comes to realize that its very existence as we have all known it is at stake, then they may rethink their positions. Europe has been able to divert a lot of their economy to social issues because the United States was there militarily, relieving Europe from having to fund militaries themselves (the fungibility of money argument).

Its a set back.

In the short-term, yes it is. In the long-term, we shall see.

-PJ

[Salvey]

You reap what you sow. They publicly and willingly surrendered to terrorists today. It is unfortunate, but there will probably be more attacks in the continent (if not Spain) sooner rather than later and they have no one to blame for their cowardice but themselves.

Well put; that says it all.

[muawiyah]

Looking back over the last few months it's clear that Spain succeeded several times in frustrating more than one AlQaida attack.

It's reasonable to assume others have already been planned and are under development.

Still, none of that matters. AlQaida considers Spain to be occupied Moslem territory. It's just like the Reconquista never happened in the minds of the AlQaida crowd.

[mercy]

EFFING Spaniards are a bunch of quizlings. I was holding out Spain as the ONE European country I wanted to visit. Not now. I hope the islamonazis overrun them.

[Salvation]

**Aznar's Defeat a Stunning Setback in Terror War**

My earliest thoughts exactly when I heard the news this morning. Then I thought socialist--Russia connections.

[mercy]

Europe losing it's identity. You got that right.

EURABIA!