Blame whom? (A precise damnation of Spain, Greece, and other European appeasers)

Victorhanson.Com ^ | March 14, 2004, 10:00 p.m. | Victor Davis Hanson

[NZerFromHK]

Let me get this straight. Two-and-a-half years after September 11, on a similar eleventh day of the month, 911 days following 9-11, and on the eve of Spanish elections, Al Qaeda or its epigones blows up 200 and wounds 1,400 Spaniards. This horrific attack follows chaotic months when Turks were similarly butchered (who opposed the Iraq War), Saudis were targeted (who opposed the Iraqi war), Moroccans were blown apart (who opposed the Iraqi war) and French periodically threatened (who opposed the Iraqi War).

[KantianBurke]

Yes terrorists kill people but that's not to say they do so without foresight. Let's review. Spain's population was against sending their forces to Iraq by wide margins. Bush needed diplomatic cover after the UN refused to get involved in Iraq. See his begging India, attempts at bribing Turkey and winning over Spain to send token forces. For all intents and purposes the Spanish force was large enough to get on the news but not large enough that mass casualties would result if things became dangerous. Al Queda recognized all this and with an election coming reasoned that if a mass terror attack was launched with its "cause" being Spain's involvement in Iraq, a BIG pro Bush ally could be toppled. After yesterday's election it appears that they reasoned correctly.

[dfwgator]

Doing the right thing isn't always the popular thing, but it is still right.

[rrrod]

when will germany attack poland for standing firm against terrorist?

[KantianBurke]

exactly. I think some on this board are misinterpreting my position as being against the War in Iraq. The War in Iraq was justified IMHO. The use of a token Spanish force under the circumstances for PR value was not.

[hellinahandcart]

(a full belly is less aggressive)

All of the 9/11 hijackers were middle-class or higher, college educated, and extremely well fed. The people at the top, funding and planning these escapades, are filthy rich.

You need to think of another motive for this trend, because hunger isn't it. It may comfort you to think that, but it isn't true.

Look at which political groups support the terrorists and their pet dictators, either directly or by default (in other words, hating the U.S. more), and you'll have the beginnings of the truth.

[Berliner Baer]

If you are reading Spiegel, then you also read the articles about new measures now in law-enforcement as a reaction to Madrid.

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,290634,00.html

The reaction on the street? Shocked though calm, nothing like 9/11, when 150.000 Berliners took to the streets to demonstrate their sympathy with Americans. It is not "Europe's 9/11". Perhaps Spain's, not Europe's.

And to those not reading foreign press: It's not as if Europe doesn't understand the threat from terror - Europe 'only' differed strongly with Bush on his phony arguments on the Saddam-issue - and as history showed on WMD, who was right? Germany is quite aware that a "big one" could also happen here due to our engagement in Afghanistan.

[FreedomPoster]

That's going to leave a mark. Well done, sir!

[freedom moose]

Europe is fast becoming an Islamic continent.
i don't agree.

[MEG33]

You do realize that the many of the 911 terrorists were from middle class families and went to university.I have noticed that South American poor are not flying airplanes into skyscrapers.

You failed to mention one thing that is common to most of the world's terrorists.Until they have a"reformation",the countries will not be successful.

They are preaching to "kill the infidels" in Mosques all over the world.They don't seem to mind killing many of their own faith while they blow up the infidels,either.

The middle east conflict cannot be solved. If the middle east"problem" were solved the people in middle eastern countries might have to start taking responsibility for their own failures and reform.Blaming one tiny little country for their misery is ingrained there.

You cannot reason with the unreasonable.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

... September 11..., March 11, ...Turks were similarly butchered...Saudis were targeted...Moroccans were blown apart...

The slaughter in Bali missed the list.

End terrorism, kill terrorists.

[tbpiper]

They must be tracked down and thrown into prison.

Slight modification: They must be tracked down and killed.

Remember, this is a war not a law enforcement action.

[Dane]

The use of a token Spanish force under the circumstances for PR value was not

The token force does not matter. Anzar backed us in the UN and the war on terror. His people capitulated to appeasment to the islamofascists.

This isn't Bush's fault as you try to harp with every other word but the islamofascists fault and the 43% of Spainiards who gave into the thugs.

[jonrick46]

I am saddened by the mistaken road taken by the Spanish electorate. Their wrong turn into the jaws of socialism will only add to their misery by showing the terrorist they are a people easily manipulated. It also makes their socialist masters think that that they have a people that will easily be put under the heel of socialism. That is questionable and could cause more social upheaval without a true mandate.

They should have post-poned the elections until things had cooled down and more rational thinking prevailed. All they have done is ran into the windmill full speed.

If the terrorist think they can affect the U.S. elections by pulling off some horrendous killing of innocent Americans, they don't know the metal of the American spirit.
Instead of windmills, the terrorist will suffer the effects of a whirlwind--George W. (for whirlwind) Bush!

[DonaldDuke]

Now we've lost a staunch ally in the WOT

You have been spamming threads with your anti-iraq-war, anti-bush bs for days now. WTF do you mean, "staunch" ally? Staunch, as in with a yellow stripe a la "libertarian"?

[KantianBurke]

Prior to the bombing attack and the Socialists coming to power, the Spainish govt. had been a great asset to us in terms of intelligence, aiding us with captured terrorists and backing us diplomatically. Due to Bush's mishandling, the appeasment left is in charge. One shudders to think how they'll alter such processes.

[Berliner Baer]

You are right about the individuals sometimes coming from wealthy families (especially like Osama).

I meant that they thrive on their perception of reality within the Arab world, the unsolved problem of the middle-east with all its violence, the poverty in many Arab countries, the double-standards of their Government-leaders (often being filthy rich and showing a "Godless" luxury live in sin)

They watch and read Arab news and some of them will be lead by all these frustrations to terrorism, like we had in the 70s some leftists students going into terrorism because of a certain perception of reality. (Vietnam, etc.) And some of them also came from wealthy families.

As I said: You can't change a terrorist, but you need to withdraw the reasoning- and propaganda-basis for them, so there won't be as many future terrorists attracted to this evil cause.

[doosee]

The socialist Spanish government will be demanding contracts for their businesses to make money rebuilding Iraq.

[Dane]

Due to Bush's mishandling, the appeasment left is in charge. One shudders to think how they'll alter such processes

Yeah it is Bush's fault that 43% of the Spanish people capitualted to the terrorists.

You are loony and I am not surprised since you are a Buchannnite.

[RobFromGa]

If Iraq and Al Qaeda are unrelated, and if the War to Remove Saddam was not part of the War on Terror,

Why is Al Qaeda blowing up Spaniards because they stood with America against Saddam?

[Dane]

As I said: You can't change a terrorist, but you need to withdraw the reasoning- and propaganda-basis for them, so there won't be as many future terrorists attracted to this evil cause.

Oh you mean by setting up democracy in such places as Iraq, which by the way your socialist German government was against, afterall saddam was just a harmless old man, correct.

Saddam was the victim of American agression according to you, correct?