[Strider]

This was a bump on the road - anyone who expected to win every battle in the war on terror must have been living in fantasyland.

This was no bump in the road. Spain has given heart to the terrorists. What could be better for them?

Their tactics worked - plain and simple. They terrorized the Spanish public into voting out of office an ally of ours in the War On Terror.

That's a big win for the bad guys any way you slice it. The Spanish have opened the door to similar attacks on us and our allies.

I cannot fathom the idea of us voting in Kerry, if attacked, before the election. That would be devastating, and Spain has show the terrorists the way.

I don't believe that the American people will capitulate the way the Spanish people did.

[HitmanLV]

Don't overstate or understate the significance of what happened in Spain.

Spain has given heart to the terrorists? What did Clinton do? There was no significant crackerjack military response to the first WTC attack or the attack on the Cole.

Their tactics worked this time and in this circumstance. If they read too much into that, they tread in dangerous territory.

If you read too much into that, you tread in dangerous territory.

If I read too little into that, I tread in dangerous territory.

I have felt all along that the war on terror will be a protracted, asymmetrical conflict. That is, we will take heavy hits while the bad guys take hits also.

Like I said before, anyone expected lopsided wins for the good old USA is living in fantasyland. Spain will take additional hits, as will Europe, as will the USA.

Sometimes things get worse before they get better. Adopting a mature perspective will help keep us focused and our spirits up, regardless of any problems on the path to victory.