Spanish Appeasement, a chilling portend of Europe’s future?

No Left Turns ^ | March 15, 2004 | Unknown

[conservativecorner]

David Frum thinks that the terrorists have won a mighty victory in Spain. Victor Davis Hanson agrees and makes a couple of things very clear: "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)."

"And the response? If we were looking for Churchill to step from the rubble, we got instead Daladier. The Spanish electorate immediately and overwhelmingly connected the horror with its present conservative government’s support for Operation Iraqi Freedom. If the United States went to Afghanistan in 26 days following the murder of 3,000 of its citizens to hunt down their killers and remove the fascists who sponsored them, Spaniards took to the streets with Paz placards and about 48 hours later voted in record numbers to appease the terrorists." Hanson thinks, in the end, we are alone, we have no allies in our attempt to save civilization. Drink some very strong European coffee, and ponder.

Andrew Sullivan is equally clear-eyed:"It’s a spectacular result for Islamist terrorism, and a chilling portent of Europe’s future. A close election campaign, with Aznar’s party slightly ahead, ended with the Popular Party’s defeat and the socialist opposition winning. It might be argued that the Aznar government’s dogged refusal to admit the obvious quickly enough led people to blame it for a cover-up. But why did they seek to delay assigning the blame on al Qaeda? Because they knew that if al Qaeda were seen to be responsible, the Spanish public would blame Aznar not bin Laden! But there’s the real ironic twist: if the appeasement brigade really do believe that the war to depose Saddam is and was utterly unconnected with the war against al Qaeda, then why on earth would al Qaeda respond by targeting Spain? If the two issues are completely unrelated, why has al Qaeda made the connection? The answer is obvious: the removal of the Taliban and the Saddam dictatorship were two major blows to the cause of Islamist terror. They removed an al Qaeda client state and a potential harbor for terrorists and weapons of mass destruction. So it’s vital that the Islamist mass murderers target those who backed both wars. It makes total sense. And in yesterday’s election victory for the socialists, al Qaeda got even more than it could have dreamed of. It has removed a government intent on fighting terrorism and installed another intent on appeasing it. For good measure, they murdered a couple of hundred infidels. But the truly scary thought is the signal that this will send to other European governments. Britain is obviously next. The appeasement temptation has never been greater; and it looks more likely now that Europe - as so very often in the past - will take the path of least resistance - with far greater bloodshed as a result. I’d also say that it increases the likelihood of a major bloodbath in this country before the November elections. If it worked in Spain, al Qaeda might surmise, why not try it in the U.S.?"

[conservativecorner]

An additional point from the same site:

Spain: The French Flu
It strikes me that if the Spanish election really is a response to the bombings, then the Spanish may have come down with a case of the French flu. A debilitating illness, it begins by breaking down the human spine. By the end, it leaves its victims with sunken chests. But seriously, the response seems, if you’ll pardon me, European. With notable exceptions, Old Europe has bought into the post-modernism to such a degree that they no longer believe in themselves. They no longer believe in the capacity for truth. If standing up for principle means taking losses, then they will fold, and fold quickly. If anyone doubts that there is a real difference between Old Europe and the U.S., think what the response would have been in the U.S. if an election were held within days of September 11th, between someone who was aggressive in fighting international terror, and someone who would pull the U.S. out of the fight.

[TomGuy]

If it worked in Spain, al Qaeda might surmise, why not try it in the U.S.?"

Considering their published threat that they are 90% ready for a new attack on US soil and considering their success in turning the Spanish election toward the more favorable Socialists, and considering they would hope an attack would turn our election toward the more favorable Kerry, yes. We can probably expect a major attempt or attack.

[Jalapeno]

This country is on such an edge now politically, as Spain was. The Gore-Bush election is clear evidence of that. However, the 9-11 attacks moved the balance towards a conservative side.

But socialist factions smell blood now, and I suspect there are many just waiting for another attack on our soil, so they can blame our country's efforts to rid the world of vermin.

When are they going to build that moon base? I'm about ready to go there...

The Spainish are going to get what they ask for, and the world is going to suffer because they gave in to homicidal maniacs.

[Jim Noble]

I’d also say that it increases the likelihood of a major bloodbath in this country before the November elections. If it worked in Spain, al Qaeda might surmise, why not try it in the U.S.?

I disagree.

Clearly they want to kill a lot of Americans, and will do so anytime between today and when the last jihadi is dead. But the European war is different.

They don't have any political goals in America. They want America destroyed, as they have said and written many times.

President Kerry, President Clinton, President Bush, President Carter-no matter, thousands will die if they get their chance. AQ does not care what Administration policy is, except insofar as it helps or hurts the goal of butchering Americans.

In Europe, an Islamic state is barely beyond reach. They want to brutalize Europeans so that they accept the necessity of Islamic rule.

If Europeans will not fight (and reproduce) to prevent it, dhimmitude is coming, and coming soon.

But we don't have the choice Europeans do. We must kill, or be killed, and John Kerry can't change that.

[Future Useless Eater]

>>xxxx were similarly butchered (who opposed the Iraq War)

Doesn't the author have all those countries backwards?
Wasn't it all those who SUPPORTED the war, that were attacked
by Al-Qaeda?

[Sender]

No, he had it right. Those countries opposed the war, and yet they got hit. The point is that Islamic terrorists will kill you whether you appease them or fight them...it doesn't make any difference in the end.

[sfRummygirl]

I just said this on another Sapin thread...
When I heard about how and why Spain voted the way it did, I realized I was watching a nation become more like France. I was really praying Spain could muster up some courage. How sad.
They are like the battered wife who thinks by keeping quiet, they will be safe.

This is so sad.

[sfRummygirl]

"SPAIN"!
God, my hands are reversed today!

[CyberAnt]

Several weeks ago - this very thought of another attack just before our election had crossed my mind. When Spain was hit and I watched the election results - it became cemented.

I'm not in fear, but now I too expect an attack in the USA.

[Future Useless Eater]

>>No, he had it right. Those countries opposed the war, and yet they got hit.

Thanks, I should have recalled recent history more correctly
before posting.

I wonder how soon Spaniards will rue the day they caved to
the murderous thugs. I would bet 6-12 months, but the new guy
might pull a 'Clinton' and label every new act of
terrorism or extortion as just some right-wing-extremists.