Spain Goes Wobbly (Exceptionally clear-headed and well-written editorial!)

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ^ | March 16, 2003 | Editorial

[quidnunc]

I am posting this in toto because it is too good an article to miss, and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's content is available on-line only through subscription.

[dfwgator]

The silver lining is that I think the Spanish election result will actually help, not hurt, President Bush's re-election chances.

[newheart]

Excellent post. Maybe al-Qaida will forget about Spain? The Muslims didn't forget about Spain in the 8th and 9th centuries.

It amazes me that Arabs blow up a train in Madrid and the US gets blamed. So, tell me again, how many US citizens were involved in planning and execution of the bombings?

Pretzel logic.

[Enterprise]

"So long as the terrorist attacks that shocked Spain were thought to be the work of homegrown Basque extremists — the notorious ETA — terrorism was to be given no quarter. Spaniards understood there can be no compromise with those killers. But when the clues pointed to al-Qaida, Spain’s reaction was different."

Said Zapatero: "Sure the ETA are terrorists, but they are OUR terrorists. Now Al Qaeda is something else!"

[ahayes]

Excellent article.

[rrrod]

excellant point..i have wondered too...also wonder if a back lash, agaisnt the socialist, from the spanish people may occur.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

For the same reason the Left says Al Qaeda is not in Iraq, but Spain pulls troops out of Iraq because they were attacked by Al Qaeda.

[martin_fierro]

Why the change? Speculation abounds...

To hear the ever-so-patrician Mara Liasson of NPR tell it on Brit's show yesterday, it's too early to say that the Spanish electorate caved to terrorists. The Popular Party candidate apparently made some last- minute impolitic remarks that might've caused him to lose the election.

In other words, the situation in Spain is much more ... nuanced. <|:/~

[The G Man]

=

[Between the Lines]

"Maybe the Socialists will get our troops out of Iraq, and al-Qaida will forget about Spain, so we will be less frightened. A bit of us died?."

Cowardice asks the question, Is it safe? Expediency asks the question, Is it politic? Vanity asks the question, Is it popular? But conscience asks the question, Is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he msut take it because his conscience tells him it is right... --- Martin Luther 1483

[april15Bendovr]

You are right that it will help President Bush and ironically maybe help the stock market. Kerry and the Socialists will keep treating terrorism like Ned Beatty in the movie Deliverance (Squeal like a pig)while they reach over to grab at their ankles. President Bush will treat terrorism like Al Pacino in the movie The Godfather in the famous while at church scene where he wipes out all of his enemies.

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[dfwgator]

President Bush will treat terrorism like Al Pacino in the movie The Godfather in the famous while at church scene where he wipes out all of his enemies.

And Spain reacted just like Fredo did after he saw his father get shot. And we know what Al Pacino ended up doing to Fredo.

[bobjam]

Anyone in Rome should think twice before stepping on a train. The terrorists hit Madrid and Spain caved; they hit Istanbul and Turkey caved. There's no need to hit Berlin and Paris- Germany and France caved at the mere thought of an al-queada strike. A strike against London would accomplish little because the British are not as prone to giving in as easily as the Continentals (e.g. Falklands War and IRA). Besides, bringing down Blair would pave the way for a Conservative PM- not much better for the jihadists. Due to first hand experience, Eastern Europeans are more apt to fight the terrorists. That leaves Rome. Italy's pro-American government could easily be replaced by a pro-France government in the next round of elections. Furthermore, the vast majority of Italians are members of a church that isn't exactly a supporter of the War on Terrorism. How many Italians will pay the ultimate price for Spain's act of cowardice?

[Sir Charles]

***The silver lining is that I think the Spanish election result will actually help, not hurt, President Bush's re-election chances.***

The mentality resulting in the Spanish election switch is rampant in the US. How does the feeding of that mentality by the surrender of a major, at least, ideologically supportive ally help Bush, who is becoming more and more the sole warrior, along with Tony Blair, willing to consistently stand up against the terrorist menace?

[Savage Beast]

"Maybe the Socialists will get our troops out of Iraq, and al-Qaida will forget about Spain..."

Fat chance. You realize, of course, that Spain is part of the Umma...

"...so we will be less frightened..."

You realize, of course, that you now have reason to be more frightened.

In the future, as you cross the Pyrenees and glace back with a tear, you will hear a woman's voice whisper, "Do not weep like a woman..." Don't stop until you reach Poitiers, and there only to catch your breath.

[ought-six]

The Spanish people have chosen a false security over freedom. Such is the road to slavery or death.

[Savage Beast]

Not to mention that every since the fall of Constantinople Muslims have salivated at the thought of the fall of the Vatican.

[FormerLib]

And now that the Spaniards have proved to ETA that terrorism works, we've only seen the beginning of the Madrid bombings.

[DannyTN]

Glass Joe