Posted on 03/23/2004 8:32:08 AM PST by NorCoGOP
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Last week, Spain had its national elections. Spain's Conservative Party, who militarily supported the United States' actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, was supposed to easily win re-election against the minority Socialist Party. Instead, the Conservatives who believed pro-active steps were necessary to win the war on terror were handily defeated by the Socialist Party, which is known for its appeasement stances. The irony is the Socialists did not actually win.
The real winners are the terrorists.
A few days before the election, multiple terrorist bombings were set off in Spanish commuter trains. The election results appear to suggest that the bombings played a large role in the public's psyche when voting three days later. The people of Spain, in their tradition of appeasement and neutrality, believed that taking a pro-active role in the war on terror had caused the recent terrorist attacks.
The voters showed their naivete by voting out the conservative government. They have given terrorists a substantial victory on a silver platter. Those responsible for the Madrid bombings accomplished their goals. They have scared and placated the Spanish populace into caving to demands of leaving Iraq. Also, they temporarily demoralized the "Coalition of the Willing." The Spanish people anxiously gave terrorists what they wanted -- a ruling party which feels that raising the white flag will spare the country from future attacks.
The Spanish seem to resemble pre-World War II Europe where appeasing Nazi Germany occurred amid consensus. The belief was that through appeasing Hitler's mobilization and annexation, fascism could be contained.
In today's war on terror, many European countries are willing to yet again stay on the sidelines and allow Islamic fascists and other terrorist organizations to walk all over them. More troubling is that many of these same Europeans see Islamic fascism as an American problem, or a quasi-united "police action." They do not see it as a world war.
It's about time the "Coalition of the Unwilling" and other sideliners in the war on terror realize that this is a war. This is World War III and the days of playing the spectator are over. This latest attack was a powerful reminder that terrorist attacks can happen to anyone, anywhere.
Terrorist attacks are designed to demoralize freedom-loving people and each attack must be answered with not only sorrow and mourning but with determination and a unified resolve. Any sign of weakness, retreat, or appeasement will only embolden the terrorists' violence. Spain was not attacked for helping the "Coalition of the Willing," it was attacked because it embraces democracy and freedom.
As does mine.
I am beaming with happiness at such a common-sense editorial from a university paper.
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