Posted on 07/09/2004 11:05:50 AM PDT by FlyLow
CNSNews.com Commentary July 09, 2004
In the wake of the hideous beheading of American civilian Paul Johnson, the Saudi Arabian government struck back forcefully -- killing several high-level al Qaeda operatives.
Such rapid and decisive action begs the question, If the Saudi government was able to take several of the murderers out on a moment's notice once it decided to do so, why weren't they eliminated in the days or weeks prior to Johnson's murder?
The answer to the question, unfortunately, is that Saudi officials were not responding to the moral outrage of the situation, but rather to its economic fallout. In the wake of Johnson's beheading, foreigners have been leaving Saudi Arabia in droves, believing that they lack sufficient government protection from future attacks.
Thus the government is compelled to display its ability to maintain a safe haven for non-citizens who are crucial to that nation's industry and economy. Only the "almighty dollar" was able to prompt Saudi leadership to overcome its fear of terrorist backlash and deal resolutely with seditious al Qaeda members.
Though al Qaeda has been temporarily shaken, this pattern of reaction is the very thing the terrorist organization, and terrorists in general, bank on. Halfhearted responses from an overly cautious government have allowed terrorists to determine the unfolding of events to their greatest advantage. As nations recoil from gruesome barbarism, but do not retaliate, the organization is only emboldened and encouraged.
Despite the caterwauling of liberals that the "Arab Street" would rise up in outrage against U.S. actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, reality still predominates, even in the minds of Islamist national leaders throughout the Middle East. Though their hatred of the West is no less intense than it ever was, neither do any of them want to step up to the plate and be the next regime to share the fate of the Taliban or Bathists. The actions of Moammar Khadafy in Libya stand as inarguable proof of this.
Along the way, the terrorists have occasionally achieved sufficient victories to encourage them to continue the fight. Conversely, intelligence gained during interrogation of al Qaeda members since 9-11 clearly indicated that the terrorist organization was wholly unprepared for the magnitude of American response to the attacks.
As a result, its intentions of carrying out follow-up actions were utterly thwarted. Only now, as American resolve is giving way to shameless partisan politicking by Democrats who aspire to make electoral gains this fall, has al Qaeda shown signs of sufficiently regrouping and laying the groundwork for another attack.
In Spain however, public reaction to a major terrorist attack was entirely different. Rewards for the barbaric Madrid bombings were instant and profound. Public sentiment turned from the conservative government that had supported U.S. efforts in Iraq, and the Socialist Party swept into power. This move guaranteed that Spanish forces would be withdrawn from the conflict. Thus, a major enemy of the terrorists was neutralized, and they could proceed on to other targets.
Spanish capitulation, and the message it sent to the terrorists, could only have been a motivating factor in their efforts to use South Korean businessman Kim Sun-Il as a bargaining chip in order to prevent the South Korean government from sending several thousand civilian and military personnel into Iraq. South Korea's refusal to change its plans resulted in the beheading of Kim Sun-Il. The proper response, in the wake of that horrific event, would be a resolute counterattack to convince the terrorists of the futility of any repeats of the atrocity.
The grimness of recent terrorist actions makes it understandable that many would wish to turn from them and avoid any future recurrences. Reality and past experience, however, prove that no such retreat exists from those who would use brutality and intimidation to dominate not only their own region, but all of civilization.
Dire predictions of an upcoming terrorist event of enormous magnitude in the United States, regardless of liberal/Democrat efforts to undermine their significance, suggest that some at least among this nation's present leadership understand the methods Islamist operatives consider to be successful in altering the direction of a country.
(Christopher G. Adamo is a freelance writer who lives in southeastern Wyoming and has been active in local and state politics for many years.)
Memo to Spain....
GET SOME COJONES
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