THE PRICE OF COURAGE

New York Post ^ | March 12, 2004 | Ralph Peters

[Nix 2]

It happened on the 21/2-year anniversary of the attacks on Manhattan and Washington - 30 months to the day. The symbolism was intentional.

The facts are still coming in. The Spanish government initially blamed the ETA, a Basque separatist organization with minimal popular support and a maximum will to violence. But evidence of al Qaeda links - including a letter claiming responsibility - soon surfaced.

[Nix 2]

As a result, the threats against us also converge. Terrorists hate successful democracies, public freedoms and thriving economies. Foreign and domestic, the forces of terror hate all that 21st century Spain stands for.

The losses suffered by the Spanish people on March 11, 2004, were as devastating to our allies and friends as the losses of 9/11 were to us.

Spain stood by us. Now we must have the vision to stand by Spain.

In other words, we cannot allow the Democrats to take even the most minute amount of power back and must do everything we can to take even more away from them or our friends are irretrievably lost.

[BfloGuy]

Spain's rise from European backwater to economic and political powerhouse gives hope that Latin America can dig out of its hole.

Up until the seventies it was too easy to conclude that there was something in Spanish culture that kept them all back.

But the Spaniards have been astoundingly successful since the end of Franco's regime and I suspect that many in Central and South America realize that if the mother country can do it, so can they.

And, yes, Aznar has been a true friend in the war against terror. May God bless the victims of the Madrid bombings.

[Conservative4Ever]

My condolences to the people of Spain. You are in my prayers. OK guys. Bush was right. You are either with us or against us. The bad guys have an agenda. They want to rule the world, and will take out anybody and everybody to win. That's the bottom line.

Red

[OldFriend]

Imagine people so cowardly they perpetrate sneak attacks on innocent men, women, and children.

Pathetic!

And there's Kerry, standing with his fellow demonrats, insisting that yes, the republicans are crooks and liars....all this immediately following the terrible attack on Spain.

This man and this party are a perfect examples of depraved indifference to the loss of human life.

[alisasny]

I guess Azner is not one of those world leaders who told Kerry he wants him to be President

[Nix 2]

I do SO want Kerry to make his *foreign policy* trip and go to the countries that have been with us since the git-go. I should not be typing now because I am usually observant, but this week has been devastating in too many ways to lose even a moment without information coming in.

You are right. Aznar has been nothing if not heroic and stalwart.

[Nix 2]

Depravity is a far too nice a term for what these pond scum represent.

Demons and Devils.

[OldFriend]

Kerry is backtracking big time from his idea to travel to Iraq. It has been pointed out that this is what McGovern did.....and he wants no comparisons.

[happygrl]

Love your FR page.

Very astute editorial by Ralph Peters. He has really added to the discussion of our future (USA + Europe) with this essay, IMHO.