Stating the obvious: terror alarm raised for elections

zapatero,0.jpeg
Spain's Appeaser-elect (AFP)

The Sydney Morning Herald (thanks to Nicolei) has articulated the obvious: that Spain's elections are perceived by Al-Qaeda as a capitulation to the jihadist intimidation of the Madrid bombings, and so radical Muslims will be emboldened to try to influence elections elsewhere with the same tactic.

Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups may be moving toward a potent new strategy - targeting Western nations at election time for the maximum political effect.
This scenario was raised yesterday by US intelligence officials and the FBI's most senior counter-terrorism agent, who is in Sydney for a regional police commissioners' conference. . . .

US intelligence analysts and political strategists said yesterday they have been forced to consider anew the possibility of an attack in the US in the run-up to the presidential elections in November.

They said there has been a steady flow of "chatter" among suspected al-Qaeda members and their affiliates about the timing of the election. This suggests the group hopes to exploit the election cycles of the US and other nations in an effort to peel away popular support for the war on terrorism.

"Al-Qaeda would love to do something close to the election, an 'October surprise'," said the CIA's former anti-terrorism chief, Vince Cannistraro.

"Al-Qaeda thinks strategically. Are they considering what effect this would have on our political system? Yes."

In Sydney, the FBI's John Pitsole said yesterday it "raises the stakes" of international terrorism if the Spanish elections were a target of the Madrid bombings.

"In terms of the attack in Madrid, I would hate to give whatever terrorist group credit for influencing the election," Mr Pistole said. "If that was the intended outcome and that was what was achieved, then that raises the stakes in terms of the vulnerabilities and potential that we must deal with."

Meanwhile, the Washington Post (thanks to "Allah") claims that Zapatero won because Spanish voters were angry at the Aznar government's early insistence that the Basque group ETA, and not Al-Qaeda, perpetrated the attacks. The Toronto Star, in a similar vein (thanks again to "Allah"), opines that "Spanish voters were not bowing to terrorists when they threw out the ruling conservative Popular Party on Sunday. Instead, they were punishing a government they believed was trying to mislead them. They also were rejecting a government that joined the United States in backing the Iraq war, against the wishes of the vast majority of Spaniards."

Neither of these face-saving analyses stand up to scrutiny. The Post's founders on the large amount of clear evidence that Spanish voters were voting quite consciously with Iraq and Al-Qaeda in mind, not because of anger with Aznar over an alleged deception regarding the bombing: see, for example, the photo and story here. Now: were they bowing to terrorists or simply voting against Bush and Blair and their alleged lies about Iraq? Unfortunately for the Toronto Star, this is a distinction without a difference. As the Sydney Morning Herald story above illustrates, Al-Qaeda and other radical Muslim groups will see it as the same thing. What's more, "Allah" also points to this AFP story, which illustrates that Spanish voters didn't seem upset enough about Iraq just before the bombing to turn out Aznar. Only with the bombs did everything change.

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9 Comments

D C Watson | March 17, 2004 9:35 AM

Is it just me, or does this guy look like Rowan Atkinson a.k.a. "Mr. Bean" ?

epg | March 17, 2004 9:59 AM

Watson - you're right. There is a strong resemblance.

The Spanish have done us all a great disservice. Now they are in the terrorists' pocket and they have got Europe and others running scared. Europe will either become an armed camp or they will fold like house of cards from internal pressures put on from the enemies within. I hoped this wouldn't come so soon. Such idiots. They misread the situation from the beginning.

D C Watson | March 17, 2004 10:07 AM

I think France has been enlightened. French troops are on the bandwagon in Afghanistan looking for the miserable bone-bag bin Laden with us, so i hear anyway. I don't believe Russia is going to put up with these radicals, I'd be surprised if they did anyhow. Putin was against the Iraq war for economical purposes. I don't believe that he's going to buckle to these pigs.

Italy, who knows?

All we can do is pray that all of us go on offense and snuff these lunatics out.

joseph | March 17, 2004 10:08 AM

how are they in the terrorists pockets

you are acting like spain is about to open al qaeda training camps, and impose sharia law on its public....

i have no doubt that spain will become a very difficult place to be alqaeda very soon because of increased police actions taken to arrest people responsible and to break up any cells in that country...

the people there where not happy with spain being involved in the iraq war so the elected the govt out ...democracy in action

D C Watson | March 17, 2004 10:39 AM

Joey, what country do you reside in?

Earl | March 17, 2004 11:23 AM

Keep in mind that in Canada, it is referred to as the "Red Star"- the Toronto Star is a shrilly anti-American, pro-Trudeau-socialist-Canada rag whose editorials are, at best, shallow. There's not a lot of sophistcated analysis to be found in the Star. And, its "Editor Emeritus" is a Muslim...

Those in Canada who shape public policy read the Globe and Mail. Better to monitor its editorial bent for a better understanding of how elite Canadian opinion is shaped (and reflected).

jihan | March 17, 2004 2:22 PM

Yes, the Spanish elections do clearly demonstrate demoncracy in action. The majority of the Spanish population was against Spain joining the US in the Iraq War and was against sending troops there. There is a huge anti-American feelings in Spain in general and hacing Aznar side with the Americans did not sit well with the population.

With the bombing, Aznar and his party should have come out and say that the most likely group who did the bombing was an islamic group. Since he and his party kept on saying ETA - lying when they knew better - the Spanish voted against Aznar - voting against a war they do not like, voting against the Americans whom they do no like, voting against the party in power which was lying!

The problem with voting in this way is that it is very short sighted! Yes - let's throw those guys out (Aznar and company). Great - now Spain will have to deal with the even more real threat of more attacks inside Spain and a more violent muslim population within Spain.

Zapatero is the ultimate dhimmi - equating Spanish support for the Iraq war for the Madrid bombing - thus blaming the US for their attack - is nonsense. These islamic fascist groups will bomb ANYONE ANYTIME ANYWHERE they please.

We are all in for a rough ride - if a society does not know what it believes and values - and thus fight for its very survival, then these islamic fascists will succeed! The question is, does post-modern Europe know what it believes and values and thus be willing to defend them against such attacks?

jihan

misty | March 17, 2004 4:17 PM

with europe on the run, who else besides the US will stand up? I believe it is inevitable, we will be forced to use nuclear weapons to show the radical muslims the meaning of THEIR jihad. They want trouble, that's what they will get.

Hal | March 17, 2004 6:49 PM

DC, I had the same thought except this guy doesn't make me laugh. Now that theJihadis have succeeded in manipulating the election in Spain, it's just a matter of time until they demand that Spain become an Islamic nation and institute Sharia as the law of the land.... or else. El Cid must be turning over in his grave...

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