Required Reading
March 25th, 2004 - 12:25 am
Sometimes, Tom Friedman nails it:
If Mr. Zapatero goes through with his troop withdrawal from Iraq, Islamist terrorists will attribute it to the Madrid bombing. This big picture will absolutely encourage them to try this tactic, perfected in Israel and now imported to Spain, in other European or U.S. elections
I’m surprised “blinking 12:00 Tom” didn’t try to link Spains problems to “the settlers”.
I live in Los Angeles. I’m a settler.
That’s a pretty good idea. He should come up with a couple more and forward them to European leaders. From the way things seem at Tim Blair’s, Australia seem like the next prime target. And, one candidate pledged to pull their troops out (don’t know who he is or if he has a shot). It’s hard to tell if Australia is safe because:
1. A terrorist attack would probably produce the opposite effect on their election.
2. Spain might have already given voters a push towards folding. They might already get what they want from them.
3. But, they might do it just to make other countries piss themselves.
Can’t wait for the Environgelicals and Socialist to give it try here, luckily they’re bumbling idiots. I hope were keeping an eye one them though, why would al Qaeda bother when they can let some one else to do it. Then, if it doesn’t work, it wasn’t them “But, look what Bush’s war has brought on you.”; if it works, “Hey, look what Bush’s war has brought on you.”
I think Friedman is slightly off target here.
Of the 25 states presently EU members, or joining this year, 13 have men in Iraq (counting Spain as in, for now).
The other 12 includes the ‘reflex neutrals’ (Austria, Finland, Ireland and Sweden) who only contribute, if at all, to UN operations. They haven’t broken from habits of the Cold War or earlier.
Then there are the real absentees: the EU and NATO members France, Germany, Belgium (and Luxembourg, lets not forget Luxembourg). Effectively now joined by Spain.
Anyone hoping they’ll sign up for Iraq is doomed to disappointment.
France combines frivolity with opportunism and make-believe realpolitik, Germany parades its pseudo-pacifisism, and Belgium and Luxembourg play Mini-Me and Even-Minier-Me.
Without them the EU has no way of issuing such a statement. Foreign policy declarations of the Council require a consensus of member states (which is not quite the case for pronouncements by a Commissioner or the EU Parliament).
I’m inclined to think the EU as a body should stay clear of non-economic external relations anyway. These, like defence, should be reserved to the states, and the Commision and EU Parliament told to mind their own business.
Where to stand in the war is a decision each country can only make for itself. Cooperating in such a stand once the decision is made is another matter.
Hi.
aaron said: “And, one candidate pledged to pull their troops out (don’t know who he is or if he has a shot).”
Mark Latham. He has a good shot. Howard has the right foreign/defense policy, and has a solid record, but seems to have run out of agenda on the domestic front.
On 11 September, 2001, both the (Howard-Liberal) Government and (Beazely-Labor) Opposition were rock-solid with the Yanks. Kim (“Bomber”) Beazely was a good, solid, old-fashioned, pro-defense, pro-American Labor man. Since then, as with the Americans, the moderately right-wing government has gotten more and more determined to stay the course and win, while the mad left has over-run what was once a respectable working class party. Which sucks.
And yes, mad Mark Latham just set us up for a Spanish election.
But I don’t think it matters, any more than being in Iraq matters. It doesn’t matter whether we defy the terrorist to do their worst, or act weak enough to give into them if they hit us hard enough. They hate us because we are infidels, and so they are going to hit us regardless, if they can. It’s that simple.
Hence Bali, which was before Iraq, and didn’t move Australian opinions an inch. And I suspect if/when they hit us another good one, we will just go to more funerals and ignore the terrorists’ “message” again.
Spains problems may be twofold, rewarding Al Qeda and sending a message to ETA that they too can suceed if you step up the body count.
Thanks David, couldn’t remeber.
I’m thinking no terrorist attack before the election. If Howard wins, you might see one after. You still might not see any, because, like you said, “They’re going to hit us regardless”. I’m figuring most of are set up well in advance, some might have signal triggers, some might have time windows, and a few might be up to the cells themselves.
Several hundred more troops will provide a terror free Iraq? Wotta great idea!
Victor Davis Hanson, among others, point out that the Middle Eastern countries consistently use things they can not create, maintain, or develop. Here we have Al Qaeda using democracy, something they neither created nor want for themselves, to further their goals.