Terrorism is terrorism is terrorism

[question everything]

I am concerned about several threads here actually glad that the terrorist attack in Madrid removed the Spanish ally of the U.S.

I am sadden that the democratic process of Spain was hijacked by terrorists. No, I am not following the cliche (that was also hijacked) of "the terrorists won," but we have to understand that there are several networks of terror around the globe that do this because it is fun and that cause is irrelevant.

Just a reminder: the WTC attack took place before the wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan. There are many terror acts in the Middle East which have nothing to do with Israel. There are terror cells in Japan and in Germany and thousand more that we never hear about.

For young, poor, unemployed men (mostly) it is so much more exciting to participate in a terror cell than to hold a mundane job in an office or in a factory. There are thousands of weapon merchants for whom terror organizations are the source of business. And, of course, the leaders of these terror cells usually reside in safe places with personal fat bank accounts in Switzerland and in South America while "their" people often die of sickness and starvation.

At least, I hope that most of us believe in the Democratic process. As much as many here refer to this administration as fascist, who say that this is not a free country - we do have this and other forums, don't we? And I don't know of any one having someone knocks on the door in the middle of the night and whisk him/her away never to be heard again.

Now that a terror organization - does not matter which - succeeded in changing a government in a democratic elections, it will open the door to many more actions. After all, Hitler and the Nazis were the first to show how an undemocratic group - from the right or the left - can take over in a democratic process and then close all democratic institutions. (Of course, many groups in the West, including here welcomed the rise of Hitler as blocking Communism).

So, please, do not rejoice in the results of the Spanish elections, but mourn it.

Last, does anyone doubt that if, heavens forbids, a terror activity takes place on these shores, that Bush will be reelected with a landslide?

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. How did terrorism hijack democracy in Spain?

90% of the people in Spain opposed the Iraq War and opposed Spain's participation in it. The ruling party was going to lose the election anyway. Why do you think Azar didn't even bother to run.
However despite a terrible attack, they managed to have a fair and free election 3 days later. Just because the liberals won and the ruling party fell because of their failed policies is how democracy is supposed to work.

The real terrorists suffered a major set back yesterday and Bu$h and Blair are running scared.

If we have another major attack on US soil, you can bet we won't have a fair and free election here, we already lost that right in 2000. As a matter of fact, I can guarantee we will not have any election at all. That will be the only way Bu$hCo can stay in power. They know they can't get reselected again.

[question everything]

11. Actually, all reports pointed to a win by the ruling party

before the attack.

Unfortunately, too many will vote for Bush on their own free will feeling that he is "good on defense." We know that this is B.S. but too many people think so. Which is why Kerry emphasizes the economy. Which is why we know that this is the issue for us to win.

[KG]

2. terrorism is fun! all the cool kids are doing!

wow. few more ridiculous notions have i read on DU.

[question everything]

12. Those who can, debate. Those who cannot try to be cute n/t

[Bridget Burke]

3. The Spaniards didn't award the government that allowed the attack.

So why are we so different? Why have so few in this country even dared criticize Bush for letting 9/11 happen? Criminal negligence is the kindest possible description of his role, yet he's using 9/11 in his campaign--as some great accomplishment.

It was predicted that an attack in Spain would be good for Aznar--but that is not the case. There was no connection between 9/11 and Iraq. Now, because of the invasion, anti-western terrorists are empowered & recruitment is up. I refuse to mourn because the Spaniards threw out the idiots that got them to invade Iraq.

[DemExpat]

4. I also do not share in the analysis that the terrorist attack did

not change election results, and I also find that the fact that it did this most disturbing.

So I have mixed feelings about the Spanish election - overjoyed to see the Bush supporters kicked out, happy to see the Spanish people mobilized to vote, but very unhappy that a terrorist attack had such great effect on a democratic process.



DemEx

[question everything]

14. Thank you. And thank you for the Pitt reference, below n/t

[Walt Starr]

5. Terrorism didn't hijack anything

Aznar failed his people. He was dumped in favor of a party that would do the bidding of the people.

That's how democratic nations conduct themselves, unlike nations where the guy with the second largest number of votes is put into power.

[Q]

6. I'm simply amazed...

...at your take on elections and government in general.

- Do you even understand what fascism is all about?

[question everything]

13. Why won't you give us your definition and we will see who takes the

time to understand the issues, even if they are not the most popular, and who just join the crowd and shout the slogans that other fed the masses.

[Minstrel Boy]

7. answer something, question everything:

Why mourn the joyful expression of the people's will?

The Aznar government disregarded 90% of the Spanish people and sent Bush a Spanish figleaf for his goddamned criminal war. Then, after the attack, it lied to the nation, pinning it on ETA, withheld evidence, and attempted to exploit the outrage for political gain. If the PP had been rewarded, that would have been something to mourn.

The Spanish were not cowed by al Qaeda into voting Socialist. Quite the contrary.

They weren't motivated by fear; if they had been, they would have chosen the conservatives. They were motivated by both anger, and hope. A powerful combination, that.

[question everything]

15. Except, that if you believe the polls, until the attack Aznar's party

was going to win.

[kiahzero]

22. Which fits right into the PP's theory

If it was in fact the coverup that turned the tide, that would be consistant with the polling you cite.

[sweetheart]

8. terrorism united spain to great wisdom

The spanish people demonstrated a wholly more intelligent solution
to terrorism than the american one. Everyone come out in to the
street, embrace each other, realize we're one people and VOTE in
their elections.

The socialists won. That is a move towards goodwill and a positive
meme for all of us around the world. Somebody had the balls to
stare the ugly terrorism in the face and to heroically turn and
ignore its destructiveness, like the who's in who'ville embracing
each other after the grinch stole christmas.

I have gained a million times respect for the spanish people by
their rejection of terrorism in a way that really brings tears
to my eyes.

God is on Spain's side. How awesome.

[question everything]

16. I hope that you are right. For everyone's sake n/t

[DemExpat]

9. I totally back Will Pitt's words on this:

Three Days in Spain
By William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Monday 15 March 2004
------------snip------------------

The timing of the attack on Thursday is deeply troubling. If al Qaeda was indeed responsible, the terrorist organization certainly planned the blast to happen on the eve of the election. While many may rejoice at the repudiation of a party that brought its nation to war against the will of the people, the fact remains that this repudiation came after 200 people died. Terrorism, slaughter and fear owned the ballot boxes in Spain on Sunday, a precedent that is simply horrifying.

--------------snip-----------------
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/031504A.shtml

[fishnfla]

17. what are the ends? what are the means?

do we now have a precedent?

[nostamj]

10. can you back with up?

there are several networks of terror around the globe that do this because it is fun

or this:

it is so much more exciting to participate in a terror cell than to hold a mundane job

stunningly naive.

and finally, if another terror activity takes place on these shores under Bush*'s watch, only martial law and the suspension of elections would keep him in power.

[question everything]

19. What is the purpose of

- Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the Philippines, except for kidnappings for ransom, bombings, assassinations, and extortion

-

[historian]

18. we are the worse terrorists of all

Cuba, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Greece, Nicaragua, Iran, El Salvador, Phillipines etc... the chickens are coming home to roost now - we have no one to blame but ourselves

[Ysabel]

20. what country are you living in...?

i know of people whisked away by police in the u.s. never to be seen again...

[JohnLocke]

21. You know people "whisked away by police"? Yeah, sure.

:eyes:

[Ysabel]

23. yes - i do...n/t...

[JohnLocke]

25. Who are they?

Trust me, if you actually have friend who have "disappeared," we all would have known by now.

[Character Assassin]

30. Whisked away by US cops, never to be seen again? No, you don't

Speaking as one, and familiar with how we do things, kindly back up your assertion. It flies in the face of reality.

[maggrwaggr]

24. you need to quit listening to Wolf Blitzer and think

the elections in Spain were a triumph of Democracy, not terrorism.

90% of the population in Spain was against joining in the Iraq invasion.

Their leaders did it anyway. Then their leaders lied about who the terrorists were.

Now their leaders have paid the price.

I don't see how there's anything bad in that sequence of events except for the terror attack itself.

The corporate US media would have you believe otherwise.

[doubles]

26. So if we are attacked, and Bush loses, will you say Al Qaeda has won?

These fear tactics will not work!

Bush failed to root AlQaeda by diverting to Iraq to pick up some oil, he has LOST his war on terror and they all deserves the will of the people and that is sent back to Texas for Shrub!

[Sparkly]

29. Therein lies my fear...

I believe this was in many ways an attack on the U.S., and that means on the Bush administration and its policies. It's now that much more difficult for other leaders to go against their people and follow Bush, which it seems Al Qaeda would want.

But I am afraid this notion that 'ousting those who supported the Bush war = terrorists won' easily slides into 'ousting Bush = terrorists won.' This is something the neo-cons may subtly or not-so-subtly float out there...

Tell me if I'm just going nuts here.

[BillZBubb]

27. For someone who is "question everything"

you sure don't question much about the corporate media party line.

The terrorists won when Aznar, against his people's wishes, joined Bush in an illegal invasion, supposedly in response to 9-11. The 9-11 terrorists got the U.S., Britain, and Spain to stupidly do some heavy recruiting for them by attacking Iraq. The war was based on lies and the poor Spanish have paid a heavy price.

Fortunately for them, they have now had the opportunity to throw the bums out. We'll get our chance soon.

[ConsAreLiars]

28. You are misinformed

"terrorism," whatever that means to you, did not change the political balance in Spain. LYING about the attacks for political gain, and getting caught, cost the ruling party their advantage.

And whatever "surprises" take place here in the US, it will not be the events that shift power away from this ruling elite, it will be whatever gets revealed about the utter corruption and pathological venality of the gang behind the coward-and-thief.

[freeforall]

31. Terrorism did not hijack the elections in Spain

Last year, millions of Spanish people protested against getting involved in the Iraq war. I perceive that the bombing reinforced their feelings that they should not have gotten involved, and they "threw out" the leader and party resonsible for that involvement.

I think that this is the highest form of democracy in action. Rather than cower, they actually did something constructive.

Would that America would do the same.

So no, I don't think the "terrorists won." Democracy spoke. Loud and clear.