03.15a The Spanish Election. It's amazing that Al Qaeda actually seems to have knocked Spain out of the War on Terrorism with one operation. There's been a lot of comment on how American voters would react to something like this by fighting harder, not by giving up. Indeed, 9-11 showed that. But remember that Europe is the continent of World War II's Appeasement and Defeatism. France is the strongest example of that. Not only were the French eager to appease before the war started, but initial defeat did not, as in England, strengthen the will to resist-- it eroded it.

Of course, the great lesson of the 30's is that Appeasement doesn't work. Spain is headed for deep, deep trouble. Spain has clearly demonstrated that a terror bombing that kills 200 people will cause it to give up. What is the obvious response of the Basque terrorists? Sending a signal to them was no doubt a major consideration in the mind of the Spanish prime minister when he joined the War Against Terror. Now Spain is sending them the opposite signal.

Or go further. What about someone who wants an independent Catalonia? Or, what about someone who wants a haven for his group's terrorist activities? Think, too, about the degree of cooperation Spain will get from U.S., British, and Israeli intelligence after this.

I suggest staying away from Madrid for a few years.

[in full at 04.03.15a.htm . Erasmusen@yahoo.com. ]

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