Spain Drops Out of the War on Terror

I do, because the odds of a terrorist attack in the United States in the days leading up to our next election just jumped significantly. For a terrorist group, perception is all that matters. If terrorists seem to achieve their ends, then they attract more followers, become more powerful, and launch more attacks. And right now the entire Islamic world has seen that terrorists can change the result of a democratic election by killing a couple hundred people at the right time.

Does that mean you should vote against your preferred candidate because terrorists hope he’ll win? Probably not. I don’t know. But I know that the question isn’t as morally uncomplicated as you seem to think it is.

Wait a minute, I thought if the terrorists changed our life they’d won, right?

I totally don’t get this. It’s like junior high “my god, he wants me to do this - I’ll do something else!” reasoning.

And if you’re reduced to not acting like it’s a big deal when you get bombed, because they might bomb you again - give me a break.

If a vote for Kerry is terrorism… there’s gonna millions of the leetle bombers running around this year!

Btw, from Atrios:

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2004_03_14_atrios_archive.html#107945356092956592

NICOLAS CHECA: Margaret, I really think what the key issue here is the handling or mishandling of public information in the 48 hours after the tragic events of last Thursday. I think it bears mentioning that the election was a statistical dead heat, according to public polls the morning of the tragedy on Thursday morning well within the margin of error, one or two points.

As an example, it took a personal call from Prime Minister Elect Zapatero to the interior minister, the Spanish homeland security secretary, informing him that the Socialist Party was aware of the arrest and that he was prepared to move forward with that information. It took that kind of information to get the current government to come forward and announce to the country at large that in fact it was not the ETA lead that would generate success down the road in the investigation, but rather the al-Qaida route.

More on how apparently the election turned on the ruling party trying to pin it on ETA:

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2004_03_14_atrios_archive.html#107944867700120005

Yeah, the whole trying to pin it on the ETA thing probably did turn the election, but you have to admit, al-quada got what al-quada wanted.

Excellent point! Terrorists don’t get discouraged if you ignore them, nor do they think “Thank God! I was getting so discouraged I was about to give up, but the heathen pig-dogs of Spain caved in, so I shall continue my struggle!”

I know, I know. There’s more to the problem, it’s more complicated than that, etc. etc. Bullshit. In a case where you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t… throw out that factor entirely. Both a non-reaction from Spain and a reaction would encourage the terrorists… so just throw the bastards out of the equation.

edit- Just read Bago’s point. It’s stupid. You have to admit, the Spanish speak Spanish, right? OK… I’ll admit it. and? If they hadn’t got what they wanted, they would have become even more infuriated that they weren’t being taken seriously, so they would have stepped up efforts. As compared to this time, where we heathens finally begin to understand their power… so they’ll step up efforts. Hmm… the two end results seem almost identical, don’t you think? Oh wait… they’re not “almost” identical, they are identical.

If they hadn’t got what they wanted, they would have become even more infuriated that they weren’t being taken seriously, so they would have stepped up efforts. As compared to this time, where we heathens finally begin to understand their power… so they’ll step up efforts. Hmm… the two end results seem almost identical, don’t you think? Oh wait… they’re not “almost” identical, they are identical.

So then, in your world, no matter what happens, the terrorists always step up their efforts. THEY ARE UNDEFEATABLE!

Gotcha.

You’re right, bago, I’m sure if we just vote hard enough for party X and clap our hands really loudly they’ll go away.

Now when did I say that?

yup, we won’t win because there will always be terrorists… ask the Israelis about it.

etc

Shit, we’ve got an election coming in 4 days :/

Shit, we’ve got an election coming in 4 days :/[/quote]

And terrorist threats to go with it.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/reuters20040316_341.html

I… I can’t help but notice that you didn’t address my argument in either direction. I’m sure that was by accident, though. I’m sure you wouldn’t be stupid enough to fall into the fallacy that if one action won’t work… then the other must!!! No… they’re both bad actions in terms of encouraging terrorists, so the terrorism element should be ignored when choosing our actions in that situation. (Well… not our actions, but Spain’s actions. But anyways…) You fight terrorism not by direct actions (or inactions) to their terrorist activities, but rather through attacking the root cause of their existence. Improving their economic lot, improving the freedom of their citizens, giving them a less corrupt government, or addressing their valid concerns all may help alleviate terrorism. (I’m not sure which of these solutions… if any… would help fight Al-Qaeda. I was just giving general examples.) No action performed right after a terrorist attack will help the situation… except for possibly capturing and trying the perpetrators, which is exactly what the Spanish are trying to do.

But… I’m sure that such a line of extended reasoning is a bit much to hold in your head, Bago, so… A VOTE FOR THE SOCIALISTS IS A VOTE FOR BIN LADEN!!!

Gotcha.