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March 15, 2004

The Terrorists Have Already Won

Sure, it's a line we've all used jokingly since September 11, but this time it's for real, at least in Spain:

Pulling a major ally from the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, Spain's prime minister-elect will withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq in the coming months, a Socialist Party spokesman said.

After the Madrid bombings, many in the blogosphere wondered whether this would swing the tide of opinion in Spain toward one in support of the war on terror, or further toward a "maybe if we put our head in the sand, they won't blow us up" attitude.

So, how does that sand taste, Espana?

On the Iraq front, pulling troops out while we work to stabilize the country is also a mistake. It's one thing to contend that the war should not have happened; it's another thing to abandon the Iraqi people to anarchy as the feeble roots of democracy are trying to take hold.

Odd how people who consider themselves "progressive" tend to only take steps that drive us backward.

Muchas gracias to outgoing Prime Minister Aznar - and thanks for nothin' to incoming Prime Minister Rodriguez Zapatero. Just remember, America won't forget (unless, of course, John Kerry becomes President in which case it's highly likely that we'll invite you over for tea and cookies and pretend none of this international hoohah ever took place because: multilateralism good - unilateralism bad!).

Update: Rodriguez Zapatero had this to say:

"My immediate priority will be to fight all forms of terrorism,"

In a speech planned for later today, he'll tell us how he plans to fight domestic crime by having Spaniards hand over their wallets.