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June 30, 2004

Like Sheep to the Slaughter

Fine, fine, for this simile to hold true, they'd have to be sadly predictable, Spanish-speaking, weak-willed, Iberian sheep:

PARIS (AFP) - Al-Qaeda reportedly planned to target Spain as the weakest link of the coalition in Iraq to force its troop pullout, according to a document from the terror network.

"We consider that the Spanish government cannot suffer more than two to three strikes before pulling out (of Iraq) under pressure from its own people," said the document obtained Wednesday by AFP from Raido France International's regional office in Beirut.

"If these (Spanish) forces remain after the strikes, the victory of the socialist party would be near-guaranteed and the pullout of Spanish forces from Iraq would be on its agenda," said the document, distributed ahead of the March 11 attacks in Madrid.

The Islamic terrorists pretty much nailed it with their prediction - an indication that the leadership of Al Qaeda has an astute understanding of the interplay between power and politics, and that the Spanish do not.

Way to go, Spain!