The train bombings in Madrid demonstrate anew the rotten fruit of Islamism. Not that further demonstration was needed- God fearing people the world over have seen enough of the death and destruction that result from Islamist teachings to know that Satan fills terrorist hearts.
The Spanish people, lead by Jose Maria Aznar, have been brothers-in-arms in the war on terror. We in America thank them for their bravery and perseverance. We honor the Spanish soldiers serving in Iraq, and we mourn the Spanish dead in Madrid. God rest their souls.
There is some evidence that the outgoing Popular Party manipulated facts relating to the bombing in an attempt to pin early blame on the Basque separatist movement, and thereby gain votes. To be clear, there is no excuse for politicizing tragedy. If true, such conduct merits a change in government. When Bill Clinton disgraced the Presidency by lying and obstructing justice, no amount of good that might result from his continuing in office could overcome the damage he had done to the United States. Despite the assertions of his supporters, and his managing to survive impeachment proceedings, a thriving stock market was no penance for his perfidy. Some political acts are so base that a change in office is required. This was true with Clinton, and if the allegations of spin and manipulation bear out, it also true with the Spanish Popular party.
The Spanish people found themselves grappling with much more than domestic politics and policy direction, however, and the war on terror is the worse for their decision. From the Islamist perspective, the incoming Socialist government with its promise to withdraw troop support from the Iraq front is the exact result sought from the train bombings. The lesson that resonates is that terror can manipulate Western elections to the benefit of Islamists.
It is an old lesson. Osama bin Laden believed the West incapable of sustained military response when faced with body counts, a belief he came to by watching America’s muted reaction to terrorism, for example: withdrawing from Lebanon in 1983 after 243 marines were murdered in a barracks bombing, and withdrawing from Somalia after 18 soldiers were killed in Mogadishu. Al Qaeda planned and executed two attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. America’s response to the first attack in 1993, which killed 6 people but failed to destroy the building, was negligible. This reinforced the Islamist belief that America was weak and vulnerable.
The temerity of the West in responding to terrorism also reinforced the Islamist belief that Allah sanctions their depravity. Muslims take seriously the Koran’s claims to be a literal dictation from Allah. Islamists approach recent history by emphasizing the theological triumphalism that pervades the Koran. In the Koran, Allah tells Mohammed that his military victories result from doing Allah’s work. In other words, one finds the voice and approval of Allah in military victory. Islamists argue that the current ascendancy of dar al-Harb (the House of War) over dar al-Islam (the House of Islam) indicates that Muslims, in seeking coexistence with the West, have ceased to do Allah’s will. Islamists reason that dar al-Islam will again be ascendant when Muslims take seriously the obligation to Jihad. Islamists view Western temerity as a Koranic proof, reasoning that that unavenged or under avenged terrorist strikes demonstrate Allah’s approval of Jihad.
Should the incoming Socialist government make good on its promise and withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq, Islamists will have further reason to conclude as with previous terrorist attacks, that the West is weak and vulnerable, and that Allah favors Jihad.
Posted by publius at March 15, 2004 10:41 PM