Appeasement 1.01

Never in modern history has terrorism been used so openly and blatantly to influence the course of politics of a sovereign nation. In one fell swoop, Spain has been made to alter its foreign policy, by killing large numbers of its citizens and, by implication, threatening to do more of the same.

America did not respond well after the bombing of the marine barracks in Lebanon. Neither did the French when they were attacked. There are other examples. But never was an attack timed so precisely to influence the upcoming elections, while at the same time designed to kill and maim hundreds if not thousands of people for maximum effect.

And it worked. Instead of blaming the murderers, the Spanish blame their government, whom they perceive as being responsible for putting them in harms way. It seems the terrorists themselves are not responsible in any way, according to the Spanish.

The attitude of the Spanish people has wider implications. The murderers have proven (if they needed any further proof) that apart from satisfying their psychotic maniacal needs, they can shape the policy of sovereign nations, and they can do so by using very limited resources. Lives are cheap in more than one respect for terrorists. And they are sure to be planning to "influence" public opinion in the rest of Europe. Thanks to the Spanish appeasement.