Monday, March 15, 2004

IT WAS AL-QAIDA WOT WON IT

On this morning's Today Programme there was a comment to the effect that al-Qaida had a direct influence on democratic elections. I cannot recall the exact quote, but I think it was uttered by Edward Sturton, one of the presenters.

Sorry, but this is poppycock.

The bombings in Madrid on Thursday and the immediate reaction by the incumbent Government ("it was definitely ETA") followed by the gradual leak of information linking the attacks to groups sympathetic to al-Qaida must have been in the minds of many Spaniards as they voted yesterday.

But, think about this too. The Popular Party pinned the war on terror and the war on Iraq to its mast. Polls last year indicated something like 80% of Spaniards opposed the war.

To suggest that it was al-Qaida that influenced the election is mistaken. The Spanish people made a judgement on their government and its record. That Spain is a victim of such a vicious attack, to many minds, is the result of those actions. The electorate took that judgement.

:: Posted by pete @ 13:53