We Are All Spaniards

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...

That was my reaction also. I don't know if it makes random attacks on
Spanish targets more likely, but it certainly makes attacks on BRITISH
targets more likely. Probably Polish targets as well.


I disagree. Britain has always been a target. An attack would not
change government policy (even if Labour were kicked out, the
Conservatives are even more bullish). And the UK have a clearer
sense of their global responsibilities than Spain. Of course, this
doesn't preclude an attack out of spite, but that is as likely now as
it was before the weekend. The most likely enhanced targets are
France and Germany (over the hajib issue), and in fact these two
have today called for an EU-wide emergency security conference.

The big loser in this is not the coalition forces in Iraq; rather it is
the institutions of the EU. The idea of a common defense force is
exposed as a farce (with Spain turning tail after just one bloody
nose), and continent-wide unity dealt a further blow (as the Spanish
political establishment is clearly not in the least concerned that their
actions have made life more dangerous and difficult for the rest of
the people of the EU).

This is addressed in the Wall Street Journal today. The writer points
to Poland as the next probable target, since it too has troops in
Iraq, and is more vulnerable than either the U.S. or Britain (and
perhaps more susceptible to blackmail).

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:44:17 GMT, "Tony Cox" wrote:

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
.. .

That was my reaction also. I don't know if it makes random attacks on
Spanish targets more likely, but it certainly makes attacks on BRITISH
targets more likely. Probably Polish targets as well.


I disagree. Britain has always been a target. An attack would not
change government policy (even if Labour were kicked out, the
Conservatives are even more bullish). And the UK have a clearer
sense of their global responsibilities than Spain. Of course, this
doesn't preclude an attack out of spite, but that is as likely now as
it was before the weekend. The most likely enhanced targets are
France and Germany (over the hajib issue), and in fact these two
have today called for an EU-wide emergency security conference.

The big loser in this is not the coalition forces in Iraq; rather it is
the institutions of the EU. The idea of a common defense force is
exposed as a farce (with Spain turning tail after just one bloody
nose), and continent-wide unity dealt a further blow (as the Spanish
political establishment is clearly not in the least concerned that their
actions have made life more dangerous and difficult for the rest of
the people of the EU).


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (requires authentication)

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...

This is addressed in the Wall Street Journal today. The writer points
to Poland as the next probable target, since it too has troops in
Iraq, and is more vulnerable than either the U.S. or Britain (and
perhaps more susceptible to blackmail).


Are there actually Muslims in Poland? I doubt Al-Qaida has
the infrastructure to mount an attack.

"Tony Cox" wrote in message
hlink.net...
"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...

This is addressed in the Wall Street Journal today. The writer points
to Poland as the next probable target, since it too has troops in
Iraq, and is more vulnerable than either the U.S. or Britain (and
perhaps more susceptible to blackmail).


Are there actually Muslims in Poland? I doubt Al-Qaida has
the infrastructure to mount an attack.



Who says they have to be Moslems?

Unfortuantely, sympathies toward a movement are all that are required.

Jay Beckman

"Jay Beckman" wrote in message
news:Ixo5c.16719$Nj.11356@fed1read01...

Who says they have to be Moslems?

Because Rasterfarians aren't particularly interested in
reestablishing the Kaliphate.

"Tony Cox" wrote in message
hlink.net...
"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...

This is addressed in the Wall Street Journal today. The writer points
to Poland as the next probable target, since it too has troops in
Iraq, and is more vulnerable than either the U.S. or Britain (and
perhaps more susceptible to blackmail).


Are there actually Muslims in Poland? I doubt Al-Qaida has
the infrastructure to mount an attack.

No but there are Chechen (muslim)terrorists operating in Russia and a lot of
Russians in Poland. It would be easy for the Chechens who are in alliance
with OBL to strike.

Think about it.

"S Green" wrote in message ...
No but there are Chechen (muslim)terrorists operating in Russia and a lot of
Russians in Poland. It would be easy for the Chechens who are in alliance
with OBL to strike.

It would be total stupidity for Chechens, paying back for so many
years of support with terrorist attack.

There are muslims in Poland: Polish tatars and immigrants. They number
is close to nil.

However, Poland unlikely would react similarly to Spain on terrorist
attack.

Are there actually Muslims in Poland? I doubt Al-Qaida has
the infrastructure to mount an attack.

No but there are Chechen (muslim)terrorists operating in Russia and a lot of
Russians in Poland. It would be easy for the Chechens who are in alliance
with OBL to strike.

Good point. It does not appear (at the moment, anyhow) that the
Spanish bombers were Al Qaeda at all, but rather Moroccan sympathizers
with perhaps some links to Qaeda. Indeed, they might well have worked
with the ETA.

It does appear that the war against Qaeda/Taliban in Afghanistan has
sufficiently disrupted the network that it has operated over the past
couple of years in a very different mode than it did before September
2001. It's more of a high-scale IRA/ETA/Palestianian effort. (Notice
that the Palestinians are shifting toward mass-victim attacks, under
the presumable influence of Al Qaeda's operations?)

Europe is full of guest workers, many of them from Muslim countries.
As Poland joins the EU, its borders become more open.


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (requires authentication)

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com