Andrew Hagen

British and American authorities foiled a plot today that was intended to blow up approximately 10 airplanes simultaneously en route from the UK to the US. (*) (†)

The New York Times reports: (‡)

The police did not identify the suspects or their origin, though Paul Stephenson, the deputy metropolitan police commissioner for London, said “community leaders” had been alerted about the police action, using a code word for the British Muslim community.

The terrorist objective of bombing multiple airplanes at a time over an ocean was also at play in the Bojinka plot. (§)

The Jihad has hit democracy again, this time bombing London trains and transport. An occupied double-decker bus was blasted apart. In all, at least forty innocents are dead and hundreds are injured. (*)

Britain now faces a choice. It can fight back with tougher measures on immigration, refugees, Iraqi insurgents, Iranian nuclear development, and the international Jihad, or it can surrender to the maruaders who have thrown the shining city of London into a massacre of blood and chaos.

(Image source: Instapunk (†))

As thinkers such as Bat Ye’or have noted, Europe was already teetering on the edge of becoming a fiefdom of Islam, of becoming “Eurabia.” (‡) They are achieving this when they bomb free countries. They want to sow disorder, panic, and distrust. Theirs is the toolkit of fear. They want to create an environment in which pitiless villains thrive, such as Zarqawi (the guttersnipe head-chopper) and Bin Laden (the robed coward who directs others to commit mass murder-suicides).

America will stand shoulder to shoulder with Britain and Europe. Ultimately, however, no one can save Britain or Europe except the people of Britain and the people of Europe.

Part of Prime Minister Tony Blair’s statement reads:

It is particularly barbaric that this has happened on a day when people are meeting to try to help the problems of poverty in Africa, and the long term problems of climate change and the environment. Just as it is reasonably clear that this is a terrorist attack, or a series of terrorist attacks, it is also reasonably clear that it is designed and aimed to coincide with the opening of the G8. There will be time to talk later about this.

It is important however that those engaged in terrorism realise that our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people in a desire to impose extremism on the world. Whatever they do, it is our determination that they will never succeed in destroying what we hold dear in this country and in other civilised nations throughout the world.

(§)

Do not waste time trying to figure out the “meaning” of the attacks. It really does not matter. The only solution to terrorism is to kill off so many terrorists that the rest give up. The forces of freedom have killed many terrorists since 9/11, and a number of our finest citizens and their families have paid a dear price to do so. Today’s attack on London is not so large as to kill thousands, as happened on 9/11. That is a sign of progress.

Now we must continue to forge ahead, ignoring the hysterical cries of the cut-and-run lobby, and smash the Jihad utterly.

For further info, Instapundit has many web links. (**)

Theo van Gogh was a Dutch filmmaker. (*) He was a great-great-grandnephew of the famous painter Vincent Van Gogh. He recently made a film about the plight of women under Islam. (†)

On November 2nd, he was shot by an Islamic radical on the streets of Amsterdam. He died. (‡) His murderer plunged a dagger into his chest. It had a note attached with a death threat addressed to two Dutch legislators. (§)

Van Gogh’s film is available online. (**) It has a small amount of adult material.

A spate of violence has broken out in the Netherlands. (††) The Dutch government is raiding terrorist nests in Holland. (‡‡)

Theo Van Gogh was 47.

Update: 4 December 2004. In a blow against freedom, the company known as “IFILM” as removed the movie, Submission, from its web site. Charles Johnson at LGF has a link to another site that has it. (§§)

Ten people were arrested in Manchester, England today in a raid on a group suspected of involvement with terrorism. (*)

Special branch officers confirmed they had arrested nine men and one woman. Seven addresses were targeted and seven people arrested in Greater Manchester.

Three further people were arrested in the West Midlands, Staffordshire, and South Yorkshire.

Those being questioned today are Iraqis, Kurds and north Africans.

Police said they would neither confirm not deny rumours about possible targets.

(†)

They got ten, but there are thousands of Al Qaeda operatives remaining in the UK alone.

“In the early 1990s MI5 was very slow to get to grips with al Qaida,” [ex–MI5 spy David] Shayler said in a TV interview.

“Despite repeated warnings they let in thousands of al Qaida members into this country who are all still here.

“Some of whom have gained British citizenship, which makes it very difficult to expel them.” Middlesbrough-born Shayler revealed his fears on the ITV1 Tyne Tees programme The Sunday Interview.

(‡) How can terrorist attacks be stopped if we don’t stop or at least reduce immigration?

Hans Jansen, a Dutch academic, reminds Europe of its past conflict with Islamic invaders. In consideration of Al Qaeda’s obsession with reversing the tide of history through brutal savagery, high on Al Qaeda’s hit list will be Spain and Vienna. Additionally, since Al Qaeda perceives Rome as the center of Christianity, Rome is a likely target. (*)

The article has a factual mistake. It says that the historic victory by European forces over the Ottoman empire at the gates of Vienna occurred in 1693. In fact, it occurred in 1683.

I would add that Greece must also be high on the list. The Greeks won their independence from Ottoman rule after a long, bitter campaign that culminated in the 1820s. This only adds importance to the need to protect the summer Olympics this year in Athens.

Building on the work of the writer Bat Ye’or, Robert Spencer makes the case that Europe has fundamentally aligned with Arab Muslim regimes.

This “shifting of Europe into the Arab-Islamic sphere of influence,” Bat Ye’or explains, was intended to break the “traditional trans-Atlantic solidarity.” To deflate American power and assure themselves a steady supply of oil, European leaders accepted “the traditional cultural baggage of Arab societies, with its anti-Christian and anti-Jewish prejudices and its hostility against Israel and the West.” In exchange for markets in the Islamic world, Europe turned its back on its Judeo-Christian heritage and set the stage for its own Islamization. At the highest political level, Europe, including Spain, has been selling its soul for decades now—giving up, in effect, its blood for oil.…

(*) The US–Europe alliance faces this challenge.

Does Europe suffer from a failure of nerve? Is Europe doomed? We shall find out.

There are several reasons to doubt the sincerity of the terrorists’ offer of a truce to Spain in the wake of the Madrid bombing—one of the most incredible victories for terrorism ever.

The murderous fanatics released a statement.

In its statement, Abu Hafs al-Masri said it was calling a truce in Spain to give the socialist government that was elected Sunday, three days after the train attacks, time to carry out its pledge to withdraw troops from Iraq.

The group appeared to boast it had the power to change governments.

“We change and destroy countries,” the statement said. “We even influence the international economy.”

(*)

(The terrorists also claimed to support Bush over Kerry in the US presidential election. That is an obvious lie.)

I would guess that the statement used the Arabic word “hudna,” and that was translated into “truce.” It is widely noted that throughout history, Muslims have used hudna as a tactic to gain temporary respite against a superior enemy so that strength may be gathered over time to deliver a conquering blow later in time. (†)

Some have said that the Arabic word hudna should not be translated as “truce.” I disagree. “Truce” means temporary cessation of conflict. We just need to keep fresh in our mind that a truce is temporary. To end a war, you need what is formally called a “peace agreement.” Note that the terrorists have never offered or suggested any peace agreement. They only offer truces, and only then when they are weak.

Even if Spain withdraws from Iraq, the terrorists will eventually come for Spain again. As the terrorist front group Abu Hafs al Masri Brigades said after the Madrid attack, “This is part of a longstanding settling of scores with Crusader Spain.” (‡) The Moors were driven out of Spain in 1492 AD in the Reconquista, a long campaign associated with the Crusades to defend Christendom.

In Al Qaeda’s official declaration of responsibility, Spain’s involvement in Afghanistan is also invoked as the terrorists’ cause for war. “This is a response to the crimes that you have caused in the world, and specifically in Iraq and Afghanistan.” (§) Spain stood with the US against terror after 9/11, and Spain has contributed to the Afghan campaign.

Exiting the Iraq campaign will not give Spain security. The terrorists will fight until Spain exits Afghanistan and the Iberian peninsula is controlled by radical Muslims.

Update: 20 March 2004. Minor changes. Additionally, Robert Spencer says that “Islamic law allows mujahedin to agree to a truce only for a temporary period, when they are weak, in order to gather their strength and fight again more effectively.” (**)

The disastrous outcome of the Spanish election has been much noted elsewhere. (*) A few days before the election, foreign terrorists murdered 200 people and injured 1,400 more in an attack on innocent men, women, and children riding on commuter trains in Madrid. A radical Islamist terrorist statement publicly called on Spain to remove its forces from Iraq. The incumbent party’s lead in the polls disappeared. The challenging party, promising to remove Spanish forces from Iraq, won the election. The Socialist leader, Zapatero, has already sealed his place in history alongside appeasers like Neville Chamberlin for declaring he will withdraw Spain’s 1,200 troops from Iraq.

I have a few comments.

• The barbarians dictated terms to the Spanish people. The Spanish people cowed before the barbarians.
• You do not honor your dead by retreating over their graves.
• This is not merely troubling for Spain. It is troubling for the future of democracy. I still believe that democracies are capable of defending themselves against terrorism, but reason for some doubt has now been created.
• Spain’s incumbent party should have done a better job in managing the situation. They should have communicated with the people the full information they had on the attacks immediately. That would have bred less distrust.
• The obvious inference is that terrorists will now attack around every election around the world. Fasten your seatbelts as we approach November 2nd.
• Every time we give into terrorism, terrorism gets worse.
• Frederick Turner memorializes Spain’s tragic moment of dishonor in a poem. (†)
• The thesis that the radical Left and the terrorists are joining forces has picked up support.
• The coalition should consider requesting that Spain withdraw its forces from Iraq without delay, because they could now be used by the Socialist government of Spain to collect information on coalition forces for the benefit of terrorists in Iraq and elsewhere. I doubt the Spanish military would stand for such a thing, but the new Spanish government cannot be trusted.
• A discussion in Spain is taking place along the lines of the cowardice the voters showed. (‡) That such a discussion occurs is a good sign. (§)

It’s unfortunate that Spain is now the sycophantic, bent-knee servant of the terror masters. I hope that the natural valor and courage of Spaniards returns to steady them in the near future, and that they will rejoin the civilized world in our fight against the terrorist savages.

Jesus Gil reports on the 190 killed and over 1,000 injured in the latest act of war perpetrated on the free world, this time in Madrid, Spain. (*) (†) (‡)

This bombing is not the small-time bombing of the ETA, the Basque terrorist group. This huge, coordinated attack against innocent people on their regular morning commute has the hallmarks of radical Islamist terrorism. It doesn’t truly matter whether it is Al Qaeda or some other radical Islamist terrorist group.

My heart goes out to you, Spain, and especially to all of the victims and their families. I wish I could find words to console you.

When I was growing up here in America, we all learned about how Spain discovered America in 1492. We learned how it was Spain that established the USA’s oldest city, St Augustine, Florida. Our countries are friends and allies. We stood together against the Soviet Union in the Cold War.

I remember that Spain stood with my country after 9/11. I recall that Spain has stood with the free world against terrorism—against the ETA and in Iraq, where Spain’s courageous leadership and valiant military has proven invaluable. The Iraqi people are entering democracy with no small debt of gratitude to Spain. Spain has taken charge of counterterrorism efforts at the United Nations.

Now the terrorists have attacked Spain. Do not forget that these fanatics really believe that Spain belongs to them, and that Christians should again be enslaved to Muslims. Now we know they are crazy enough to act on this delusion.

Never forget that this is a Global War with the terrorists. On the one side is the free world where stand Christians, other non-Muslims, and moderate Muslims. On the other side stand the terrorists. Every day all of us, even the moderate Muslims, suffer attacks all over the globe, but rarely do the attacks reach the level of the depraved, immoral savagery the terrorists just visited upon the innocent men, women, and children of Madrid.

As an American, I want you to know you will always have my country on your side. The Madrid attacks have received a very high level of attention from our media. When we see what they have done to you, we are reminded of what they did to us. I know my country. We will always stand against the bullies and tyrants who seek to deceive and conquer the world. When Spain suffers, America suffers. Your enemy is our enemy. We stand shoulder to shoulder.

Even as we grieve let us resolve to not be defeated, but to protect our freedom even as we would our very lives.

Spaniards, resolve to not just fight the terrorists, but to be victorious over them. So long as you retain your determination you cannot be defeated, for they wage an aggressive and uncivilized war against you, and you are a noble and glorious people.

Their cowardice, fanaticism, and pitiless barbaric attacks cannot match your bravery and honor. Let us never forget any single one of the lives they took. Let us remember and honor all their names. God bless you all.

I’m beginning to tire of Victor Davis Hanson. His latest column, on corruption, says some good things. (*)

Hanson seems to miss a few critical issues. France and Germany may be not merely poor allies and fickle friends, but may have set themselves down the road of antagonism with the United States. These countries fund Palestinian suicide bombers and oppose key aspects of the Global War on Terrorism. America needs to reevaluate these countries as strategic partners. Perhaps we should no longer consider them such. Perhaps we should consider them enemies.

Furthermore, the larger game here is alliances. A league of nation-states opposed to terrorist groups and nation-state sponsors of terrorism would optimize the US and Israel’s chance for success in the Global War. An international security organization composed of the world’s democracies is a possibility. It could replace the UN Security Council.

On the other hand, an international treaty organization formally dedicated to opposing terrorists and their state sponsors might prove more effective. Such an organization could perhaps replace NATO. Stringent requirements for admission could block the entry of France and Germany, while allowing in countries like Italy, Spain, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The treaty would be one of mutual-defense. It could prove useful in isolating and changing the Iranian regime.

Bat Yeor levels a substantiated charge that Europe has aligned with the Arab world against the US and Israel. (*) (†)

It occurs to me that France uses the US and Israel as scapegoats to deflect public criticism in France of the unpopular French government, just as Saudi Arabia and other Muslim dictatorships use the US and Israel as scapegoats to deflect public criticism in Muslim countries of their unpopular regimes. The comparison is striking.

Roger L Simon has a moving essay on France. (*) Sadly, the nation of France creaks under the weight of enormous welfare payments to neverending streams of Muslim immigrants. The French political establishment is paralyzed. The French government is bureaucratized and corrupt. Something must give way. Simon forecasts change.

French Jews are leaving to escape the lash of Jew-hatred.

It should also be noted that the right-wing movement in France, headlined by Le Pen, gained a surprising number of votes in the last election. As the right-wing is outside the existing political order that would be a good thing. Unfortunately, the French right-wing is even more anti-Semitic and more anti-American than the establishment. Le Pen could be even worse for France than is Chirac.

The French political establishment is pinning its hopes on integrating its failing nation into the EU. Unfortunately, that appears to have been an imprudent play. The EU has nothing that can forge it into a nation-state. There is no shared language or culture. Nothing leads me to believe the EU can succeed. Dissidents are calling it the “EUSSR.” The EU may not last nearly as long, however.

Responsible French reformers should consider rejecting the EU, rejecting anti-Semitism, rejecting anti-Americanism, and rejecting the Fifth Republic in favor of what may become the Sixth. What France is in desperate need of is a new constitution to decentralize political power, privatize industry, and better guarantee individual rights.

Do not count out France. The French have a history of appearing to be on the verge of their own end, only to recover. Charles Martel, Joan of Arc, and Charles de Gaulle come to mind. Let’s hope there is someone who can save France.

We Americans should encourage the French people to find their own solutions. Currently, this requires us to criticize the French government vociferously. Yet, with France we ought to always maintain an atmosphere of respect. We should treat France with respect because that is how we want France to treat us.

Update: 20 March 2004. I changed “anti-Semitism” to “Jew-hatred” to avoid confusion. Muslims are the primary instigators of Jew-hatred at this time, and many Muslims are ethnically Semitic.

Victor Davis Hanson describes how Europeans are suffering from a lack of valor. If they don’t value their unique civilization, why should Americans? (*) They should and we should.

Norwegian web logger Bjørn Stærk makes the useful point that all the Americans who claim that Europe is doomed have only proved half of their case. (*) It is true that Europe’s aging population and decrepit welfare model do not bode well, and that large-scale Muslim immigration creates enormous new challenges of assimilation that have not been met, and perhaps cannot be without social upheaval or the establishment of sharia as dominant law in Europe. As Stærk retorts, though, that does not mean that Europe will not find solutions. Democracies can correct themselves. Perhaps someone will offer a workable plan. Perhaps someone will do something. The burden of proof remains with the Americans. That proves that.

No it doesn’t. Until someone actually comes up with a plan to save Europe from this onset of “doom”—and no one has—then it hardly matters where the burden of proof lies. This is not a debating society. We are talking about the real world. Just because someone might think of a good idea does not mean anyone will.

The challenges are apparent. It would be wise for Europe and those who care about it to expend mental energies not on parliamentary procedure but on finding a new path for the Old Continent.

Ironically, Stærk’s post is indicative of what ails Europe: a fetishization of process at the expense of dealing with reality.

From 1996 to 1999, Islamist fighters received training in rural France. (*) (†) What a war we have found ourselves in. Perhaps our ally France would like to join in now.

The Chechen and Arab terrorists who seized a defenseless playhouse in Moscow, set free only the Muslim attendees, tortured and shot several people, including women, and placed bombs in hopes of murdering 1,000 had hoped all along to force Russia into making concessions to the Chechen rebels. (*) Now, in the wake of the counterterrorist operation carried out by Russian forces, and the deaths of all the terrorists save those who may have run away moments after boldly stating that they never would, the leader of Chechnya calls for negotiations. (†) It seems an unlikely coincidence. He did at least condemn the hostage-taking and planned murder. Fortunately, Vladimir Putin is having none of it, and hints darkly at what may happen if the Chechen terrorists ever attack a nuclear facility. (‡) The Chechen terrorists have died for nothing. Instead of forcing Russia to negotiate and give up more leverage to such common murderers, a stepped-up military campaign against the Chechen rebels has already commenced. (§) (**) Another goal will be dismantling the stranglehold that Chechen organized crime has over the Russian economy. (††)

It has been a thirteen-month “Year of Terror.” (‡‡) The ultimate lesson for all of the world’s terrorists and all of their sympathizers should be, must be, and is extraordinarily simple: terror does not pay.