The American right strikes back

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Eleven million Spaniards rallied against terrorism. That's not appeasement, says Jonathan Freedland.

Maybe they think it's payback time. In 2001, many American conservatives were appalled by the reaction in some European quarters to September 11, a reaction crudely summarised as "America had it coming".

They insisted it was grossly insensitive to attack the United States and its foreign policy while Ground Zero still smouldered. They were right and I took their side, urging people at least to pause awhile before adding greater hurt to an already traumatised nation.

But look what's happening now. A matter of days after the event branded Europe's September 11, and American conservatives - including some of the very people who were so outraged by the criticisms hurled at the US in September 2001 - have started whacking not just Spanish policy, but the Spanish people.

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The first mistake is the more surprising, for no word is invoked more often in support of the "war on terror" than democracy. Yet these insults hurled at the Spanish show a sneaking contempt for the idea. For surely the Spanish did nothing more on Sunday than exercise their democratic right to change governments. They elected the Socialist party; to suggest they voted for al-Qaeda is a slur not only on the Spanish nation but on the democratic process itself, implying that when terrorists strike political choice must end.

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It may be comforting, but this struggle cannot be won by painting the world in black and white, with America as the good guy and everyone else cast as terrorists or their allies. It will require nimble, subtle thinking - constantly making awkward but essential distinctions.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/18/1079199360164.html


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