Stakes are higher than you think
Stay the course. Move ahead. Hold the line. Follow me. Althoughnot his exact words, these phrases essentially embody the messagePresident George W. Bush sends America regarding the war on terror.If we knew what was best, we would listen.
On March 11, Spain and Europe experienced one of the largestterror attacks in their history. The horrific bombings of March11th were capped off on March 14th by the ousting of the Popularparty Premier José María Aznar and election of theSocialist José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, whose wholecampaign was based on his promise to remove Spanish troops fromIraq.
Although tragic, I must ask you to turn your attention from theattacks to the election because what is important is not theSocialist’s election, but how he was elected. Zapatero hasonly one person to thank for his election, and that is Osama binLaden.
He was guaranteed a loss in the election until the March 11thbombings at which point Spaniards blamed premier Aznar for theattack because of his support of President Bush and the Iraq war.Out of frustration and anger, they went to the polls and electedZapatero.
What is clear from the election on March 14th is that Osama binLaden has learned how to use his methods of terror to influence inanother way. We now see a smarter enemy who knows how tostrategically coordinate a terrorist attack to influence acountry’s politics.
Knowing the Spanish resentment for Iraq, and understanding whoZapatero is and what he stands for, i.e. a pacifist stance on Iraqand terror, he committed the attacks because a Zapatero electionwould be beneficial to his cause.
Unbeknownst to Spaniards, they have always been seen as atarget. It is a traditionally Christian country that has a largepopulation of Jews, bustling commerce and Western influence —things that are repulsive to bin Laden’s religious beliefsand organization. Too bad Spainiards don’t realize they didnot make their country safer and any less a target by oustingAznar.
This leads me to our country and the November presidentialelection. As Americans we must not emulate our Spanish comrades nomatter what happens in between now and the election. We must remainstrong and unified as a country.
We have a choice, and for me the choice is clear. There is onlyone party and one person that has demonstrated time and time againa commitment to our country’s defense and its security.
That party is the Republican Party led by President Bush.
The stakes are higher than you think. The foe that we aredealing with is not a run-of-the-mill Saudi Arabian desert hermit.He is the leader of the world’s most notorious terrororganization.
He would love to see President Bush defeated this Novemberbecause the alternative is more attractive. Plan B is someone whohas repeatedly voted against defense spending, who is againstAfghanistan and Iraq operations, and who is supposedly supported byother world leaders.
Although nameless, these world leaders I would wager come fromFrance, Germany or the United Nations or other nations that do notsupport our pro-active stance on terrorism.
We have a little more than seven months until the presidentialelection. America needs to stay the course, hold the line andsupport our president, so we don’t make the same mistakeSpain did. We don’t need to do what those who are against uswant us to do most — remove our leader President Bush.
Swede Hanson is a MBA student at the Cox School of Businessand host of the campus political talk show “Truth BeTold!” on KPNI – SMU Radio. He may be reached [email protected].
