Spain

I was bowled over today when I saw that more than 70% of respondents to a preposterous CNN poll asking (I'm paraphrased), "Is the election result in Spain a vote for terrorism?" said, "yes." I can only assume they're tainting the water supply with mind control drugs.

Such a decree is idiotic at best. First, Spain (as in the people of, and not the ruling leader) did not support the way their government aligned themselves with Mr. Bush in the way the US has crafted the War On Terror. That horrible bombing didn't just magically change everyone's opinion, not when sentiment against Spain's involvement ran 85-90% in opposition before the bombing.

I don't think most of the world supports terrorism. Certainly, the people of Spain do not. But there are some legitimate questions to be asked - and answered - about whether we (and we means the US parties responsibility for such planning and execution) are doing the right thing in the War on Terror. There's good reason to think, for example, that we're just increasing the number of people who may turn to terrorism in the wake of our actions.

Spain doesn't deserve our skepticism or silly remarks like "their votes amounted to a huge vote for Osama bin Laden." Unlike many Americans who hid in their homes after 9-11, the people of Spain (millions of them) turned out the day after to mourn the dead and stand against those who had committed this heinous act. They didn't "buy" their present prime minister's cooperation with Bush and they used their votes to state that loudly and clearly.

Spain is hardly the only country to have serious questions about our War on Terror. Many Americans have questions, too. Everyone should, considering how many times we've caught the White House misrepresenting information to us.

Maybe the whole rest of the world isn't wrong. Maybe we are.