#2 Bin Laden has consistently argued in favour of further ghazavat inside the West. He firmly believes that the West is too cowardly to fight back and, if terrorised in a big way, will do 'what it must do'. That view was strengthened last year when al-Qaeda changed the Spanish Government with its deadly attack in Madrid. At the time bin Laden used his 'Madrid victory' to call on other European countries to distance themselves from the United States or face similar 'punishment'.
Thanks, again, Spain! Something that caught me last night, was I was flipping through and caught "Frontline" (I know, I know, PBS, puh!). They tracked the attacks since 9/11 throughout Europe and how each European country was handling their version of the WoT (mostly through intel + police). Of note, though, they highlited Spain and said 8 months AFTER 3/11 (after Zappy's govt's in and the Spanish military out of Iraq), the Spanish intel community had stopped 30+ jihadi attacks, arresting all involved. One specific attack planned was to hit 7 specific targets in Madrid (again, after they appeased the jihadis) including the judicial offices of Spain, a tall high-rise office building designed by the same architect who did the WTC, and Madrid's soccer football stadium! So much for the appeasement theory, and I, for one, would like to unleash some football fanatics on the jihadis in Europe! |