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News in the West
Gilad Atzmon
The socialist victory in Spain is significant of a dramatic change. We
had
come to expect right wing leaders to always be the first to benefit from
Islamic terror. Both Bush and Sharon enjoy growing popularity following
attacks against their peoples. The collapse of Blair's popularity is easily
realised in terms of the lack of Islamic terror in the UK, as the British
are not at all convinced that they are victims of such terror. Apparently,
the devastating formula that suggests a link between Right wing leaders
and
Islamic militants no longer applies. The Spanish people proved yesterday
that a new form of citizenship is taking place, a citizenship grounded
on a
deeper realization of the notion of democracy. In a true democracy the
citizens
are sharing responsibility with their elected government. The Spanish
people
have realised that they were punished for their governments' mistakes,
in
particular the collaboration with Bush and Blair. The Spanish people who
ousted the ruling Popular Party did it because they grasped that they
were
anything but innocent. In fact, to be a citizen in a democratic state
is a
heavy burden. It is a duty charged with a serious form of responsibility.
But then, who is the real winner of yesterday's Spanish election? Looking
into the glorious Socialist victory reveals a simple truth: the real
champions are the Islamic fundamentalists, those who stand behind the
devastating and murderous Madrid attack. For the first time Islamic
fundamentalists have proved that they can dictate a political change in
the
West. Now, two and a half years since 9/11, and two and a half years since
the declaration of the 'War against Terror', it is this unbeatable terror
that unexpectedly transformed the political reality of a major European
state. This must be devastating news for our leading warmongers: Mr Bush
and
Mr Blair. Being pathetically uncreative, they will doubtless impose some
new
security measures in the train and underground stations. But it is not
going
to help. Nothing of the sort is going to help. We are simply far too
vulnerable. We are not ready for this war and we are definitely not ready
to
die. When you are not ready to die you can never win, at the most you
can
try to kill your foe from afar like a coward, with clever bombs and smart
cruise missiles.
It's rather sad, but it seems as if all that is left for us is just to
wait
like sitting ducks for whoever comes to redeem us from the crimes committed
in our names by our corrupted governments. I assume that sooner rather
than
later every Briton and American will realise the truly devastating meaning
of the temporality of life in the age of right wing idiocy. It is getting
closer and closer. I imagine that most of us sense the emerging danger.
But
rather than simply taking a fatalist viewpoint, I am about to suggest
an
alternative practical act. It is quite rational to imply that if we cannot
win this war we might benefit from admitting a defeat. If our leaders
refuse
to see that the battle is lost why can't we celebrate our 'freedom of
speech' and raise a
shiny white flag as high as we can. In practical terms the only thing
left
for us is to appeal to Al-Qaeda for mercy. We must stand up and vocally
admit that we realise what their war is all about, that we realise that
the
measures of oppression imposed upon more than one billion Muslims merely
exists so we can drive our powerful thirsty cars. We must acknowledge
that
we realise that the Western support of the Israeli government is morally
unacceptable and must be stopped. We must promise that we will do everything
to bring this Bush-Blair hegemony to an end. We might as well swear to
do
what ever we can to indict them as war criminals. We will promise to crack
down on any future expansionist and colonial political philosophy. If
we go
that far we might as well come clean with ourselves and say that our
democracy is a complete farce, and remind ourselves that our 'elected'
leaders went to these wars against our will. Under the waving shadow of
our
shiny white flag, we will regret on behalf of our non-democratic 'elected'
leaders for the suggestion that we (the Westerners) could teach them (the
Arabs) what 'democracy' is all about.Taking into account the fact that Islam endorses the concept of
reconciliation, and that Islam suggests that war is the very last resort,
I've very good reason to believe that our genuine appeal will fall on
attentive ears.
Bearing in mind our very limited options, appealing for mercy is probably the only way to survive this evil war.
Suggested reading: The White Flag Principle, How To Lose a War (and Why).
Shimon Tzabar, Four Walls Eight Windows, New York, 2002.