Editorial: Show terror no lack in will to fight

Tuesday, March 16, 2004 | 9:37 a.m.

Airports fell silent Monday at noon all over Europe. Train and bus stations, stock exchanges and even busy traffic circles also ceased their activity. The pope knelt in prayer, and royalty, heads of state, politicians and civil servants stood silent. This two or three minutes of silence observed by an entire continent was in response to the tragedy that struck Madrid on Thursday, when 200 people were killed and 1,500 people were wounded in train bombings carried out by terrorists. We hope during those minutes of silence that people, in addition to thinking about the latest victims, were also resolving to keep up the fight against terrorism.

In October, Spain, along with other countries allied with the United States in Iraq, received a threat from al-Qaida. Broadcast on Al-Jazeera, the voice on the taped threat was purportedly that of Osama bin Laden. Were the Spanish people remembering that threat Sunday, the day of their national elections? By then, al-Qaida was emerging as the prime suspect in the bombings. Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who had committed 1,300 troops to Iraq, was defeated, even though polling had shown he was ahead. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, elected in his place, immediately reiterated a campaign promise to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq unless the United Nations is in total control of military operations there by June 30 -- an unlikely scenario.

In contrast, political partisanship here was suspended after Sept. 11 and the country rallied around President Bush as he prepared our response to the attacks. We hope Sunday's vote by the Spanish people was not an indication that the public resolve against terrorism is weakening in Europe. The Associated Press reported Monday that there are "signs of nervousness" emanating from the European governments that have pledged to help rebuild Iraq. Fortunately, the story went on to report that they have no plans to pull their troops and aid workers from Iraq. Europeans will remember how there was no alternative against such terror groups as "Black September" and the "Red Army Faction" except to vanquish them. Al-Qaida is no different and its fate will be no different as long as the will to fight remains strong.