NIGHTLINE: Fallout (3/15/04)

[huckleberry]

This looks like a must-see!

Nightline Daily E-Mail
March 15, 2004

TONIGHT'S FOCUS: Just days after the worst terrorist attack in Europe, the bombings of the trains in Madrid, Spanish voters threw out the ruling Conservatives and voted the Socialist Party into power. So how much did the terrorist attacks influence the outcome? And what are the implications?

Terrorism works. It's hard to deny that in the world we live in today. Not always in the way that the terrorists intend, but it is effective. Normally, we probably wouldn't pay that much attention to the election results in Spain, but I guess these aren't normal times. Spain's outgoing Prime Minister was one of the first, and one of the few, European leaders to support President Bush on the invasion of Iraq. An invasion that was hugely unpopular with the Spanish people. Spain has contributed about 1300 troops to the occupation of Iraq. The ruling Conservatives, at least according to pre-election polling, were expected to win. They didn't. To what extent did the bombings sway the results?

Now conventional wisdom is that acts of terrorism will swing the electorate behind those in power, the idea being that it's important to stand together. There is a lot of talk about how an attack on the U.S. might impact the upcoming election. I guess no one really knows how people will react. Will they feel that it's important to stand behind whoever's in office? Or will those people be blamed for failing to stop any new attacks? That appears to be part of what happened in Spain. Another factor, the Spanish government came out almost immediately and said that it thought the Basque group ETA was responsible, even though there now appears to be a fair amount of evidence to suggest that al Qaeda was involved in some way. There was a lot of anger in Spain over the appearance that the government might have pointed to ETA for political reasons. But we're not going to focus on Spain's internal politics tonight. There are greater issues involved. What lesson have the terrorists, whoever they are, taken away from the events of the past few days? Do they now feel that they can influence elections, and policies? Will they be emboldened to strike elsewhere as elections approach? In most European countries, public opinion was decidedly opposed to the war. Spain's incoming government says it will remove its troops from Iraq. Will other countries follow that lead if they too are attacked? Regardless, there is a lot of nervousness in Europe, and this country, these days. There is extra security around transit systems. And somewhere, there is a group of people who must be watching the pictures of the havoc they are responsible for. The terrorists responsible for the bombings in Madrid are probably pretty pleased with themselves right now. And that makes our world a more dangerous place. Much more dangerous. ABC News correspondent Richard Gizbert will report on the latest from Spain, and the mood in Europe. Ted will anchor tonight. I hope you'll join us.

Leroy Sievers and the Nightline Staff
ABCNEWS Washington D.C. bureau

[Hamlette]

1. I held out hope that Nightline would get it right

The election results were about Aznar lying about who was responsible and Iraq, NOT the war on terrorism.

Sheesh.

[Bozita]

2. looks like CBC's "The National" becomes mandatory viewing tonight

so sad to see Nightline going in this direction

[maggrwaggr]

3. the "iron curtain" of American media

isn't it great living behind it?

[asjr]

7. I do not trust the media

and that includes Ted Koppel. I think before every performance he asks in what direction the wind is blowing. What are all these so-called journalists and pundits and commentators going to do when Kerry wins? Lets see just how quickly the stripes change.

[ithacan]

4. and if the Right had gotten more votes than predicted

because of the attack, would they still be going on about the impact of terrorism on the election?

I doubt it.

They only raise this kind of thing when it backfires against right wing forces...

[BootinUp]

5. I'm gonna throw up

Are any major media journalist going to ask if this was a result of a fucked up war on terror and invasion of Iraq?

[Turbineguy]

6. Uhhhh....... does that mean all those

people in Spanish cities who were demonstrating in the streets wanted more bombings? Freeper Logic seemes to be everywhere. WSJ Allan Murray echoed Fox News that the election was a victory for Bin Laden this morning. This afternoon Murray seems to be modifying his position.

I don't think so. Now the Spanish Government can concentrate on spending money and effort on terrorism instead of Iraq. Just like those French "Surrender Monkeys" that have troops in Afghanistan are doing.

[cclark401]

8. Has anyone noticed

that FOX now calls the loosing party in Spain the Popular party instead of the conservative party? I guess they don't like the words loose and conservative in the same sentence. I noticed that yesterday afternoon. Looked at CNN this am and they're still using conservative.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

17. My understanding is that it IS named the "Popular Party".

The conservatives, that is.

[cclark401]

20. Yeah

but the reference to the party all sat and most of sun was the conservative party then they switched the reference to the pop. party.

[BootinUp]

9. whats their e-mail address? anybody

[Bozita]

11. here it is

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/nightline/Nightline/Nightline_email_form.html

[BootinUp]

12. thanks, here's what I wrote

I understand your show will be covering the Spanish election results and the connection to the recent terrorist attacks.

I have been listening to the news media's take on this and it makes me wonder if anyone will ask whether the people of Spain believe the conservatives, both in America and Spain, have the wrong plan for the war on Terror?

Instead, it seems that the focus on American news networks is on what will Spain's vote mean to the terrorists.

In my opinion the invasion of Iraq has done little to make anyone safer, rather the opposite as evidenced by the recent attacks.

Thank you for taking the time to read my comments.

Jim xxxxx

[Bozita]

13. great letter -- short enough to be read and loaded in content

nice work!

[Sagan]

10. Nightline is right in that there ARE greater lessons involved..

But then they promptly were wrong on what those lessons are.

The MAIN DRIVING FORCE behind the swing in the electorate in Spain was the idea that the government was POLITICIZING and LYING and PREVARICATING about a deadly terrorist attack for POLITICAL GAIN.

There's your goddamned greater lesson, Nightline pinheads.

[neverforget]

14. Why don't we just cancel all elections now because only those

leaders who are in office now can protect us? Any change now will be a sign of weakness and the terrorists win. Only candidates of right leaning parties can protect us. :eyes: :puke:

[TahitiNut]

15. Anyone noticing how "Iraq = terrorists" continues to be a meme?

It infects the media. It infects DU. What linkage exists between an Al-Queda terrorist attack on the trains and Spain's participation in the Iraq invasion? Is it possible that Iraq itself is inconsequential? Is it possible that Spain's conservative government merely aligning with the US made them a target? Is it possible that when they lied to the people of Spain they sealed their fate? Nawww... what the hell... keep pushing the meme. :eyes:

[utopian]

16. I just heard the same damn thing on TOTN

[Bandit]

18. It is my opinion that as long as these fascists stay in power we are in

extreme danger. They (Bush* Cabal) have made the whole world a much more unsafe world than it was. They are an Albatross around the world's neck and if they are nor defeated in this upcoming election there will be holy hell to pay for Americans in many more ways than one.

[gasperc]

19. If there is an attack between now and Nov., I'd think it incompetance

I'm voting DEM regardless, but any attack in the next eight months I would not blame on the fact that we invaded Iraq but that our occupation is consuming tremendous resources that could have been better spent protecting the USA and making the USA safer!!!!!!
The teach 'em a lesson knee jerk reaction by the conservative is quite plainely in my opinion making things mush much worse but conservatives think that Iraq got what they deserved and lobbing a few missles into a "terrorist" camp would have shown how weak the US is. I couldn't disagree more.

[Bozita]

21. kick