Australia Blames The Philippines and Spain For Terror Threat

A group representing itself as al-Qaida's European branch threatened to turn Australia into "pools of blood" if it doesn't withdraw its troops from Iraq. the Associated Press reports:

Saturday's statement appeared on an Islamic Web site known as a clearing house for al-Qaida and groups linked to the terror network. The group identified itself as "al-Qaida in Europe." The authenticity of the statement and the group could not be verified.

The statement said Australia should follow the model of the Philippines and Spain, which have already pulled their troops out of Iraq.

Australia's Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, said Iraqi terrorists threatening to bomb Australia had been empowered by the Philippines and Spain caving in to the terrorist's demands. Agence France Presse reports:

Downer said the threat stemmed from the Philippines' decision to withdraw from Iraq this month to secure the release of a hostage truck driver and Spain's withdrawal after the Madrid train bombing in March that claimed nearly 200 lives.

"Unfortunately these actions have encouraged terrorists to continue these threats and now we are subjected to them, the Italians are, the Poles, the Bulgarians, by this particular group" he said.

Mr. Downer is exactly right.

The Philippine government doesn't get it. The Philippines' national security advisor, Norberto Gonzalez, has criticized Mr. Downer for being what he called "narrow-minded" in blaming the Philippines. The Voice Of America reports: Norberto Gonzalez said coalition countries must re-examine why the insurgency in Iraq has persisted and intensified in recent months. You don't have to look any further than al-Zarqawi's 17-page document, in which Zarqawi lays out the evildoer's strategy in Iraq.

David Brooks had this to say about the Zarqawi document:

Though Zarqawi senses that his time in Iraq is running out, he is already preparing for the next battle: "If, God forbid, the government is successful and takes control of the country, we just have to pack up and go somewhere else again, where we can raise the flag or die, if God chooses us."

There is a lot of talk this year about democratizing the greater Middle East. But wherever democratic reforms are initiated, Zarqawi, or people like him, will be there to kill and disrupt. Terrorists understand that democracy is the antithesis of the sort of Islamic totalitarianism they seek to establish. That means the road to democratization is not going to suddenly turn peaceful.

Mr. Gonzalez should read the Zarqawi document.