When the bombings in Madrid happened. Our Prime Minister was quick to hold a press conference to condemn the attacks. When asked who he thought did it, he rattled off a string of theories - he said it could be ETA, or an organisation linked with ETA, it could be Al Queda or a group linked to Al Queda, it could be a combination of ETA helped by Al Queda or a group linked to the two, it could be Islamic fundamentalists not connected with either group or connected with any or all of the above.

Now that is a lot of speculation! For John Howard to speculate so much, he must at least have a vague idea of the range of motivations.

But then, he was asked if the attacks in Madrid might be in respose to Spain's involvement in the war in Iraq. Now that is a very reasonable question, and most of us would probably admit that it is a very real possibility.

His response - "now I'm not going to be drawn into speculating about such things" So he can speculate til the cows come home about who did it, inferring all the reasons, but heaven forbid that he actually admit that the war in Iraq MIGHT have fuelled more terrorism - something almost every human rights organisation, church, independent analyst and man in the street speculated before the war.

Be honest, Johnny, the attacks MIGHT have been a response to the war in iraq, just like they MIGHT have been perpetrated by the long list of suspects you are prepared to roll out.

We must be vigilant and read between the lines of what our leaders say. They have their own agenda - and in John's case his agenda is to always appear to be RIGHT, over and above what may be in our best interests ie admitting what is really going on and how the causal relationships between events play out.

The war in Iraq is still an illegal action, not supported by the UN, condemned by human rights organisations, protested by millions across the globe in the biggest anti-war protest ever. Thousands upon thousands of innocent people have died in Iraq (and Afghanistan) for the objectives of the war(s). It is very logical to speculate that there might be a lot of really pissed off people who resent the hypocracy of those who condemn the killing of some innocent people, and make excuses for the killing of others.
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We all know the old story of newspapers reporting three local deaths on the front page, and a 20,000 Bangladeshi's on page 27. The media chooses what is important to report, and by making 200 deaths in Spain more important than any other tragedy, the media itself is supporting the aims of terrorism - ie instilling terror.

Yes it sells newspapers, and yes they will claim that people want to know, but it is now becoming clear that the media's role is extremely counterproductive especially in the climate of this "war". They are giving the terrorists more publicity than any other activists in the world. The media is sending a message to all those planning attacks that the bigger the terrorist strike and the higher the death toll, the more publicity will be received!

Imagine if amnesty international could get front page on every paper in the globe for the 1,500 people a day killed by handguns, and focus the world on the illegal small arms industry. There are countless wars going on right now with thousands upon thousands of people killed, tortured and displaced - but nothing is being done because we don't hear about it.

All we hear about is the relatively occasional bombing carried out by Al Queda. Al Queda resent western cvilization, and they are using a classic martial arts technique - using the power of the enemy against itself. They know that the media are hungry for stories, so they keep feeding the beast. Meanwhile every other agenda on the planet is sidelined - organised crime, sex slavery, child slavery, arms dealing, wars, disease, environmental devastation, corporate crime - the only thing on our minds is terrorism. In the last two years, no more than 5000 people have been killed by terrorist bombs - a drop in the ocean of human suffering.

As a tactic of "war" the media must become silent, cutting off the massive free publicity the terrorists are currently receiving.

It's time for the media to be forced to change their approach. Keep quiet about these attacks. Let the police do their jobs, let those affected grieve locally and appropriately, and stop giving terrorists the voice they need. Only intelligence can prevent further attacks. Front page publicity does nothing but aid and abet terrorists.
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