Ijaz: Aznar's Defeat a Stunning Setback in Terror War

The defeat of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's Popular Party in Sunday's Spanish election represents a stunning setback in the war on terrorism, contends Middle East expert Mansoor Ijaz.

Asked what Aznar's defeat means for U.S. allies, Ijaz told Fox News Channel's Rita Cosby, "It means they better get their election flak jackets on, because this represents a dangerous mutation in the ability of terrorists to instill fear in governments all over the world that supported the United States."

Aznar had been ahead in the polls as last week began, but Thursday's Madrid train bombing had voters blaming him for siding with the U.S. in the war in Iraq. Spain currently has 1,600 troops in Iraq.

"This particular election result in Spain is probably the single most important event that has taken place since the attacks on Sept. 11 because it demonstrates that terrorism, in fact, can pay," said Ijaz. "And now one of the governments that supported the United States has fallen."

Steve Pomerantz, former head of the FBI counterterrorism division, agreed, telling Fox, "To have an ally like Spain fall away from us, if that's what occurs, sends exactly the wrong kind of message."

Editor's note:
"CATASTROPHE" Reveals the Secret Story Behind 9/11

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