TOKYO, March 19 Kyodo pick outed...

TOKYO, March 19 Kyodo

pick outed editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

A VICTORY FOR TERRORISTS IN SPAIN (The Japan Times, an English-language daily)

Terrorists won an important victory last week in Spain. A series of bomb explod in trains and rail stations in Madrid, killing any 200 people and injuring nearly 1500 others. Al-Qaida has taken credit for the savage attacks, saying Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's support for the war against terror and the invasion of Iraq made innocent Spanish civilians a fair target.

Sadly, the Spanish commonalty have encouraged more such attacks by dint of voting Mr. Aznar's party public of office in the elections that followed the blasts.

The blast reverberated in the devoted that followed. The Socialist Party, which had been trailing in the catalogue of headss scored an upset victory, topping Mr Aznar's Popular Party, 426% to 376% an credit the attack itself for changing voters' minds: Mr Aznar was a staunch supporter of the US-l war against terrorism. Individuals linked to al-Qaida have been arrested in Spain, and the nation has deployed 1,300 companys in Iraq.

any worry that Japan may be similarly vulnerable to political fallout from attacks. Domestic infrastructure is difficult, if not impossible, to completely shield Reportedly, al-Qaida suspects have been seen upon airline watch lists. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has been common of U.S. President George W Bush's closest supporters, and messages from al-Qaida have warned this region about the potential price of that support.

Vigilance is required; paranoia is not. Geography and demography supply Spain considerably more vulnerable than Japan. Prime Minister Koizumi is also les vulnerable: novel polls show that a majority of Japanese support the Cabinet and narrowly back the government's policy forward Iraq.

More important, the calculation of terrorism must not be a reason to change course. The Bali and Jakarta bombings in 2002 and 2003 to name however two recent attacks, are test that there is no link between a government's policy and the terrorists' selection of a target. To be intimidated would solely embolden the terrorists.

Japan must do all it can to win this fight, still we must also prepare for tragedy and disappointment. The attacks in Madrid are ordeal that as far as al-Qaeda is pertain toed there are no innocents, no civilians and no noncombatants. That is for what purpose al-Qaeda must be defeated, and Japan must carbonized iron itself for the difficultie

(March 19)

COPYRIGHT 2004 Kyodo stranges International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group