Denis McShane (Guardian Utd): The new fascism

From the Guardian Unlimited (UK)
Dated Thursday March 11

The new fascism
The Madrid bombings are a monstrous assault on European democracy. The time has come to unite against the totalitarianism of terror.
By Denis McShane

"No pasaran" was the message of those defending ballot-box democracy during the Spanish civil war. As the full horror of the Madrid atrocity unfolds, surely the time has come to unite against terrorism - the new fascism of the 21st century, wherever it takes place. On Sunday, millions of Spaniards will vote freely to chose a government. Today we see a monstrous assault on European democracy and all of Europe must stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Spain as they find themselves in the front line against the evil of world terrorism.
I learnt my Spanish in San Sebastian - Donastia in the Basque language - and ETA and their political front party have only marginal support. The PNV Basque party gathers in Basque support, and the Basque country has more autonomy and more support for the Basque language, culture and identity than any comparative region in Europe. At time of writing we do not know who is responsible. But the culture of terrorism, whether in Europe, in the Middle East, in Iraq and Kashmir, in Colombia or Russia is now a common threat to any notion of democracy and progress. Those who find ways of justifying terrorism, who can talk of understanding the motives of terrorist actions, need to think hard and think differently. No progress in human affairs will ever be built on the blood of innocent people. Today, we are all Spanish.
I get a text early in the morning from Madrid from a young socialist woman who worked for me as a parliamentary assistant. It recounts the early news of horror. She signs off with "many kisses of democracy", and I know the great heart of the Spanish people, with the help of all their friends in Britain and Europe, will not be cowed by this assault. Democracy will win and the new totalitarianism of terrorism will not pass.

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Denis MacShane is minister for Europe and MP for Rotherham

MacShane is a nasty, bigoted piece of work who seems to think that Muslims are not British and that either they are with Blair or they are with Al-Quaida. MacShane can talk a fancy talk but he ain't so clever when it comes to walking the walk.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3247218.stm

to assign blame to the ETA. This fellow did seem anxious
to forclose any dispassionate thought on what occurred and
why. That is what struck me, the appeal to emotion.

Before MacShane gives us his cut & paste platitudes he should try to work out who did this appalling atrocity in Spain. If it is the enemy without of Al-Quaida then a different reaction is needed than if it is the enemy within of Eta.

As yet we just do not know, and for the international community it is in our interests to ensure that Spain is helped out in its efforts to find out who committed this appalling crime and that those who are responsible are brought to justice.

This sounds remarkably similar to the rush to judgement regarding bin Laden and Associates post 9/11.

Does anyone bother to investigate before they pass judgement anymore? Should I immediately assume that this is the work of the BFEE and other Western interests to suit my own worldview?

No...that would make me a "conspiracy theorist..."

O