Dumb and Dumber

24 November 2003


Istanbul Attack Saves Bush's British Visit

When a leader is in trouble, he may discover that he can't rely on his friends. President Bush is fortunate, not only can he rely on his friends for support, but his enemies seem eager to help him as well. Mr. Bush had arranged a three-day trip to visit Ally Number One, The Right Honourable Tony Blair, MP, PC, amid state fanfare and an incredible amount of hostile protest. It had all the hallmarks of a PR disaster-in-the-making until Al-Qaeda set off two bombs in Turkey and saved Mr. Bush's bacon again.

The British Consulate and the offices of HSBC bank in Istanbul were blown up around lunch time in the UK on Thursday of last week. The British Consul-General was killed as were several Muslim Turks. Those who were protesting Mr. Bush's visit, his policies and, by extension, those of Mr. Blair suddenly looked quite foolish. The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, had earlier in the week called Mr. Bush the greatest threat to world peace. One expects Mr. Livingstone spent last Thursday night trying to remove his foot from his mouth. Thousands more Britons were in the same boat.

Al-Qaeda has managed to take the wind out of the sails of the anti-Bush British faction (not anti-American -- they will continue as before). The argument that this attack would not have happened had Mr. Blair been less supportive doesn't seem to hold water. To many in the Muslim world, Britain preceded America as the colonial crusader and remains a problem independent of the US. So, the question becomes, for those in the posturing-yet-comfortable British middle classes, "which side does Al-Qaeda think you're on?"

Al-Qaeda seems to be set on undermining itself with attacks during Ramadan that kill Muslims. As the world has seen, lipservice has been paid to the deaths of infidels. When alleged-Muslims kill Muslims in Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, though, even hardline Islamic clerics waiver. Moreover, as the American and allied efforts after the attack on New York and Washington in 2001 have been increasingly successful, Al-Qaeda has lost its ability to attack outside the Islamic world. This means the body count among the faithful will rise. And the question before them also becomes, "which side does Al-Qaeda think you're on?"

At this rate, the President can count on Al-Qaeda to do something to help him on October 2004 should he be trailing the Democratic nominee at that stage. Who knows, Al-Qaeda might even help him get the most votes this time.

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