Terror and elections ...

[WhiteCrowUK]

In the UK we had a bombing campaign by the IRA during our 1997 elections.

In Spain recently terrorism has dealt a blow during their elections.

In light of what has happened in Spain, are you worried about a terror campaign during the election campaign this year. As we have said before the election process is a long event (and will even cover the 3rd anniversary of September 11th).

If one was to happen, it would be right to back Bush in the aftermath. But would it be right to re-elect him?

Come polling day would you stay away? Or are you determined to use your vote.

[WhiteCrowUK]

Ooops - no where in my post to I mention I am talking about the US Presidential elections, though I hope its obvious.

When you go to the polls - do you also elect the Senate as well? Are you likely to back a party both for president and senate?

[AlphaMale]

The terrorists are now aware that a body count is directly related to election results. So I imagine the terrorists are eager to try to ifluence the upcoming American election. But Americans are more of a "we hit back" type of people (im my humble estimation). That's why I think another attack on our soil will further strengthen our resolve and may pave the way for a second Bush term.

When you go to the polls - do you also elect the Senate as well?

Every 2 years the entire House of Representatives and 1/3 of the Senate is up for election.

[YoungFang]

I don't know if (presumming that it is 100% Al Qaeda) they would go ahead and do the same thing again to the US elections or the UK for that matter. Bad as the attack was the timing and way that it was done just before elections was a very cunning and intelligent way for the terroists to influence public opinion. To repeat it I don't think would be. Also US and UK politics and public opinion vary from Spain's towards the war on terror and in Iraq I think that the terroists will probably try something different now that people are aware of this.

[LV426]

If I have to re-animate corpses to make sure people get to the polls I will because I will not stand by and let Bush be president again.

[phantomroller]

If I have to re-animate corpses to make sure people get to the polls I will because I will not stand by and let Bush be president again.


amen to that!!!!!!

[Ves]

It doesn't take a genius to work out that another attack on the US isn't going to make a single jot of difference on who gets elected later this year. More likely any attack on the US would be to remind Americans "we're still here, and you haven't beaten us yet". But to be honest, they don't need to do that, the campaigns being carried out by our own governments are serving to do that quite nicely without Al-Qaeda having to fire a shot.
Better to concentrate on countries that consider themselves less at risk or have domestic concerns which distract them, such as an election or domestic terror concerns (as Spain did/does). This undermines support for our actions in Iraq (potentially). It would not surprise me in the slightest if the next big attack was in either France or Poland. Britain and the US will be attacked, and when they are it'll be big, but it won't be to influence our elections.
If it makes American readers feel any safer, I fully expect that London will be attacked before any further American domestic attacks. Our security is in danger of becoming complacent and it worries me what might happen there. I have only 2 loved ones or family members outside of London. Therefore when I see protestors climbing up Big Ben and unfolding a flag I begin to worry about how good our security actually is.