Something between 200,000 and one million people took to the streets of Madrid (see photo) for a demonstration against appeasement of terrorists. The ETA Basque terrorists, who are to enter talks with the government were the proximate cause. But also the Muslim terrorists who dream of reconquista — re—claiming Spain for the Dar al Islam. Speakers and many in the chanting crowd denounced PM Zapatero, who unexpectedly won Spain for the Socialists in the wake of the Madrid terror bombing and who now proposes to negotiate with the ETA thugs. The crowd was apparently chanting against both forms of appeasement.

One has to look very hard to find any American reporting of this significant evidence of backbone growth in a major European country. ABC News online has this Reuters report, and the BBC has this report which even has pictures (although nothing visual to indicate the size of the crowd). I found the the website Toasted Bread had the most complete coverage in English.

Imagine the kind of coverage the massive demontration would have gotten if it had been anti—American and/or pro—appeasement.

Hat tip: Alex F.

Thomas Lifson  6 12 06