The terrorist attacks in Madrid, which are probably the work of al-Qaeda, have turned the tide of their national elections reports the Washington Post. The Popular Party, which supports the war on terror and was ahead in the polls, has been ousted in favor of the Socialist Party.

"I was going to vote for one side, and now I ended up voting for the other because of the attacks," said one voter, Manuel Yunta. "The thought that it could be al Qaeda behind the attacks changed my vote, because I blame the government for the massacre."

Another voter, Jose Antonio Alvarez, said, "I voted for the Socialists, but I wasn't happy with the protests I saw last night in front of the PP headquarters. It's not the time even though I don't think the government has been completely open with all the information" it has about the attacks.

That the anti-war socialists in Europe would vote in favor of appeasement directly following a major terrorist attack is not altogether surprising. While Americans tend toward emotions of vengence and retaliation (lets go get those bastards), it has been no secret that Europe has largely embraced an attitude of appeasement (why do they hate us).

What is bothersome is that terrorists were able to sway a national election through senseless violence. With our own election coming up in November, al-Qaeda will undoubtedly be planning an October surprise for us?

(cross posted at The Command Post)

UPDATE: Apparently I'm not the only one that thinks this way. Check out the comments of Neal Boortz, which closely echo mine.

Do these Islamic terrorists think that the same tactic would work in the United States? Would a deadly terrorist attack in this country help them as it did in Spain? Would voters quickly turn against George Bush and put a man more friendly to them in office? Now I'm not saying that this is the way Americans would react. What I am saying is that this might be the way the Islamic terrorists think you would react. If they do, then the danger of another deadly terrorist attack on America has just become more serious.