Mr. Shaw, this is not Spain. And to think that the American public would react as the Spanish public did after the attacks on Madrid, is to be stuck in as grimly narrow a mind-set as our Republican brethren are stuck in theirs. The citizenry of the U.S.A. is not the most well-informed or internationally-minded electorate in the Western hemisphere, you understand.
The Republicans in power, like it or not, have the upper-hand still in terms of fear-mongering and bloviated, war-crying jingoism. They're well aware of the apathetic level of ignorance that abounds, and they're black-belt masters at exploiting it.
The opposite to what you contend would take place, therefore. It would be a boon to their draconian agenda; they'd consolidate their hold on power with such tactics as "this is why the war is necessary," and the wavering sheep will all scurry back under the big flag Rove and co. will drape themselves with.
Jesus, but on September 11th, while I watched with disbelief what was happening before my very eyes on the roof-top of my apartment on Lower Manhattan, I was nonplussed by my next-door neighbor's comment when this otherwise liberal guy says "thank God we've got a Republican in the White House. Someone needs to pay for this."
There's still, today, despite all the evidence to the contrary, a genetically built-in knee-jerk reaction that belies reality; Republican's are strong on Defense. This is, of course, bull . But ghouls such as Rove and co. don't just feed off dead soldiers, they feed off victims of terrorist attacks, lathered with the sauce of ignorance.
No, Mr. Shaw, another terrorist attack would only help the cabal that's currently running the show. I wouldn't be surprised if they let another one happen.