'Only way is to fight and fight terror'
Former Spanish PM Jose Maria Aznar talks about Islam and the war on terror
Dubai: Three years into the Iraq war and former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar still believes it was the right decision. In Dubai to address the IAA Congress, Aznar talked to Gulf News.
With his arms crossed and visibly stiff, Aznar expressed his views about the international war on terror, his proposal to include Israel in Nato and what he defines as Bin Laden Islam.
Gulf News: Mr Aznar, on the third anniversary of the war in Iraq, what are your thoughts about the way things have shaped up? Do you regret supporting it when it began?
Jose Maria Aznar: I think the decision was correct, because Saddam Hussain was a threat to the world, a threat to his neighbours, a threat to the stability of different people and his regime was a criminal one. Now it's necessary to achieve civilisation in this country, establish democracy and freedom for the Iraqi people. I think it's extremely important to have the possibility to spread democracy in the Middle East. The world is better without Saddam.
You've often expressed your concerns about "Bin Laden Islam." What exactly do you mean by this term?
Islam is a religion and on the other hand what I call Bin Laden Islam is followed by radical Muslims and radical supporters of this religion. There is a difference. Islam as a religion is completely respected but fundamentalists or terrorists that attack us or attack my country or other countries are not. I support this fight against terror. Terrorism is unacceptable.
As a leader who has had to fight terror in your country, how do you fight an enemy that defines the terms and conditions of this war? Do you believe it's possible to gain control of such a situation?
To gain control is possible. And it's necessary to fight terror to defeat terror. It's a bad policy to try appeasement with the terrorists. The only policy is to fight and fight and fight. Free societies are under threat of attack by Islamic terrorists. This is a reality.
So you wouldn't have pulled out troops from Iraq as a response to the Madrid bombings?
The only policy is to fight.
As I said it's a bad policy to try and negotiate with terrorists.
What do you think of the opinion that the quagmire in Iraq has resulted in it becoming a hotbed for terrorism?
I disagree. I disagree because I think in the mind of the terrorist the question is not to attack states for the different attitudes or systems that the states have but because they represent the free world. This is a reality.
You've called for a change in Nato?
I support Nato.
Yes, but you've been quoted in the media as calling it a zombie organisation that needs to be reformed?
[laughs] Yes. Zombie organisation that needs to change. Nato was created to defend free democracies in Europe and to stabilise and balance Atlantic policy.
It does a lot of different operations peace and humanitarian missions in the Balkans and Afghanistan.
But I think it's necessary to transform Nato and Nato should be an organisation to fight terror in the world. I support its enlargement and bringing in different countries for example Israel, Australia and Japan.
You are in favour of including Israel, Australia and Japan?
Yeah absolutely. I proposed this idea and I presented this idea last week in Brussels for enlargement and special relations with India and Colombia. If terrorism is global the response should be global and this should be a policy of Nato. We need an alliance of democracies in the world to defend our policies and freedom.
And finally, your inaugural address to Georgetown University quotes you as asking 'who can feel free when some Gulf states have set up fundementalist style republics with clear links to Al Qaida.' Do you find it ironic that you're addressing a gathering in one of the states you named?
[throws hands back and laughs] No. Here? No. [pauses briefly] All societies are threatened and I'm very happy here.
If Al Qaida finds it necessary to attack this country then such form of terrorism is implacable. But this is not my wish because want to return and stay more than 15 hours. Maybe 3 or 4 days [laughs].
Profile
Name: Jose Maria Aznar Lopez
Position: Prime Minister of Spain (1996-2004)
Political Party: Partido Popular
Highlights:
- First term dominated by major economic reforms and need to negotiate with national parties
- Re-elected into power with overall majority mainly due to success of economic policies
- Second term focused on improving Spanish economy, defending unity of Spain and building Spain's international standing
- Heavily criticised for supporting George Bush and Tony Blair in their war against terror and handling of the wreckage of the Greek Prestige tanker off the Spanish coast that caused major ecological damage
- Hastily attributed blame of the Madrid bombings that took place three days before a major election to ETA. Though Aznar did not stand for election, his party lost many seats and subsequently the election.
- Appointed Distinguished Scholar in the Practice of Global Leadership at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. In this position, he teaches two seminars per semester on contemporary European politics and trans-Atlantic relationships. Leads public dialogues on pressing contemporary concerns in collaboration with other members of the faculty.
