In the understatement of the millenium the BBC reports �Our correspondent says the late swing to the Socialists raises one disturbing thought -if al-Qaeda was responsible for Thursday's attacks, it appears to have had significant influence in changing the government of a leading Western democracy.�

As I write this I am in Spain. The flight over here was full, and felt sobre with many Spanish passangers having red eyes-presumably from tears. The nation itself once off the plane appeared to be settling down to �normality�if that were possible after such events.

My hosts were quite clear that the swing to the socialists was directly related to a strong belief in Spain that the attack was retaliation for their entry to Iraq.

I understand that troups may be returning from Iraq, although the incomming Spanish president has stated this would be �if there was no change� in the situation by the June deadline for handing over sovereignty.

I guess the question that many are asking is what would be the impact on other nations of similar atrocities. Lets hope we never have to find out.