Call and response

I’ve gone on and on about what I think of Spain’s response to the 200-odd murders that occurred on its trains the other day. So why don’t I point you to what I feel is a more appropriate response:

In the face of this kind of subhuman nihilism, people know without having to be told that the only response is a quiet, steady hatred and contempt, and a cold determination to outlast the perpetrators while remorselessly tracking them down.

That’s Hitchens, though as you can tell by parsing his syntax he’s talking about how Spain, and the world, have reacted to ETA and their ilk. He’d like to extend this sensibility to Islamist terrorism.

Of course, other people feel quite strongly that though their methods are abhorrent, their goals are basically sensible, and it’s best for us just to do what they want, since if do that they’ll just give up and leave us alone.

Take your pick, ladies and gentlemen.