Today in the Portugese capital of Lisbon should have been the start of another of the world’s great sporting events: the 30th annual Dakar Rally. I think that used to be the Paris-Dakar rally, but seeing as it appears to begin in Portugal and terminates in Senegal, obviously not! Anyway, the reason I feel compelled to comment on an event which I have little personal interest in is the greater outrage that its cancellation invokes. Much of the controversy centres on the West African country of Mautritiana, where much of the rally runs through. The last month has seen four French tourists murdered there, with Islamic insurgents opening fire on the tourists as they picnicked by a road. This was followed by an Al-Qaeda condemnation on the internet of the governments of those nations who host the rally for providing the infrastructure for the “infidels” to pass through.
Now of course we need to put security before anything else – the former French rugby coach turned Sporting Minister for Paris Bernarde Laporte himself acknowledging in The Scotsman that “after a point you can’t just talk about economics” – but the stark fact remains that this decision may leave a dangerous precedent. We have, in recent years, seen the terrorist attacks on New York, London and elsewhere. We are always encouraged by politicians, and lauded in the press, for “getting on with things”, for “not letting the terrorists win”. And to all extents and purposes, the people of the free world who have been affected by terrorism have done just that. Why then, are we cowering to the demands of our enemies here? Where will it stop? The European Football Championships in Switzerland and Austria? Could similar Al-Qaeda threats disrupt what will undoubtedly be the major sporting event of 2008? Might Mr Bin Laden and his buddies take exception to the democratic process of chosing a new President in the United States, voice their contempt for it and dislike of democracy, thus forcing its postponement?
Actually, thinking about it, President Bush might secretly welcome such a measure….
