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Monday, February 21, 2005(Few) Spaniards Vote on EU Const. , French Worries after Murder of Hariri, and the Academic Cost of the War on Terror Well, at last Spaniards had their vote on the European Constitution to be. How could I put it? Say that many more Iraqis defied the terrorists and went to vote on January 30 than Spaniards braved the rain to go to say whether they thought it a good idea to make into law the constitutional treaty.The text had been drafted by a deep-blue-ribbon as-hoc comittee presided by former French President Giscard d'Estaign. All in all, 42% of the Spanish voters cared to do their civil duty (the lowest in any Spanish vote since democracy was restored following the death of Gen. Francisco Franco in 1975) and 76% of them said that it was perhaps a good idea. Which says a lot about the Spaniards' faith in their politikos' judgement, since several surveys suggest that over 90% of the voters hadn't cared to give even a perfunctory glance at the draft... Both of Spain's major parties back the charter. Here in France, politicians and law enforcement agencies, more than ordinary citizens, rightfully worry now that terrorists can strike again in Europe and perhaps in France. Many think that the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri is just the announcement of things to come; more than probably, he was killed because of his opposition to the continuing Syrian occupation of his land that had motivated him to ask France and the US to pass a a resolution at the UN against it. After the election in Iraq the Syrian regime's old guard is very worried. After all, if the Sunni overclass in Iraq was 20% of the population, their own Alawite elite that monopolizes government and economic power in Syria is no more than 12%... They are positive that democracy for the Middle East isn't a good idea, not in Iraq, not in Lebanon and most definitely, not in Syria. One telling statistic: More than 30 percent of all Ph.D. recipients in U.S. science and mathematics programs are foreigners. Many of them stay in the country upon completing their degrees. But then, added counter-terrorist security has made it an ordeal to obtain student visas or even to attend academic conferences in the United States. International applications to U.S. graduate programs have declined by roughly a third in the last year. Security doesn't come cheap.  BRIAN DUNN, de The Dignified Rant, sobre el referéndum español (Vía BarcePundit): It looks like it will be a little over 40% turnout with the pro-constitution Brian Dunn, the most insightful Ranter of the Internet
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