Al-Queda has given its answer to a recent European conference regarding how to win the War on Terrorism:

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - A militant group calling itself Al-Qaida in Iraq ridiculed an international terrorism conference in Spain held to mark the first anniversary of deadly train bombings in Madrid, telling the nations who participated they "would never be victorious."

The statement was issued by Abu Maysara al-Iraqi, the designated "media coordinator" for al-Qaida's affiliate in Iraq led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The Jordanian-born militant and his group have claimed responsibility for scores of attacks and bombings on ordinary Iraqis, as well as the kidnapping and beheading of foreign and Iraqi hostages.

"You infidels, whatever you prepare, you will be defeated and never be victorious because Allah has promised us victory. So you have only to wait ... and we will be waiting too," said a statement purportedly posted by the group on an extremist Islamic Web site on Saturday.

This conference (called the "Madrid Conference" and held on the anniversary of the al-Queda bombings of Madrid railroads) probably does have a lot of good ideas for fighting terrorism. The problem, for the Europeans, is that they are held in deep contempt by the terrorists because they fail to fight. Madrid was the worst place to have such a conference; Madrid, in al-Queda eyes, is a magnificent victory over the West. Kill Spanish people, and the Spanish people quit; this is what al-Queda wishes to duplicate. The Europeans, to be taken seriously, are going to have to fight a lot more before they can be players in the War on Terrorism.