Spain Bends Over for AL'Qeuda

“Spain's Ruling Party Ousted After Bombings
Incoming Leader Vows to Bring Spanish Troops Home From Iraq
By DANIEL WOOLLS, AP

MADRID, Spain (March 15) - Spain's ruling conservatives crashed to surprise defeat in elections overshadowed by anger over terrorist bombings, becoming the first government that backed the U.S.-led war in Iraq to be voted out of office.

The win by the Socialists over Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's favored Popular Party Sunday came amid charges that Aznar made Spain a target for terrorist by supporting the Iraq war.

Spain's incoming prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has pledged to bring home the 1,300 Spanish troops in Iraq when their tour of duty ends in July.

After Sunday's election victory, Socialist Party supporters hold a minute of silence for the victims of last week's terrorist bombings.

Zapatero fell short of a majority in Parliament and will need help to form a government. But it was still a spectacular - and bittersweet - triumph that capped four tumultuous days beginning with Thursday's terror attacks in Madrid, which killed 200 people and wounded 1,500. Critics of the government said it had provoked the attacks by backing the Iraq war.

Next came millions-strong, nationwide street rallies against the railway bombings, smaller ones against the increasingly beleaguered government of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, the arrest of five suspects in the bombings, including three Moroccans, and a reported al-Qaida claim of responsibility in a videotape.

The tape raised the possibility that terrorists aligned with Osama bin Laden had changed the course of a national election. Spain's government has insisted its prime suspect in Thursday's rail bombings was the armed Basque separatist group ETA.


In one fell swoop, voters ousted Aznar, whose party was favored to win just days ago, even though he brought Spain eight straight years of economic growth, made it a founding member of the euro single currency, cut unemployment in half and brought a degree of prominence to a long-ignored country.

With 99 percent of the votes counted, the Socialists soared from 125 seats to 164 in the outgoing 350-seat legislature. The ruling Popular Party fell from 183 to 148. It cannot try to form a coalition because it has no virtually no allies in the legislature, where it had enjoyed a majority and was often accused of riding roughshod over opponents.

Rodriguez Zapatero started his victory speech by remembering those killed in the railway bombings. "At this moment I think of the lives that were broken by terror on Thursday,'' he said, then asked the crowd to join him in a minute of silence.

"My most immediate priority will be to fight terrorism,'' he said.

The Spanish Socialist Workers Party ruled from 1982 to 1996 but ran afoul of corruption scandals and was voted out in 1996, when Aznar took power.



Savoring victory again, outside Socialist party headquarters 1,000 jubilant supporters cheered and waved the party's red flag. But they, too, mourned those killed in the railway blasts. "Not all of us are here. Two hundred are missing,'' the crowd shouted.

"I think the party won because of people's frustration people about the Popular Party getting us into the war in Iraq,'' said one of them, housewife Loli Carrasco Gomez, 36.

Of the troops in Iraq, she said: "I hope they all come home and never go back.''

Ruling party candidate Mariano Rajoy, Aznar's hand-picked successor, called Zapatero to congratulate Zapatero.

Outside the Popular Party headquarters, some 100 supporters chanted "Viva Espana! Viva Aznar'' and waved party flags although there was nothing to celebrate.

Aznar chose not to seek a third term, saying he wanted renewal in government and his party.

Pre-election polls had favored his ruling party to win handily.

But on election day voters expressed anger with the government, accusing it of provoking the Madrid attacks by supporting the U.S.-led war in Iraq, which a vast majority of Spaniards opposed.

Basques Fear Backlash

The government had insisted that its prime suspect in Thursday's rail bombings was the armed Basque separatist group ETA, even as evidence mounted of an Islamic link in the bombings.

The government was accused of withholding information on the investigation to save the election.

Throughout Sunday, voters said they lost faith in the ruling party.

"I wasn't planning to vote, but I am here today because the Popular Party is responsible for murders here and in Iraq,'' said Ernesto Sanchez-Gey, 48, who voted in Barcelona.


03/15/04 05:16 EST”

“ snip
-------------------------------
...Spain's ruling conservatives crashed to surprise defeat in elections overshadowed by anger over terrorist bombings, becoming the first government that backed the U.S.-led war in Iraq to be voted out of office.


Will the Bush administration be the second?”

“The people have spoken.

Well, they spoke last year and overwhelmingly opposed Dubya's war.

The Spanish government wasn't listening last year.........."can you hear me now"?”

“sad....a few crazy doods in caves kicking a whole country around...”

“Yeah, Strat, it is sad indeed! And Mutt told me that al quada is virtually impotent and no longer capable of these kinds of strikes...”

“Do you feel safer now?”

“mutt's a bonesmoker...”

“lol”

“I'm laughing because you seemed to agree with him when we were going at it on the other thread Friday!”

“It was actually a different point though...”

“limbaugh predicted this right after the bombings. i didn't think they would wuss out though.....might as well pay them ransom”

“Still getting those marching orders from the junkie, eh?

Sad.”

“These Pictures Should Shut Up Democrats

March 12, 2004


Listen to Rush...
(...discuss what the terrorist bombing mean for the world)

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT 1:09PM ET

We're just sitting here watching. The streets of Madrid are teeming with people, thousands upon thousands of people in the rain over there. It's about 7:40. It's ten after one Eastern time here, but Madrid time is six-and-a-half hours ahead. That must be fun to try to keep track, if you go there. But nevertheless, the streets are just full of people, and they are of course expressing solidarity for those who were killed and their families and the wounded as well. And I tell you, you know, these pictures are going to shut the Democrats up on this whole 9/11 business and whether or not they ought to be part of the presidential campaign here.


These pictures (Wire Photos) are going to make it very risky for the Democrats to start - and there will be some who do it. In fact it may have already begun as I predicted yesterday. There may be some that will try to blame our action in the War on Terror for this attack. John Podhoretz in the New York Post today had a pretty good point. He said, John Kerry and the Democrats owe the Spanish people an apology, and they owe the Spanish people an apology for this reason. Since the Gulf War, there has been a word that the Democrats have been using to describe our action in Iraq, and that word is "unilateral."

The Democrats have made it sound like we had no allies; we had no support; we went in there alone; we didn't have any accompaniment whatsoever, and everybody with half a brain understands that what happened in Madrid yesterday is related. I don't care whether it was this Basque group. I don't care whether it's Al-Qaeda, Al-Shmaeda. As I said yesterday, it's terrorists, and there is a war on terror, and Spain was a staunch, visible, supportive ally of ours -- and it's our responsibility now, just as they came to our aid, to go to theirs, and we will. Make no mistake about it. That's what allies do.

The Democrats owe them an apology. The Democrats, from John Kerry on down -- or up, depending on your perspective -- owe these people in Spain an apology, because they have denied their role. The Democrats in this country have denied their role in this War on Terror. The Democrats have tried to make it sound like we went without any help, without any assistance, nobody wanted to support Bush, nobody had the guts to support Bush, nobody had the stupidity to support Bush, however they want to phrase it, and yet, what happened in Madrid yesterday happened. So the Democrats are going to have to shut up about two things: They're going to have to shut up about 9/11 and the fact that it's an issue, and they're going to have to shut up about us taking "unilateral action." Those are two huge points out of their talking point agenda. Now, I'm not saying they will shut up. Common sense would say that they'll have to, but since when have they been behaving under the tenets of common sense? They haven't.


END TRANSCRIPT”

“Limbaugh predicted the bombings? I knew that damned goof-ball freak was in cahoots with the AQ's. What a freak! :)”

“tilt, whatevah man. he's very astute. i suppose you don't listen to anybody or ever read anything?

righhhhhhhht”

“Stratdewd Bends Over For Limbaugh.”

“Treebeard, don't mischaracterize what I said. If the spring offensive in Pakistan is successful, then al Qaeda's operational capacity will be severely curtailed. And consider: this was not a 9/11 scale attack, although it was damn large and well coordinated. But, the bombers didn't commit suicide. They got away, which has not been AQ's MO. You have to keep in mind there are many "minor" terrorist groups. Spain has ETA. France has the AZF. Although these groups may be linked to al Qaeda, I personally doubt these *specific* attacks were authorized by the al Qaeda elite - as they are obviously still trying to hide. Unlike 9/11, the terrorists who pulled this off obviously knew what they were going to do, as they had a plan to get away safely after the attack. Unlike 9/11, this wasn't an attack of opportunity - instead this was timed to interfere with the election. So, it's not clear whether this was an attack from a global organization or an attack by a regional group whose actions happen to coincide with AQ.

Of course we'll have to wait before making final judgements on this attack, as the facts still aren't in. However, I predict this will ultimately work in favor of Bush. With all the furor over the WMD debacle in Iraq, the pres probably can benefit by this attack by saying "see, the terrorists are still a threat and we still need to launch operations overseas." Now if al Qaeda attacks the U.S. mainland this spring or summer, then that could hurt Bush in November. But, if al Qaeda waits until the fall, history suggests the temporary boost the pres gets immediately after an attack would probably mean reelection. It'll be interesting to see what happens.”

“So, this is where you get the BS about "THOSE" that want us to forget 9/11. All this time, I have been trying to figure out who "THOSE PEOPLE" are. You see,it is not in my experience, now or anytime since 9/11, that anyone in my neck of the woods has been trying to forget (and trying to make others forget) 9/11. Maybe this is true in "YOUR" area of the country, but not mine...”

“stratdewd, don't get mad at me because you're uninformed, unoriginal, incapable of debate, and do more harm to the philosophy of aggressive foreign policy than any of the liberals here.”

“I personally doubt these *specific* attacks were authorized by the al Qaeda elite -

Pretty presumptuous statement, isn't this? The fact that they were able to do it without a suicide factor changes what? I don't get it...

...And, damnit already, people! We know the f_cking terroists are still out there. I'm blue in the face from saying it myself. Nobody has disputed this. So, why do you guys persist with this nonsense?”

“It's politically expedient.

If they can twist it to generate One More Vote for the Shrub, it's MISSION ACCOMPLISHED for them, LOL”

“Oh, Mutt. BTW, you are only now qualifying your own words. What I said before came from your fingers, my friend!”

“Limbaugh has his head up his arse as usual.

Dubya owes the Spanish an appology.
His regime strong-armed or bribed the Spanish government in to joining his "coalition of the willing"......that's kinda like "healthy forests"......against the will of the Spanish people.”

“They spin like a bunch of whirling dervishes, Mark-O!”

“Treebeard: Presumptuous? Isn't it all speculation until we get more info? I don't recall reading about any AQ communication indicating a European attack coming from the ME. AQ is still trying to hide and wait out the U.S. And yes, the bombers got away - that is an important fact that easily survives your handwaving away. AQ's MO is to keep their people in the field ignorant of their mission until just before the attack - for security reasons. Obviously AQ could be shifting their strategy, but we'll have to wait and see.”

“I don't recall reading about any AQ communication indicating a European attack coming from the ME

lmao, you getting personal communiques now?”

“No treebeard, I said things were looking up. I said that we'll have to wait and see whether the spring offensive is successful. YOU'RE the one who never understood that and instead misinterpreted my message to mean "al qaeda is finished."

Pay closer attention to detail next time.”

“Treebeard - these threats have been the bread-and-butter of AQ for years now. We've continually heard of threats against various countries/targets. I don't remember hearing anything about Spain in the news.”

“The Spring offensive will all but finish off al Qaeda in the middle east."
Mutt
03:23:21 PM


This was one example where you sounded juuuuuuust a bit too assured. Sorry, if this is not what you meant...”

“Yes, it will, if it's successful. I was overconfident, perhaps, in assuming it will be successful - but not that AQ will be more or less finished in the ME if it's successful.”

“Everyone will change their tune when one of those "lost, missing, never found" WMD's shows up and is detonated in a major city.
For the record, I hope that never ever happens.
But, IMO, It's just a matter of time before it happens.
Then everyone who opposes sticking up for their country with any retaliation against "evil doers"
Will be eating crow.
Again, I hope it never happens.
I same take them F-ckers out before they take us out.
That's just my opinion, does not mean I wanna argue all day about it.”

“Early reports tie the bombs to peeps of Al-Queda. One is said to have been tied to 9/11. Like I said, early reports, but that's what on the line right now. We'll have to see. I can't remember, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but there hasn't been an ETA strike quite on this level. I guess there always could be the first time.

Also, reports outta the Netherlands say that intercepted intel indicated that Al-Queda would strike at Spain just before the elections.

Hold on tight during ours! As I said on another thread, the easiest way to defeat GW, from Al-Queda side, is to either put a cap in his ass, or do something that will influacnce the upcoming election. I say it's gonna be the later. Reports I'm hearing is that Al-Queda sezs it 90% ready, that would put them on a good time table to mess with the elections. Or ithey could be going for the Republican Convention.

My sources for these "reports" I am refering to, is what I have seen and heard on the Foz News Network Channel and there website, so I don't think there is any "media biased", unless the Repubs want to debunk there own mouth piece, which would be fine with me.

The elections in Spain will have a ripple down effect, in such that the party in power now, got in because of the publics concern for Spain backing the War in Iraq. On the out side, it looks like Spain will be colateral damage in GW's War and this will hurt the "cololition of teh willing", as Spain is a main member.

Very interesting event.....and why is it that our Government hasn't over extended our simpathy to our fellow Spainards, like they did to us after 9/11. The size of the attacks would be an apples and oranges arugement, so it shouldn't be offered. Spain is a loyal ally to us. This is how we treat our fellow peeps in the world? No wonder people accross the world hate us........!”

“If a school yard bully comes up to you, hits you and demands you lunch money, will giving him your lunch money stop his behavior? Knocking him down will stop his behavior. Bullies will pick on targets that will give in.

Notice how Al Qaeda is striking other countries. If they give in, they will just encourage the bully terrorists to target them in the future.”

“Perhaps, Mutt. Wasn't trying to make mountains out of molehils. I'm just honestly scared of them and, unlike you, don't have much as much confidence in the methodology of this administration. But, that's just our differences of opinion and along the lines of the items we have debated in the past...”

“Also, reports outta the Netherlands say that intercepted intel indicated that Al-Queda would strike at Spain just before the elections.

Damn, I missed that. Do you have a link?”

“I know you weren't trying to be obnoxious, treebeard. It's just that we never seem to come to a full understanding of one another's viewpoint.”

“We all have been scared by the Terrorists since 9/11, it sucks they have taken away some of our freedom in one fell swoop.
Bush may have not done what most of the so called public opinion wanted, but he did not cower in the corner, he took the proverbial Bull by the horns and kicked butt. "Freedom does not come free" Sometimes the good ole USA has to show the rest of the world we are not going to lay around and take it up the a$$.....”

“I heard somewhere that Bush offered his condolences to Spain and asked if the Spanish wanted us to attack a country that had nothing to do with the bombings.”

“Snafu, after 9/11, everyone in this country wass on the same page (for probably the first time since maybe Pearl Harbor). Frankly, standing up for America and going into Afghanistan was, to me, a given for anyone who would have been in office at the time. It wasn;t a stroke of unique genius on the part of the administraion the GWB. It was a 'gimme'. Anyone would have reacted because we were attacked. Those that have intoned in the past that if Gore was in there, we would have been in trouble because he would have had his thumb up his ass are not even worth the time it takes to read that drivel, because it is absolute BS. Now, if you want to take it down to specifics, that's where the disagreements come into the picture. The basic concept is pretty much common ground...”

“"...these threats have been the bread-and-butter of AQ for years now. We've continually heard of threats against various countries/targets. I don't remember hearing anything about Spain in the news."
-- Mutt
09:09:31 AM

www.upi.com
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 [2002] (UPI) -- Preliminary assessments by U.S. intelligence indicate that an audio tape broadcast Tuesday by the Arabic news network Al Jazeera "very well could be" the voice of accused terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.

*snip*
Al Jazeera sources told UPI they received an audio cassette with bin Laden's message from al Qaida earlier this week.

"This is a clear message for the people who are allied with the United States," the voice on the tape says. "It is a warning for them to stop doing so or face dire consequences."

*snip*
"We have sent a warning to the German and the Tunisians. We sent a warning to the French in Karachi, Pakistan. In Bali, the warning was for the Australians and the British, and in Moscow, to the Russians," the voice said. "As long as our people are killed in Palestine and elsewhere, those supporting America will have to suffer as well."

*snip*”

“Thanks Violin - last Friday. That explains why I didn't read about it, as I was out of town.”

“11/12/2002 was last Friday?”

“It's been a long week!!!

I'm beat!”

“Oops, I didn't see the NOVEMBER part! Last friday was the 12th. :P”

“While taking on terrorism is great in principle, can one of you advocates of this administration give me an example where it has actually worked?”

“why don't you fear fear?


it's amazing that you are happpy the conservatives lost[read;alqueda wins]

that olone should tell you that you're on the wrong side of history. are we to give them the reigns of the world and stand back? would anything ever appease these fanatics?”

“LOL, Bearmagnet!
Prosecutor, I don't see AQ as schoolyard bullies. I see them more as desparate psychopaths. Humans who willingly commit suicide aren't afraid of being "knocked down". They relish the idea of someone trying to "teach them a lesson", I would guess.
We all agree that these sub-humans should be taken out. We disagree on how that should happen.”

“I don’t know if the Spain attacks were al Qaeda or not – I would guess very few people do.

I think its troubling, to say the least, that they could claim victory in influencing a western election, whether or not they had anything to do with it.

If it was in retaliation for Spain supporting us in Iraq, the neocon cabal have more blood on their hands.”

“Huh?”

“Y2
There has been ZERO terrorist attacks in the US since 9/11....”