Secret deal with al-Sadr led to Spain's leaving Iraq

Spanish media ^ | Apr 21 2004

[george wythe]

Agents from CNI (Spanish Central Intelligent Agency) close to the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Party) negotiate with Shiite to halt attacks to Spanish troops

The agents made a secret trip a week ago to negotiate a ceasefire with al-Sadr, and the Socialist Party was informed of the trip. The deal involved the Spanish troops not being attacked in exchange with immediate withdrawal from Iraq.

Al Sadr urged Zapatero to announce the withdrawal of the troops, a decision the Socialist Party intended to announce at a more opportune time, as soon Zapatero took charge of the new government. The objective was to isolate the American troops in the expected assault of the holy city to capture al-Sadr “dead or alive.”

[Porterville]

So now can we bomb Spain... dirty sobs.... dirty sobs... dirty sobs...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Nice of our allies to tell us..

[george wythe]

Sadr was informed of the Spanish troops leaving Iraq before the Spanish Congress knew about it

According to the Spanish newspaper La Razón, secret agents from the Spanish Central Intelligence Agency (CNI) “close” to the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) made a secret trip to Najaf last week, even before the new government had been formed, while Zapatero was claiming publicly that the Spanish troops would be pulled out on June 30. Once in Najaf, they made a deal with representatives of al-Sadr, who is responsible for the recent deadly violence outbreak.

The deal granted immunity to the Spanish soldiers, and Sadr representatives were informed of the Spanish pull out of Iraq. Two names are prominent in this development: Perez Rubalcaba and colonel Jambrina

Apparently, the agents traveled without the approval or knowledge of the senior leadership of the CNI at the time to communicate Zapatero’s decision to withdraw the Spanish troops immediately. The decision was kept in secret until last Sunday.

[livius]

I posted this here yesterday (from La Razón):

This is my post from yesterday:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1120963/posts

The paper that reported it was La Razón, which is not fond of the Socialists, but does investigative reporting and is often like the New York Post: everybody jeers, and then it's reported in the NYT two days later. However, I have no personal knowledge one way or the other of the accuracy of this. It sure seems possible, however, based on my knowledge of Spain.

[TomGuy]

Blackmail right out of the tv series, 24.

[ikka]

France with better weather, Italian style food and prettier women. But still a sort of France.

[livius]

I hope our government knows about this, or at least is investigating it. As I said, La Razón may or may not be accurate, but a lot of times they are (and it was picked up by El Mundo, which is often regarded as nutty but turns out to be accurate).

I didn't get a lot of responses when I posted yesterday, and I'm not sure who to notify. I would certainly hope that American intelligence services are taking the elementary precaution of monitoring the press, but one never knows.

[dalebert]

Did Sadr have something to do with the Madrid bombings? Spain was leaving anyway.

[george wythe]

Thanks for your link.

You made an excellent job translating the article.

[mware]

Am I mistaken or isn't it in Spain where Muslims are requesting to be permitted to pray to Allah in a Catholic Cathedral.

They have their foot in the door now, watch what comes from appeasement.

[Endeavor]

I didn't think it was possible to be lower than France. Spain takes the cake today.

[Kirkwood]

Collusion with our enemy. Despicable! A new level of disgrace for once honorable Spain. I pity my friends who live there.

[F16Fighter]

Today, Spain's cowardice sows what they WILL inevitably reap -- murder and mayhem.

[pointsal]

Where's Torquemada when you need him?

[livius]

Thanks!

I think this is a very important article, and I hope somebody somewhere (that is, in US Army Intelligence or similar) is looking into this.

[Dog]

Al Sadr urged Zapatero to announce the withdrawal of the troops, a decision the Socialist Party intended to announce at a more opportune time, as soon Zapatero took charge of the new government. The objective was to isolate the American troops in the expected assault of the holy city to capture al-Sadr “dead or alive.”

Livius you know the Spanish......would they stand by....while an American assault force is attack?

Spain isn't this stupid....are they?

[cardinal4]

Im not so sure I believe it. Making deals with terrorists to avoid having your countrymen attacked is pretty shady, especially while your coalition partners bear the brunt of the terror. IMHO, this is political treachery on a par with King Stephen's and Queen Matilda's (Maud)battle for the throne in the 1100's. As for cowardice and appeasement, it almost rises to the level of Vichy France. I dont think such a new government would take that chance. But then again, this is Europe..

[george wythe]

I hope our government knows about this, or at least is investigating it.

There are dozens of reference to the La Razon article in google.es,(that's where I found it), but it has not crossed over to the English media yet, or at least, I'm not good enough to find it in the anglophone media.

I have no idea where to start in order to communicate this to the right people in the intelligence community.

[mware]

Where's Torquemada when you need him?

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition.