Posted on 05/11/2005 5:44:33 PM PDT by Scenic Sounds
MADRID, Spain - If it comes to choosing between pleasing President Bush or the Spanish public, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Wednesday that he - unlike the conservative opposition Popular Party - would opt for the latter.
"Between pleasing Bush and doing what Spanish people want, I will go for what Spaniards want, and you (the Popular Party) are, naturally, within your rights to decide to please the U.S. president," Zapatero said.
The remark came in a heated debate in Parliament between Zapatero and Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy over the state of Spain a year into Zapatero's Socialist government.
The Popular Party, led by premier Jose Maria Aznar before last year's election, had governed Spain since 1996 and made strong U.S. ties a priority. It solidly backed Bush on the Iraq war despite massive opposition.
As soon as Zapatero was elected, however, he made good on his election pledge to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq.
The decision has strained ties with Washington, which the Popular Party claims has marred Spain's standing abroad.
Zapatero acknowledged there were differences with Washington but insisted the relationship "works adequately."
He also vowed to work relentlessly to bring peace to the troubled Basque region, where the armed separatist group ETA has fought for independence.
Zapatero maintained the group, which has killed more than 800 people since 1968, "has only one destiny - to dissolve and lay down its weapons."
Zapatero said last year's Madrid train bombings - blamed on Islamic militants acting on behalf of al-Qaida - revealed weaknesses in the Spanish security forces, which had long focused solely on ETA.
Since the Socialists came to power, intelligence and police units have been overhauled, Zapatero told lawmakers.
I mislabeled that source. It's actually from the Macon Telegraph.
When a Socialist says this, I'm just a bit worried what that could mean.
Bush is refusing to answer his congratulatory second term calls from Zappy- last I heard.
Duh. Like we didn't already know that.
If the conservative government hadn't blamed the Madrid attacks on Basques, they would have easily won.
Being caught in a lie three days before the election was fatal.
Spain may regain its sanity in the next election, but that's not for awhile.
He learned it from Chirac and Schroeder. When domestic disputes brew, deflect attention to America.
He learned it from Chirac and Schroeder. When domestic disputes brew, deflect attention to America.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.