and the brains to keep Hitler at several arms length!
Franco even kept Hitler waiting for hours as he approached by train.
There were many US military personnel in Spain during the Cold War. I was one of them.
There were La Guardia Civil to fear by citizens, but for Americans it was ideal in very many respects.
Coastal towns in rural Spain became retirement communities for US Marines and other military personnel.
'Course, Spain is now dealing with a similar influx of "invaders" from south of THEIR border.