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Is Europe's 3/11 America's 9/11? (Must Read)
The Times of India ^ | THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2004 | RASHMEE Z. AHMED

Posted on 03/11/2004 9:25:51 AM PST by nickcarraway

LONDON: As four powerful bombs bloodied the Spanish capital Madrid killing 173, in Europe’s deadliest act of terror after the Lockerbie bombings, major European capitals have begun to wonder if 3/11 - the 11th day of the third month – is meant to be the Old World’s 9/11?

As news filtered in that 13 bombs were meant to go off together in one of Europe’s most historic and vibrant capitals, Britain significantly declared it to be "an assault on the very principle of European democracy".

Spain goes to the polls on Sunday.

Some of Europe’s leading terrorism experts agreed the bombs ahead of ballots could be as significant an assault on Western democracy as 9/11's crumbling twin towers attacked the symbol of Western capitalism.

So could it have been al-Qaeda, hooking up for the very first time with a largely secular European nationalist grouping?

Could the world’s most feared, faceless and fabulously inventive Islamist terrorist group really be wreaking revenge for Spain's controversial participation in the US-led, UK-backed militaristic coalition against terror?

And if so, is Britain, America’s closest ally in the war on terror, next?

Officially, Spain does not think it is al-Qaeda. With European capitals shuddering at the thought that al-Qaeda might have left its calling card right at the heart of Europe, Spain’s interior minister Angel Acebes blamed the homegrown ETA. ETA is fighting a violent separatist campaign to free the Basque region.

But in a deepening mystery, a leader of ETA’s banned political wing, Herri Batasuna, said "Arab resistance", not ETA, was not to blame.

The denial, said ETA expert Professor Paul Heywood, was unusual. ETA has nearly always claimed responsibility in 35 years of attacks, which claimed 800 lives altogether. If ETA were proved to have pulled off the Madrid spectacular, it would be assured undreamt-of publicity.

The Basque blame for "Arabs" blew a chill wind threw European chancelleries. But, some leading British security analysts said there was a risk of terrorist groups using al-Qaeda and Islamist resistance as a fig leaf for their actions.

Even so, some of the world’s leading experts on ETA admitted they are puzzled by the unprecedented scale of the attacks.

The modus operandi too, with unannounced coordinated multiple blasts perfectly timed for the rush hour and maximum human suffering were unusual, said a leading authority on ETA, Paddy Woodworth in Dublin.

With worrying candour, Professor Paul Wilkinson, a leading terrorism expert at St Andrews University, said al-Qaeda's handiwork or not, the attacks may underline the al-Qaeda effect on global terrorism.

"Terrorist groups learn from each other", he said.

Late on Thursday, Tony Blair said the attacks underlined the worldwide terrorist threat. The president of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, said it was "a declaration of war on democracy".

Spain’s wannabe prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, who heads the governing Popular Party, said it was a "massive assassination which has plunged democracy into mourning".


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Germany; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: 31104; alqaeda; arab; basque; england; europe; jihadineurope; madridbombing; madridmassacre; presidentbush; spain; terrorism; waronterror
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To: Dog Gone
"If the Spanish say it was the ETA, then it was."
That still may be right... but there is an enormous amount of evidence that says otherwise.
61 posted on 03/11/2004 10:33:23 AM PST by Betaille (The city put the country back in me)
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To: Dog Gone
Spanish elections are Sunday. He should go over on Monday or Tuesday. Spain is a major ally in the WOT and has supported the US. A visit would be very symbollic of our friendship.

President Bush Condemns Terrorist Bombings in Spain
Remarks by the President on the Terrorist Bombings in Spain
The South Lawn

11:51 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Today I spoke to His Majesty the King of Spain -- Jose Maria Aznar, as well -- about our country's deepest sympathies toward those who lost their life as a result of terrorist bombings in Spain. I told him we weep with the families. We stand strongly with the people of Spain. I appreciate so very much the Spanish government's fight against terror, their resolute stand against terrorist organizations like the ETA. The United States stands with them. Today we ask God's blessings on those who suffer in the -- in the great country of Spain.

Thank you.

END 11:52 A.M. EST
62 posted on 03/11/2004 10:36:14 AM PST by pittsburgh gop guy
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To: nickcarraway
The legacy of Islamic occupation of Spain would give linkage for al-Qaeda.
Of course it's related. I think it also shows a sort of hesitance to attack France. Especially after the headscarf ban.
I was making the same connections as the author of this article. I think I have found my way back home!
63 posted on 03/11/2004 10:37:54 AM PST by olde north church (Voting purely on principle is like playing football purely on field goals. j,a,a,)
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To: Betaille
I don't know anything about the Basque situation, and not much more about other terrorist operatives, but....

Are the Basque contingent generally "kamikaze"?

Did they find any dead *perpetrators* at the bomb scenes?

Seems to me Moslems generally like to do suicide along w/the homicide, so I'm wondering about that facet.
64 posted on 03/11/2004 10:38:04 AM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common Sense is an Uncommon Virtue)
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To: nickcarraway
See what happens when you don't ratify the Kyoto Treaty? These Basque Terrorists are just poor people that can't find the right outlet for political expression.
65 posted on 03/11/2004 10:39:10 AM PST by electroclash
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To: pittsburgh gop guy
Sounds like the Prez thinks it's ETA, too.
66 posted on 03/11/2004 10:40:13 AM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common Sense is an Uncommon Virtue)
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To: nickcarraway
Gee, Al Qaeda NEVER attacks transportation and/or infrastructure, so it couldn't be them ...

[/sarcasm]
67 posted on 03/11/2004 10:44:45 AM PST by BlueNgold (Feed the Tree .....)
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To: browsin
I'm not sure I understand, if it was Islamonuts, why Spain? I know they have been pretty lock-step w/us, but they're frankly, sort of down on the list of major powers - and it always seems they're interested in striking it big against a biggie. I would think Britain would be the focus outside the US.
68 posted on 03/11/2004 10:45:20 AM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common Sense is an Uncommon Virtue)
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To: sarasota
You are so rite. You know the cries and whining will go out about how it's all our fault cuz we insisted on "begetting violence w/violence". The question should then be, how much *more* violence would there have been w/o our retribution?
69 posted on 03/11/2004 10:47:00 AM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common Sense is an Uncommon Virtue)
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To: the OlLine Rebel
Someone on another thread pointed out that it has been 911 days since 911. Actually, I think it is 912 if you factor in the leap year but still wired.
70 posted on 03/11/2004 10:50:13 AM PST by TBall
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To: Dog Gone
I just came back from lunch - word on Fox is that it was the ETA.
71 posted on 03/11/2004 11:03:54 AM PST by carton253 (I don't do nuance)
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To: the OlLine Rebel
But security measure might have made it impossible for them to attack those targets. They may decide to settle for what they can.
72 posted on 03/11/2004 11:04:26 AM PST by nickcarraway
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To: B Knotts
Yeah, it could be ETA, but I doubt they would be denying it if it was. That ain't their M.O.

Perhaps they're trying a new tactic -- fake an Arab terrorism attack supposedly in response for Spain's stand with the US in order to weaken support for the current government immediately before the election -- leading to a new government that might be more in a mind for appeasment to terrorists (both al-Queda and ETA).

73 posted on 03/11/2004 11:09:03 AM PST by kevkrom (Ask your Congresscritter about his or her stance on HR 25 -- the NRST)
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To: GulliverSwift
If you've followed ETA's activities, which go all the way back to the Franco era, this type of coordinated attack on civilians intended to cause the maximum amount of casualties isn't their style. Further, they would know that the reaction from the Spanish government and people will be overwhelming. Nope, this reeks of a muslim terror action and, with Morrocco and the rest of North Africa just a stone's throw from Gibraltar, there are plenty of available recruits to have carried it out.
74 posted on 03/11/2004 11:29:41 AM PST by katana
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To: Betaille
People. Come on. The world doesn't just move to the rythms of the U.S. and our problems.

Having lived in Madrid for 7 years, ETA exists and kills people. To suggest there is no evidence against ETA here, is, well, stupid and yes, I hate to say it but ignorant. Now I don't know if they did it but neither do any of you.

You are in wishful thinking mode because you, and several other posters here, WANT to think its al qaeda. We all lose credibility when you instantly assume you understand the problems of a country like Spain through your political need of the day. For 7 years in the 70s and 80s I walked past guardia civil troopers with submachines on the streets because of ETA.

If they refuse to investigate and just incriminate ETA, that's ridiculous. They won't be doing that though. With this many people dead, they don't care who the perpetrators are, they just want them punished.

75 posted on 03/11/2004 11:32:50 AM PST by hoyaloya
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To: browsin
Britain has been directly targeted, one of the recent Istanbul bombings was directed against the British Embassy, killed the Ambassador I believe. We also lost a lot of people in Bali.
76 posted on 03/11/2004 11:34:36 AM PST by alnitak ("That kid's about as sharp as a pound of wet liver" - Foghorn Leghorn)
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To: FoxInSocks
Let's pile on some more praise.

In the Indian lexicon, fabulous and fantastic do not have positive or negative connotations. "Fabulous" should be read as "extraordinary", and "fantastic" should be read as "unbelievable".

This different usage can cause some confusion.

77 posted on 03/11/2004 11:44:29 AM PST by bondjamesbond (Hat tip to "Libby the Kid".)
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To: the OlLine Rebel
But security measure might have made it impossible for them to attack those targets. They may decide to settle for what they can.
78 posted on 03/11/2004 11:53:18 AM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
It is the eleventh--oh, my--
79 posted on 03/11/2004 11:54:54 AM PST by Mamzelle
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To: hoyaloya
What do you think about the possibility of elements of Al Q and ETA having perhaps worked together on this attack? Ties to the mysterious AZF group that tried to blackmail the French gov't with threats of railway bombings a few months ago?
80 posted on 03/11/2004 11:55:58 AM PST by Diddle E. Squat ("I'm Diddle E. Squat, and I approved this tagline")
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