Spanish protesters shout abuse as PP's Rajoy votes

Reuters ^ | 3/14/04

[areafiftyone]

MADRID, March 14 (Reuters) - Protesters shouted "Liar!" and "Get our troops out of Iraq!" at Spain's ruling party prime ministerial candidate Mariano Rajoy as he voted in the general election on Sunday, three days after the Madrid bombings.

Tensions are running high in the country after the bombings of four packed commuter trains on Thursday which killed 200 and wounded 1,500.

Police are investigating a videotape purporting to be from the Islamic militant group al Qaeda saying it was responsible for the bombing and that it was a reprisal for Spain's support for the Iraq war.

For two days the government had said Basque separatist guerrillas ETA were the prime suspect. ETA denied involvement.

Rajoy, the Popular Party's candidate, said he was thinking of the victims and the "immense pain" caused by the attacks.

He said voters should "judge the work that has been done in the past eight years", referring to the government of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who chose not to seek a third term.

But he added: "Regarding everything else, I don't think this is a day for making statements."

The main opposition Socialist candidate Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said he was confident that after the election Spain could start a new era in which confidence in the political system could return.

"I feel strong and responsible... and totally moved by the example of the Spanish people... in their demands for their right to information," Zapatero told reporters after voting on the outskirts of Madrid.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets on Saturday to demand the government provide full information about the bombings.

Aznar himself, casting his vote in Madrid, called for Spaniards to vote for their freedom.

"We are not going to allow the terrorists and fanatics... to divide and damage our freedom," he said.

[areafiftyone]

Heard on Fox and Friends this morning that if the opposition party wins he will get the Spanish troops out of Iraq as soon as as he gets in office. I hate to say it, but it looks like from the protests yesterday that he might just win the election.

[KantianBurke]

The Spain bomb attack verifies two policies - in the fight against terrorism the Bush policy of unilateralism should be the only one utilized and the Blair-Powell policy of multilateralism is a BIG mistake.

Think about it. Those 2 thousand Spanish soliders sure make for a decent news article mention but tactically what good are they? Are they worth the loss of a pro WOT Spanish govt? Osama and company were pretty smart to pick Madrid to carry out such a bombing as the recriminations will now cost Bush a MAJOR anti terror ally

[areafiftyone]

To be honest - I think the only soldiers from Europe who are even making a dent in Iraq besides the British are the Polish Soldiers.

[evad]

Protesters shouted "Liar!" and "Get our troops out of Iraq!"

Osama's minions are alive and well.

Spain has two choices..
become an islamic nation like France will be in 10 years..
OR
fight now against this tyranny with everything they have.

Rarely is an issue so clear cut.

[KantianBurke]

exactly. But thanks to Powell and Blair's need for "allies" in the unpopular Iraq war, a country like Spain, which has been doing a great job behind tHe scenes in the WOT, sent in a token force we did not need, did no good and will quite possibly lose us a great ally in the fight against terror. In the end Spain's inclusion in the Iraq war brought about precisely the same fears we had regarding multilateralism and the UN - dependence on another for help with out security.

[metesky]

bttt

[hellinahandcart]

For two days the government had said Basque separatist guerrillas ETA were the prime suspect. ETA denied involvement.

Yes, imagine the nerve of saying that the group of terrorists who were caught only a few months ago trying to BOMB THE TRAINS were your prime suspect in a train bombing.

[Rokke]

Yesterday's "thousands" of protestors was listed at about 5000. After the millions of Spainiards that turned out to protest the terrorists the day prior, I'm not sure 5000 indicates overwhelming sentiment.

[Samurai_Jack]

"dependence on another for help with out security."

Yes, I heartily agree. Any nation that depends on the affirmations of foreign powers before acting in the best interest of their own national security is vulnerable to manipulation by and ultimately subjugation to those very same foreign powers. This is what we are seeing in spain.

[Defendingliberty]

"Protesters shouted "Liar!" and "Get our troops out of Iraq!""

What was Kennedy doing there?

[livius]

This is so bizarre. It was completely logical to say that ETA was behind it - ETA members were arrested as recently as last week trying to bring large quantities of explosives into Madrid.

One thing that shouldn't be forgotten is that the left has a secret fondness for ETA.

[KantianBurke]

What's necessary for keeping the US safe might not be the case for Spain and vice versa. Terrorists need to be stopped but the Spanish people have the right to ask as to whether this bomb attack was carried out due to their token force and if so whether they should concentrate soley on their own security.

[wgeorge2001]

MADRID, March 14 (Reuters) - Protesters shouted "Liar!" and "Get our troops out of Iraq!" at Spain's ruling party prime ministerial candidate Mariano Rajoy as he voted in the general election on Sunday, three days after the Madrid bombings.


Did Mariano Rajoy murder the people on the train? If Spain lays down, will not the cowardly murderers take that as a sign of weakness and continue their assault on Spain's innocent people. What makes people so cowardly when they follow socialism and all the attendant woes caused by appeasement? They but have to look at France's history in World War II to see where political appeasement of murdering foes leads to.
Even though President Bush unwisely tries to appease American socialists (churlish liberal democrats one and all), he was man enough to know that that the best defense is a sustained offense against evil. Appeasement is surrender.
Near as I can tell.

[The G Man]

I see that Socialists worldwide put socialism first and patriotism ... um, somewhere way way down on the list.

[areafiftyone]

Certain European countries (France, Germany, Italy and Spain and some Nordic countries) are not like Americans - they just don't seem to have that sense of patriotism that we do. I am not saying that they don't love their country because they do but they just don't have the stomach for protecting their country like we do - they prefer to remain safe in their own little shell and not do anything to protect themselves. Even when disaster strikes - they prefer to blame their own government and not the terrorists who have struck out against them. And the terrorists realize that. That is the terrorist's way of changing the political landscape for themselves. I just don't undersand that mentality.

[AF68]

The socialist political parties, including the Democrats in this country, can be counted on to do Al Qaeda's bidding. Why should they stop their mass murders when they know we are so deeply divided? It plays right into their hands.

[Defendingliberty]

Democrats are pulling for the opposition to win and pull the troops..

[prion]

"We are not going to allow the terrorists and fanatics... to divide and damage our freedom," he said.

Man, I hope he's right. Today will tell.

Personally, I think it's Eta and al Qaeda. Working together. Chaos and internal upheavel is to the advantage of both of them (they think).

Remember, right after 9/11, when it turned out IRA guys were training in South America somewhere? My memory is fuzzy on this, but I remember thinking, "yeah...why not? Anyone who thinks terrorism is an effective political tool might as well join up with the like-minded, whether their causes coincide or not."

[Rome2000]

as the recriminations will now cost Bush a MAJOR anti terror ally

If the left wins today, it will be a devastating blow to Kerry.

The Americans are not the Spanish, and will not take kindly to the ragheads canidate of choice.

Thats why the leftsts in this country were desperately trying to pin this on the Basques.

[normy]

Don't you think the bombings, if they change the result of an election, will incite more terrorism? I mean if the Spanish gov't pulls out because of this it would be a slap in the face of the populace.