Posted on 03/15/2004 2:33:02 AM PST by kattracks
Spain's Socialist Party prime minister-elect has confirmed his intention to pull Spanish troops out of Iraq. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said: "The war in Iraq was a disaster, the occupation of Iraq is a disaster."The Socialist Party won a shock poll victory after voters appeared to turn on the government over its handling of the Madrid bombings.
Spain, with more than 1,300 troops in Iraq, supported the US-led war on Iraq despite much domestic opposition.
Mr Zapatero told Spanish radio that no decision would be taken until he was in power or without wide political consultation.
But the soldiers would be pulled out if there was no change in Iraq by the 30 June deadline for transfer of sovereignty.
Our world affairs correspondent, Paul Reynolds, says that the situation in Iraq may well have changed by 30 June, but whether that influences the new government remains to be seen.
By then the US and UK hope that the Security Council will have given UN approval to the handover plan.
In addition the interim Iraqi government will be asking foreign troops to stay as part of a UN-approved multinational force.
Outsider
Socialists won 42% of the vote, while the centre-right Popular Party won 38% in Sunday's general election, held in the wake of the Madrid train bomb attacks that killed 200 people.
The BBC's Chris Morris, in Madrid, says the bombings did more than shock Spain to the core; they proved to be the decisive factor in the general election that ousted the government.
Mr Zapatero was - until Thursday's bombings - considered an outsider for Spain's top job.
Despite his party's victory, however, there is expected to be much political horse-trading because the Socialists did not win an absolute majority.
While Mr Zapatero said his first priority was to tackle terrorism "in all its forms", he is thought likely to do it in a very different way than the outgoing government.
A larger than expected 77% of the electorate turned out to vote in the wake of last Thursday's attacks.
Our correspondent says the late swing to the Socialists raises one disturbing thought - if al-Qaeda was responsible for Thursday's attacks, it appears to have had significant influence in changing the government of a leading Western democracy.
Investigations are continuing into who was behind the bombings.
A videotaped claim of responsibility by a man identifying himself as al-Qaeda's military spokesman in Europe forced the government to change its stance on the most likely suspects.
The tape - claiming revenge for Spain's "collaboration with the criminals Bush and his allies" - was found in a litter bin on Saturday following a tip-off to a TV station.
'Suspect has al-Qaeda link'
Three Moroccans and two Indians are being held in connection with the attacks.
The three Moroccans being held have been named as Jamal Zougam, 30, Mohamed Bekkali, 31, and Mohamed Chaoui, 34.
The two Indians arrested were named as Vinay Kohly and Suresh Kumar.
Spain's El Pais newspaper reported that investigators had found links between Jamal Zougam and the Salafia Jihadia group held responsible for attacks in Casablanca last May in which more than 40 people died.
One of the targets of the Moroccan attacks was a Spanish cultural centre, where four Spaniards were among the dead.
Reports also linked Jamal Zougam to a Spanish cell of al-Qaeda which was headed by Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, also known as "Abu Dahdah".
Abu Dahdah has been indicted by the Spanish anti-terrorist prosecutor Baltasar Garzon on charges relating to the preparation of the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States.
El Pais said Jamal Zougam was cited at two points in Garzon's indictment, but was not charged.
Islam works this way --- it had great success in Africa --- they killed over 2 million Christians and animists in Sudan to force them into Islam. Islam doesn't convert, it terrorizes populations into submission. The Spanish certainly weren't wise, bin Laden was very open about retaking control of Spain. It'll serve them right when their women are forced into harems and they are put under control of the mullahs.
LET HIM! That will be the biggest political mistake in the history of US elections- only Kerry won't see it that way!!
I disagree. The new leader has 4 years to work his anti-American policies and appease terrorists. AQ has no reason to bomb them again while he's in power, and the Spanish might settle into a cosy relationship of high moral appeasement with France and Germany. And in 4 terror-free years (maybe), a docile populace may re-elect him again. This is a lose-lose situation of the most depressing kind. Prodi is already capitalising on this given his remarks today about the Iraq war causing terrorism to become infinitely more dangerous. It's 1939 again.
You mean cojones don't you? Cajones are drawers,like in a chest of drawers. Sorry, I couldn't resist! ;-)
He did authorized, however, the formation of a purely voluntary division known as the Blue Division, that fought with Hitler in the eastern front. According to my grandfather, the sheeple did not realize they were helping Hitler, all they cared about was to keep on fighting "reds". My grandmother used to sing a song that ended up "I'm going to kill more "reds" than the number of flowers during April and May".
Nevertheless, my initial point was the new Spanish prime minister has left himself enough wiggle room to keep the Spanish troops in Iraq.
"The Spanish troops which are in Iraq will be returning home," Socialist leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told Cadena Ser radio. He said the troops would be recalled once he puts together a government some time in mid-April and formally takes over as prime minister.IMHO, there is room for compromise.However, a party spokesman explained to The Associated Press that Zapatero sticks by his campaign condition that the 1,300 troops would stay if the United Nations assumed control of the peacekeeping operation in Iraq.
The new Iraqi government will likely get a new UN resolution blessing foreign troops as UN peacekeepers in Iraq.
Diplomats can work out a face-saving arrangement to help the Spain and others.
Color me shocked...
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