The Cave-Dwelling [Spanish] Left

ABC [Spanish newspaper] ^ | March 15, 2001 | Ignacio Sanchez Camara

[livius]

That bitter, sullen faction of the Spanish left which coexists alongside the other enlightened, honest left has just rediscovered its fondness for a kind of armchair conspiracy with a branch office in the streets, particularly in Madrid’s Genova St. [headquarters of the PP].

It was a perfect symbiosis of lies and violent direct action, the purpose of which was presumably the search for electoral profit from terror, and the delegitimization of a possible Partido Popular victory at the polls. This is its special contribution to participatory democracy and dialog.

Insult is also a way of conversing. The Madrid slaughter had just happened and as soon as the unreliable, at least at the time, indications of Islamic responsibility for the crimes were known, thanks to the announcements of the Interior Minister, Angel Acebes, the rabid, sullen factor of the Spanish political and media left seized upon a plot. Naturally, without any evidence at all. Reality does not interfere with a useful argument.

According to them, the Government was hiding information from the citizens for electoral reasons. It seems that in their perverse equation, the responsibility of ETA would benefit the government and discredit the Catalan coalition [a regional leftist government which had made a pact with ETA not to strike in Catalonia], and finally, discredit Zapatero himself. On the contrary, if Islamics were responsible, this could be a magnificent electoral argument: the Aznar Government was paying in corpses for its alliance with the American empire. A ghastly but, apparently, just or justified retribution. The person ultimately responsible for the massacres was, therefore, Aznar, who put us in the crosshairs of Al Qaeda because of his policy on the Iraq war.

They might at least have preceded their deceit with an extensive condemnation of Islamic terrorism. But what would have been pure savagery had it been done by ETA is, in the hands of al Qaeda, an understandable reaction to the aggression of Aznar. Pure garbage. But we can overcome our nausea to make a few obeservations.

Not only the government, but the vast majority of society, including the left, believed at the very start that ETA was responsible for the massacre in Madrid. We don’t have to go through back issues of the newspapers. Looking at the papers of the day before yesterday is sufficient. It is enough to recall the police operations that prevented a similar slaughter in Chamartin [train station] or the one that various persons were caught preparing in Cuenca [a nearby city]. And suspicion of ETA involvement has still not vanished, although it has diminished. In addition, we must not forget the links between the group and Islamic terror, as analyzed by Jon Juaristi yesterday in this paper…..

The rejection of terrorism as an electoral argument was forgotten. During the campaign, it appeared that it had been forbidden even to mention ETA, or the [left-wing – ETA] political alliances in Catalonia. It was taboo. But the prohibition was lifted when it came to Al Qaeda and the chance to throw garbage on the government of Aznar, an honest and honorable man. In this case, the political witch hunt and uproar was on. Anything is fair against the right. Perhaps they did not realize that their attitude left the impression that the alleged eruption of Al Qaeda into the Spanish election campaign could be interpreted as a preference for the victory of Zapatero. Two standards: silence on ETA and uproar over AQ. As César Alonso de los Ríos wrote yesterday in ABC, the same left that denied the Islamic terrorist threat today is clinging to its alleged presence. All for its electoral convenience.

[livius]

This is my unauthorized translation of parts of a somewhat longer article that appeared in the opinion pages of the Spanish newspaper ABC yesterday. The original title was The Atapuerca Left - Atapuerca being a cave famous for the cave paintings left by its prehistoric residents. I didn't translate it thus because I had the feeling - strangely enough - that it might be such a mystifying title that nobody would read the article. Except perhaps for art historians, who would have been disappointed.

The piece analyzes the way in which the left seized upon the attack to win.

[livius]

I thought another aspect of this that is relevant to the US elections is the fact that any mention of terrorism (and Aznar's successes in stopping ETA) was tacitly forbidden during the campaign.

Does this remind anybody of the Democratic "outrage" over the Bush 9/11 ads?

[livius]

Ping to FM!

[prion]

Thanks for this. I'm curious what people inside Spain are thinking.

The BBC doesn't quite know how to cover this. Hardcore leftists, they're delighted that socialists got in and that the US got slapped, but even they are uneasy with the idea that al Qaeda can influence elections with a bit of well-timed slaughter.

[CatoRenasci]

Thank you for this translation. Bump!

[Renfield]

Good translation, as far as it went. Hay un edicion en ingles? No me puedo a encontrarlo.

[livius]

Freedom Moose lives in BCN and has talked with many Spaniards about this. He said he would post some of their comments, so maybe we'll get some on-the-ground information about this.

BTW, this same Spanish paper published a very good piece by Christopher Cox today. The same piece also appeared in the WSJ this morning.

[livius]

No, there's no English edition. But if you want the remaining couple of paragraphs, I'll translate them later on when I have time and post them here (and ping you, of course).

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Thanks for this post!

[speedy]

Thanks for the translation. Despite this sickening capitulation by the Spanish left, it is good to recall that there are some good people in Spain who see this for what it is. The concerned reaction even by some liberals in the West gives hope that this short-term victory for the terrorists may in the long run work against them.

[OhMike]

Livius, thank you for translating and posting that cogent editorial from ABC. I'm impressed with your linguistic abilities--and your editorial judgement. :)

When in Spain I have read and been surprised by the rationality of ABC's editorials. Even when they have had argument with the US, their analysis and world view have been fair and balanced. Sadly, in today's Socialist Spain, that is no counter to the tantrums of the Left.

I grieve for a country with such a great history and beauty and a people with a vitality that should be inspirational. I grieve for them because in spite of these great qualities they have devolved into a "pais de cobardes sin honor."

Maybe if the Spaniards rediscover their huevos, a new El Cid will rise from the mewling cowering masses. -OhMike

[livius]

Thank you! The author is a professor of Philosophy of Law, and is obviously used to writing massive legal-philosophical paragraphs - which NEEDED breaking up!

Yes, I love Spain and I feel very badly about its collapse, too. Another column I read said that Spain had revealed itself to be Sancho Panza rather than Don Quijote.

And I suspect are probably more than a few Spaniards (perhaps even some who voted for the Socialists) who are feeling the same way on this "morning after."

[elli1]

Please ping me (too) when you finish the translation. Thanx!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Hope they enjoy their berkas.

[reformedliberal]

ping me, too, please.

[KantianBurke]

could you ping me when Freedom Moose gets a chance to post the man in the street comments? Also what's BCN? Thanks!

[livius]

Will do.

BCN is Barcelona.

[freedom moose]

OK here are some comments. I am posting them without editorial comment. you can draw your own conclusions. the translations are as true to the original tone as possible. all comments are post election.
comments from a friend who is a die hard socialist
"dude, we really gave in to the terrorists"
his mother (same affiliation) "we really let them [terrorists] win didn't we?!"
people on the street, in bars etc.....
"well today [the morning after the elections] i got up and took my kids to school, the sun was shining, spring is here, it's the beginning of a new era for the country, for all of us"
"better to support the Americans than anyone else, we (edited for young eyes) really messed up big time"
(another person overhearing that) "yeah even if you don't agree with them, still better to be with them"
"so tourism is ruined right?"
"¡democracy has finally returned!"
"now the country will be unified"
"the facists are gone!"
"they lied to us, so they lost, now we have a government we can trust"
(right after early results came out "¡oh mierda the socialists are back! you know what that means right?"
"America is a good country, I may not like everything, I don't even know what it is like there, but they are good people, now we know, but look what we did"
on a talk radio show that usually has a left leaning political tendency
comedy skit about Zapatero, he's answering the phone
"hello, Sr Zapatero? I'm calling from the Artichoke growers guild, can we get some gov't support?"
"of course"
"hello, Sr Zapatero? I'm calling from the Gay Senior Citizens Association, can we get some gov't support?"
"of course"
"hello, Sr Zapatero? I'm calling from the Friends of People with Disabled Housepets Association, can we get some gov't support?"
"of course"
you get the idea........
anyway, i'll keep posting any relevant stuff as it happens.things should be interesting in the next few days as the gov't is formed, Zapatero promised an inclusive effective gov't today. the next few days will also be interestign as the 11-3 saga unfolds. Keep in mind ETA was active during all the years the socialists were in power, so news from the basque country will be interesting too.

[livius]

Very interesting!

I was wondering what was going to happen with ETA now, too, because the Socialists would sort of publicly rap their knuckles every now and then but really tolerated ETA for years, particularly when they were only killing PP politicians and police or military figures. We shall see what they do this time around.

Ping!