PURPORTED AL QAEDA LETTER CALLS TRUCE IN SPAIN! (BLACKMAIL ALERT!)

Yahoooo via Reuters ^ | 3/17/04

[areafiftyone]

CAIRO (Reuters) - A group claiming to have links with al Qaeda said Wednesday it was calling a truce in its Spanish operations to see if the new government would withdraw its troops from Iraq (news - web sites), a pan-Arab newspaper said.

In a statement sent Wednesday to the Arabic language daily al-Hayat, the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, which claimed responsibility for the Madrid bombings that killed 201 people, also urged its European units to stop all operations.

"Because of this decision, the leadership has decided to stop all operations within the Spanish territories... until we know the intentions of the new government that has promised to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq," the statement said.

"And we repeat this to all the brigades present in European lands: Stop all operations."

In a shock election result just days after the Madrid attacks, Spain elected the Socialist party, which has since said it will probably withdraw its troops from Iraq.

The Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades have previously claimed responsibility for bombings in Turkey and Iraq.

"The Spanish people... chose peace by choosing the party that was against the alliance with America," the statement said. The newspaper planned to publish it Thursday.

Outgoing Spanish Prime Minister Josa Maria Aznar was a staunch ally of the United States in the Iraq war, although a majority of the Spanish people were opposed to sending Spanish troops there.

"Praise be to God who gave us this victory in the conquest of Madrid... where one of the pillars of the axis of Crusader evil was destroyed," the statement said, affirming its earlier claim for the Madrid attacks.

A U.S. official in Washington has previously said the group's link with al Qaeda is unclear.

[RightOnline]

Let me see the Socialists and their media cronies spin this.

[Kadric]

What are the chances that the PP could still be in power in a coalition government if enough of their 3rd parties join with them? At what point is it a fact that the socialist get the lead roll, is it the party with the most reps. or can a coalition over ride them? I know during the election they were talking about an absolute majority but I do not believe the socialist got to that point.

[FreeReign]

It is so interesting to be smack dab in the middle of history. Some day people will read about the cowardly Spanish appeasers and how they voted for terrorists and how they wanted to give up when the going got tough.

Some day people will search the archives at Free Republic, find your comment and say something like, "good post -- for back then".

[spokeshave]

"and civilization was saved for another generation to enjoy free of Islamic bondage and opression due to the leadership oif President George W. Bush and the courage of the Americans and their coalition.

Don't forget the Belly Button Girl

[A_Niceguy_in_CA]

"...they were talking about an absolute majority but I do not believe the socialist got to that point."

The Socialists won a 164-148 plurality.(Not an absolute majority in the 350-member Chamber).

The Peoples Party LEADs the Senate elections, with 102-81 of the direct public votes for 208 seats this week. The remaining 51 Senate seats, are appointed by the Legislative Assemblies of the 17 Spanish Autonomous Communities – Comunidades Autónomas - in the following way: these Assemblies appoint one Senator each, plus one more for every million inhabitants who live within the Autonomous Community.

[dalebert]

Its quite possible that the liberal party of Spain staged the entire incedent.

[Enterprise]

In can imagine no scenario wherein we should consider handing the football to Kerry. He should not even be allowed to be the water boy. Well, I'll be generous and I might let him wash the clothes of the players, or let him handle their dirty uniforms and sweaty stinking jock straps.

The use of mini nukes would be a profound turning point in this war against terrorists. It would mean that a tactical situation had developed in which U.S. troops or their allies were in danger of annihilation, or had come under attacks by NBC agents. I hope this never develops.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Long gone are the days of the Conquistadors, trading in their weapons for white flags.

[Quix]

LORD GOD,

PLEASE

INSURE THAT MASSES OF PEOPLE avoid becoming mindless idiots about appeasement!

PLEASE INSURE THAT THEY SEE THE FUTILITY OF MOLLYFYING EVIL TERRORISTS.

PLEASE INSURE THAT RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS EVERYWHERE REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDING FIRM AGAINST EVIL AND TERROR.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

[livius]

No, the socialists didn't make it, but they still get to form the governing coalition. The only somewhat remote hope is that their coalition will be so fragile that it won't hold up and new elections will have to be called. But that's very remote.

[livius]

It was a sad day when the Spanish Socialists changed Spain's patron saint from Santiago Matamoro (St. James the Moorslayer) to Santiago Besamoro (St. James the Moor Kisser).

Too true. Did anybody happen to read the whining (in the Spanish press) of Muslims who were interviewed in Madrid after the attack and said that anti-Muslim bias was being stirred up against them?