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"I don't know how many people here would be interested,but I did a bit of research on "el Partido Socialista Obrero Espanol" ( sorry-I don't know how to add the proper "tilde" mark to Espanol !)otherwise known as the Socialist Workers' Party ; on the Maoist terror group ETA (Euzkadi Ta Askatsuna), and on EE (Euskadiko Ezkerra) the political arm of ETA"

I would be interested. This should be good (forgive the tone, but I would really like to know where you get your information) I live in Spain and follow politics very closely here. As far as I know, the political wing of ETA (ultra-nationalists, not maoists) was until very recently Batasuna. They were outlawed either in late 2002 or early 2003, don't remember exactly, by the Partido Popular. They were reincarnated in the Basque parliament as Sozialista Abertzaleak, and outlawed again in a case that went to the supreme court after the Basque parliament refused to comply with the expulsion order. Batasuna's predecesors were Euskal Herritarrok and Herri Batasuna.

The Partido Socialista de Euskadi - Euskadiko Ezquerra is the regional branch of the national socialist party (PSOE), NOT the political wing of ETA. Many socialists (members of this party) have been assasinated by ETA (right along with PP members). Even most members of the Partido Popular would be shocked and angered to hear you call PSE-EE "the political arm of ETA".

As to wayoverontheright's comment:

"This looks like a frame up to me, since when did Socialists not consider their own citizens to be expendable to achieve their grand vision?"

The conservative (PP) government is still in office and will be for about the next month. Are they involved in the frame up too (this frame up that cost them the election)? They must be, because today they arrested (so far) five more morrocans in connection with the case...

I can find plenty of nasty things to say about the socialists without making stuff up.

forrest

One more thing, here's a partial reprint from a post I made on another thread. It is relevant to your comments re: supposed socialist ties to terrorism:

As to the Spanish Intelligence services I wouldn't expect any changes. Believe it or not, they were actually TOUGHER under the old socialist government that ended in 96. Part of the reason, aside from graft and poor economic policy, that they were thrown out was that the government was using mercenary death squads to cross the border with France, where ETA tends to hide, and whose government at the time wasn't very cooperative, and assasinate them. It caused a huge scandal when it came out. There is a great book, written by one of these mercenaries and recounting in part his experiences working as a "deniable link" for the Spanish Guardia Civil: Gayle Rivers (not his real name), ex-SAS, the book is titled the "War Against the Terrorists: How to Win It." It was out of print the last time I checked, but maybe it's back now. Yup, just checked, its available:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0812830938/ref=pd_sim_books_1/104-7688938-5931966?v=glance&s=books

Some of the analysis doesn't necesarily apply to al Qaeda as it is an older book, but is definitely worth reading. At the time it was written Arab terrorists tended to be nationalists, not islamic jihadists, but like I said, check it out.

The conservative (PP) government is still in office and will be for about the next month. Are they involved in the frame up too (this frame up that cost them the election)? They must be, because today they arrested (so far) five more morrocans in connection with the case...

What I am suggesting may be totally and completely wrong in the end, but the fact that a lame duck government's investigative arm is arresting people doesn't put the kabosh to it. Are they to a man loyal to the current regime? Are they loyal but simply being misled? I'm sorry I wouldn't trust our own CIA under this kind of pressure.

I just can't bring myself to give al-Qaida credit for understanding this complex election dynamic, then seeing enough benefit to act on it. The only one who had sufficient motive and COULD grasp the outcome, is Zapatero and/or his minions.

1300 troops. Big deal. Iraq is still a quagmire for them, and the clock is ticking toward the day when Iraqis take over, and it will then BE OVER for al-Qaida in Iraq.