Cell May Be Planning 'Holy War' in Spain (Evidence of Easter attack)

The Calgary Herald / Associated Press ^ | April 8, 2004 | wire report

[Tibbo]

The government in the persons of both Aznar and Acebes both publicly laid blame against ETA on the day of the attack, without any question that there was the possibility that this was an attack carried out by Islamic terrorists - Despite the fact that evidence to the contrary existed. This was in effect misleading the people - and lying. If they had been worried about the VERIFIED truth, they would have kept politics, and the mention of ETA, out of the argument.

The ban on electioneering could be seen on the one hand as a sensible act of respect, but when coupled with the constant affirmations that the attack was carried out by ETA, the banning of all electioneering can be viewed as a cynical attempt by the Government to stifle questions.

And finally, once more, to suggest that the Spanish election results are some capitulation to terror, is simplistic and untrue. The socialist position that troops should be recalled from Iraq, unless the U.N is brought in, is a legitimate position, held by many across Europe, and indeed in America - and has nothing to do with capitulation. It has everything to do with believing that the US led war in Iraq is wrong, and that to question one's government is a democratic right.

[livius]

Odd how lightly you let off the left for their rioting, the flat out lies of the Socialist Polanco-controlled media, and the outrageous behavior of both the media and the left on the eve and day of elections. In fact, you don't even mention them.

Spain didn't capitulate to the terrorists, and I never said it did. It capitulated to the left, which is exhibiting exactly the same pattern of behavior it displayed in Spain in the early 1930s.

[rudypoot]

The simple fact is that the majority of people in Spain were against the war in Iraq before the bombings and after.

It didn't matter to the terrorists. Then they elected a socialist government to appease them. Yet the terrorists still want to attack them. NOT attacking Iraq didn't matter to the terrorists. Pulling our troops out of Saudi Arabia and closing Prince Sultan Airbase didn't matter to the terrorists.

A free Iraq would benefit the US profoundly, both in the immediate and long term for the entire middle-east. Islamic terrorism will not stop until there is a fundmental change this region. The Iraq war is the first step in that direction. Don't fight the symptom, fight the cause. (And no, poverty doesn't cause terrorism. If that were true then christian palastinians would be suicide bombers too.)

So if you oppose the war in Iraq, then what would you like to see happen?

[rudypoot]

And finally, once more, to suggest that the Spanish election results are some capitulation to terror, is simplistic and untrue.

Oh really? Aznar's party was up before the bombing, and ended up losing by 5% two days after the bombing. What possible reason can you contribute to this sudden change of 3 million spanish voters.

[george wythe]

Thank you for offering your informed opinion about the Spanish election.

[Friend of thunder]

Pretty bazaar for a government that is supposedly doing a cover up.

DB I think you are at least partially mistaken. Foreign Minister Ana Palacio, claimed "the Interior Ministry has confirmed the responsibility of ETA." At best it was bad crisis management. Whether it was deliberate misrepresentation or not it was seen as such.

Many were angered by what they felt was a government cover up. However, if al-Qaeda sees it as a sing as fear - as opposed to anger - the effect is the same.

[DB]

And from the same article:

"I don't think it was conscious manipulation," says Jesús Barquín Sanz, director of the University of Granada's Criminology Institute. Blaming ETA "was the result of a pre-established mind-set."

Just before Christmas they caught the ETA attempting to bomb the same trains in a similar manner. After a successful similar attack only a few months later it would be natural to assume the same perpetrators.

The fact remains that it was the very same government that is being accused of covering up who provided the contrary evidence to the public that indicated the ETA was probably not responsible. And for all we really know at this point both ETA and al Quaeda could have been working together.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

"If they had been worried about the VERIFIED truth,"

The only verified truth that anyone had on the day of the election was that on 2 recent occasions ETA had tried to place bombs on the railroads and that the bombs were made the way that ETA makes them. The only other evidence prior to the election was a tape claiming responsibility and that has not been verified yet.

Who is concerned about Verified truth here?

[Friend of thunder]

The fact remains that it was the very same government that is being accused of covering up who provided the contrary evidence to the public that indicated the ETA was probably not responsible.

Eventually; the delay – whether intentional, to try and save the election, or the result of a pre-established mind-set – was perceived, at least partially, as a cover up. I was responding to your response to Tibbo (and yes I realize he has only been here 2 days an could possibly be a DU troll) I don’t think it is accurate to blame the election results exclusively on fear. I do realize that is how al-Qaeda will see it.