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Aznar's government did tell the truth. As soon as police reports came out, they were released. However, the media, particularly Cadena Ser, had been out spreading hysteria ("suicide bombers," which later turned out to be non-existent) and no one wanted to listen to the truth, which was all out within twelve hours of the attack. Right away the left started chanting "Aznar miente," "Aznar lies," which they obviously got from the leftist chant here, "Bush lies." But he didn't lie about anything: ETA had tried to carry out two identical train attacks earlier in the year, and it was logical to think it was ETA. And as soon as VERIFIED truth (not rumors) came out, it was released, but it was swallowed up in the noise of the left.

The real reason the Spanish voted the way they did was media manipulation and mini-riots conducted by the Socialist party (along with other smaller left-wing parties and "peace" groups). The night before the elections, there were 10,000 "spontaneous" demonstrators in front of one PP office alone. They were so spontaneous they all had identical professionally lettered banners and placards. There are even cell-phone records of Socialist party leaders calling their devotees into the streets. All of this during a time when even routine campaigning had been called off as a sign of mourning, and on a day (election eve) when campaigning is forbidden under Spanish law.

This was organized, not by AQ, but by the left, which always uses the street to get what it can't get at the ballot box. They terrified people, even assaulted PP members and threatened voters in other parts of Spain on election day, and manipulated the elections. Were the Spanish terrified by the bombings? Of course, but they would never have capitulated without the lies of the left.

So if you're looking for liars, look to the left. But you probably already know that.

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.