[livius]

Actually, everything looked like ETA - which had tried to carry off just such a train bombing twice within the two months prior to March 11, and had been caught trying to bring 1,500 pounds of dynamite into Madrid the very weekend before. All of the verifiable information was released as it came in and the actual bombers (or at any rate, the group) were identified within 12 hours.

What happened was that the Spanish media, which is just as anti-Aznar as ours is anti-Bush, began releasing leaks from the police investigation and just flat out rumors ("suicide bombers," etc., although of course there were none). After AQ's message telling Spain to surrender, the Socialists swung into action and within no time at all the aftermath of the bombings became a giant political rally and it was all focused on Iraq. There were even attacks upon PP (Aznar's party) headquarters and the usual street demonstrations that the left likes to substitute for rational argument.

Prior to the attack, Iraq had dropped into the background and was no longer really considered a major issue in the election at that point. Many Spaniards were even proud of Spain's international role.

What you had was carefully manipulated hysteria. I think it could easily happen here, too.

BTW, everybody, please remember that more than 10 million Spaniards did NOT vote for Zapatero, and are probably even more upset than we are about this.

[freedom moose]

pay attention to livius
she's right

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks, yall ! ;^)

[glock rocks]

What you had was carefully manipulated hysteria. I think it could easily happen here, too.

Tried to buy a Glock or Armalite in California lately?