Posted on 09/01/2006 8:04:53 AM PDT by callthemlikeyouseethem
MADRID, Spain (AP) - The Spanish government agreed Friday to contribute up to 1,100 troops to the strengthened U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon and lead one of its multinational brigades.
The decision, made at a weekly Cabinet meeting, is expected to be approved by the parliament in a Thursday vote.
Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said that, assuming the mission is approved, Spain will immediately send marines to Lebanon. They will be replaced in November by other Spanish troops, who will take command of a multinational brigade, she said.
Defense Minister Jose Antonio Alonso is to give details of the deployment to parliament members before the vote.
The Socialist government took power in 2004 and quickly withdrew 1,300 troops from Iraq that the previous, conservative administration had sent without consulting the parliament. The administration also enacted a law requiring parliamentary approval for overseas troop deployments.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
Depending on where he's from, Jose Antonio could simply be a common local name pairing. However, it is equally possible that his parents were conservative, since the name Jose Antonio usually does have a political connotation in Spain. And they would have been aware of this when they named him.
For those who don't know, Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera was the son of Miguel Primo de Rivera and the leader of the Falange. He was executed by the Communists in 1936.
If they send elite troops, you might be surprised.
They'll go home at the first sound of a fire-cracker or the sight of a smoke bomb.
The last time they were any good were during the Spanish Civil War.
Unfortunately, Franco died a long, long, long time ago.
Santiago matamoros!...oops!
More "shield the terrorists while they regroup" troops. Not impressed.
I think our troops were happy to see them in Iraq this time around.
Obviously you are overly sensitive about the Spanish and unable to understand sarcasm. Based on your ability to communicate with such colorful phrases I would say you've never even been in the military.
As for the Spanish commandos and fast roping out of helicopters. The Spaniards are very competent and very brave. Fast roping is extremely hazardous.
Boarding an unarmed vessel is not the best way for you to communicate that, hence my sarcasm. Most others on the thread understood it as such.
Lighten up Francis (aka; 1rudeboy).
No problem here.
My post was not directed to you. Just thought you would be interested.
It's not sarcasm with which I disagree (and it's laughable that you suggest that all the comments on this thread are attempts at sarcastic humor--irony in itself), it's uninformed knee-jerk reactions. I don't have in particular feeling toward the Spanish, but I will tell you this . . . I know a couple Europeans who wouldn't insult themselves or their own intelligence by making some of the comments you see on threads such as this one on a daily basis.
Can you imagine? You are a socialist coward because Bill Clinton was elected. Twice. LOL
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