THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Our Iberian allies

The Daily Telegraph ^ | March 18, 2003 | The Daily Telegraph

[MadIvan]

It is no easy thing to take on domestic and international opinion simultaneously, and Tony Blair, as many have remarked, is behaving with great courage. Yet this is even more true of the other two European participants in the Azores war summit: Spain's Jose Maria Aznar, and Portugal's Jose Manuel Durao Barroso.

The two Iberians are taking huge risks. Unlike Mr Blair, who is able to rely on the sincere support of the Opposition, they have to face socialist parties desperate to wring every drop of electoral advantage they can from the war. Nor are their publics accustomed, as the British are, to going to war alongside the Americans - or, if it comes to it, to going to war at all.

Mr Aznar has grown perceptibly in recent months. Quietly and courteously, he has taken on his many domestic opponents to explain why Spain has an interest in the outcome of the coming conflict. Like Mr Blair, he knows terror at first hand; and, unlike Mr Blair, he has refused to capitulate to his own gunmen.

Mr Aznar has never lost sight of why the free world must fight, and it is a tribute to his authority that, when the Spanish parliament held a secret ballot on the war, every one of his party's deputies backed him.

After years of Euro-subservience, Spain has finally come out from under France's shadow. Along with our old friends the Portuguese, the Spaniards are acting like brave and responsible Atlantic allies. All Britons - even those living in Gibraltar - should salute them for it.

[MadIvan]

I hope you will join me in saluting the courage of Prime Minister Aznar and Prime Minister Barroso. They could have chosen expediency over principle; they took the harder, but the right path.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Maeve]

Bump for Aznar!

Bump for Barroso.

[SICSEMPERTYRANNUS]

Where has our Italian friend Berlosconi been? Haven't heard from him in a while.

[wimpycat]

Don't know about Barroso, but it is my understanding that Aznar isn't seeking re-election, so he's not under the same pressure as Blair...so Aznar doesn't give a sh!t if it hurts him politically. He feels like he's doing the right thing and he can afford to take the political hit.

Not that it makes him any less courageous. The Spaniards all curse like sailors, so I'm sure he's getting an earful.

[KriegerGeist]

Dust of those Toledo blades!

To Saddam: "My name is Indigo Montoya, you killed many people...Prepare to die!"

[David1]

LOL

I remember how much I used to laugh everytime I heard that line used in that movie.

"My name is Indigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die" LOL

[Happygal]

I'm SO glad I've booked a vacation in Portugal this year! :-)

[Scott from the Left Coast]

That Barroso of Portugal looks like a good guy to have around in brawl.

[Hurricane Andrew]

Other than being Inigo (did you really want to confuse him with the Indigo Girls???) right on! As for Berlosconi, I recall a ticker item over the weekend where he reiterated to Bush in a phone conversation the need for strong action with or without another UN resolution. I am somewhat disappointed that we haven't heard more from him, but I know the Italians are behind us, regardless of internal politics (of which I admittedly know very little).

He should have at least pointed out, however, that Chianti is far superior to Burgundy or Merlot. Then again, with a last name of Rossetti, I am a bit partial...

[meema]

I salute these 2 brave men! How proud I am of their courage...doing the right thing is not easy in this day and age. I also salute and pray for Tony Blair, who must live through one more nightmare tomorrow.
Thanks, Ivan, for the ping.

[MissouriForBush]

Good for you! One of the best ways to thank our allies like Britain, Spain and Portugal is to spend our hard-earned tourist dollars in their countries -- not in France or Germany.