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I was in Spain this weekend, and many Spaniards are disgusted by the Church's stupid statements on this. One article I read accused the bishops of grandstanding because they knew it would get them favorable press treatment from the left-wing groups they are always so desperately trying to court. Another article pointed out that the Pope himself is, quite simply, a European, and is reacting on the basis of age-old European anti-capitalism and anti-Americanism.

Don't believe what you read about the Spanish man-in-the-street being anti-US, btw; there as here, the press magnifies the discontent of the left and ignores the rest of the citizenry. People I spoke to were quite supportive and are proud of the fact that Spain is on our side and has had the courage to stand up to France and Germany, for the first time in 200 years.

I wish I could say the same about Italy - I just returned from two weeks spent in Italy. I was assailed all over the place about "BOOOOSHHHHH" as he is called. It took me awhile to understand that Italians have an outlandishly childish "bogeyman" attitude towards our President which has no basis in reality or knowledge. One friend said: "BOOOOOSHHHHH is for war, Saddam for peace." My husband's Italian improved miraculously after that remark.

Their attitude towards the Jews is no better. Lots of peace-loving graffiti like "Juden Rauss" (sic) & "Israeli Boia" (Israeli executioners). Yuck!