Socialists claim Spanish victory (America's allies lose)

theaustralian.news.com.au ^ | March 15, 2004 | AFP

[Destro]

Source: AFP

Socialists claim Spanish victory

March 15, 2004

SPAIN'S opposition Socialist Party today claimed victory in the nation's general election and said it was in a position to form a government.

An official count of 77 per cent of the ballots showed the opposition Socialists (PSOE) with a clear lead.

The ruling Popular Party (PP) had 37.1 per cent of the vote and the Socialists 43.1 per cent, the interior ministry said.

The turnout stood at 77 per cent.

[empirekin768]

"It will be a victory if Al Qaeda thinks it is a victory."

By that measure we've already lost. They see 9-11 as a great victory. Just as in 9-11, on 3-11 they just cut their own throats in Europe.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Unfortunately, his #1 enemy is Usama bin Dubya.

[jwalsh07]

Zapatero is withdrawing Spanish troops engaged in the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is militarily insignificant, it is politically powerful.

It is politically powerful because a plurality of Spaniards are cowardly socialist pigs who have sent a message that terrorism works. They have made the world a more dangerous place and made the likelihood of terror attacks in the US before our elections almost inevitable.

Screw the Chamberlainesque socialist pigs.

[empirekin768]

Don't get depressed or disgusted, we're still winning.

[raloxk]

Actually I read that there has been some debate within Al Qaeda about the wisdom of attacking on 9/11. Some members think they jumped the gun and should have waited until they had nuclear weapons.

[empirekin768]

I don't think so Luis. Zapatero will surprise you.

[finnman69]

the Spanish have learned from the French.

[Viking2002]

The UN needs to be kicked off of U.S. soil, and the site disinfected with bleach.

[jwalsh07]

"Zapatero has said that if elected he will withdraw Spain's troops from Iraq by the summer unless there is a clear U.N. mandate for their presence."

Al Qaeda becomes emboldened just like they did in the 90's vis a vis attacks on Americans.

[empirekin768]

Well that's interesting. A good point too, once they do get nuclear weapons and we start seeing cities like Madrid and New York vaporized in instants, all this becomes very minor.

That's when the real war starts along the lines a lot of people on here seem to want to see. With fun stuff like: martial law, mass deportations, regional invasions and occupations etc.

[TonyM]

I only have one thing to say to the voters in Spain. You have possibly succeeded in protecting yourself from harm or death by the terrorist by delaying their ultimate final wrath so that you children pay the ultimate price for your cowardice.

[empirekin768]

That was BEFORE the Madrid attacks. Things have changed and it's different once in power. Besides, we can get a UN mandate now.

[buccaneer81]

When did Australia crap out?

I was about to ask the same question. As far as I know, John Howard is still PM.

[empirekin768]

Wrong, the French are learning from Madrid. You ought to read what they're putting out in their press. Sea-change in perspective. The French finally feel threatened.

[empirekin768]

Furthermore on the Iraq troop deployments, think June was just picked out of a hat? That squares with our own timetable. It's an overture to Washington.

[jwalsh07]

"In a stunning political upset, voters chose to give power to the opposition Socialist Party, whose leader, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has promised to immediately withdraw Spain's 1,300 troops from Iraq, orient Spain's foreign policy away from the United States and restore good relations with anti-war European allies, France and Germany"

snip

"The terrorists have killed 200 people and defeated the government -- they have achieved all their objectives," said Gustavo de Arustegui, a PP member of parliament and foreign policy spokesman for the government. "I think the terrorist attacks were politically planned," he said. "We have transformed terrorists into political actors with this."

Again, does this make it more or less likely that Americans will die before the November elections? That is the question you need to answer. To me, the answer is clear.

[AlbionGirl]

Goya's Colossus looms large and center once again. I don't know how to post pictures, but if someone can get a hold of a good online picture of it, it says all that needs to be said on this subject.

Is this PM the new Colossus shielding the Nation of Spain from zealots and murderer? We'll see...

[KQQL]

Would you people relax man. Spain is not going to withdraw from the WOT. Read Zapatero's statements on terrorism. He was criticized within his party earlier this year for SUPPORTING Aznar's policies on ETA.

This is no victory for AQ, it's purely a cosmetic change.

--------

Where do you live?....AQ will claim this as a Victory, the Socialist dude has said he will withdraw from Iraq by JUNE unless UN takes over in IRAQ and he was against the war on Iraq...

The only reason the socialist won, was because of the AQ /Islamist attack on Spain......(the AQ/Islamist said the reason SPAIN was attacked was for Spain's support of US in war on Iraq..and Spainards agreed with him

[kittymyrib]

Aznar was a courageous Spaniard, the exception to the rule, since 90% in his country polled AGAINST the war in Iraq and didn't want to send soldiers. So the election was uphill for his party, but to have the peaceniks lead the country now is a disaster. That fat old Muslim broad is surely ululating in the street again tonight (anyone have the picture?).

[KQQL]

W/O The attack his party was going to be relected again but lost due to the attacks...

IS BLAIR NEXT to lose?
OR SILVIO to lose