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.

[Redcoat LI]

I hope you are right,on further attacks against Spain,but wrong about the rest of Europe caving.

The Spaniards have cut the throats of their fellow Euro-peons.

[Dane]

I bet the terrorists will try the same thing on Britain since it worked on Spain. They know it won't work on the US, but they may think to knock Britain out of the war too by a similar method of attack. The UK should be on sharp lookout for attacks next time they have elections.

There will be no elections in the UK this year unless Tony Blair's own party boots him out, which I think is doubtful.

The last elections were held either in 2001 or 2002 and elections in the UK must be held every 5 years.

[blaster88]

Probably the ELA. Sounds like their handiwork - prewarned, aimed at a US related property.

But then again, the Greeks did just elect conservatives, so they may suddenly be under target.

[Ed Thomas]

Kropcke wrote:

"We shall fight with great confidence and great strength in the...welfare system???", Churchill. No, I don't think so."

Actually, now you come to mention it...

“I am on the side of those who think that a greater collective sentiment should be introduced into the State and the municipalities. I should like to see the State undertaking new functions.”

or indeed;

“My heart was filled with admiration of the patient genius which had added these social bulwarks to the many glories of the german race. . . . [I am setting out to] thrust a big slice of Bismarckianism over the whole underside of our industrial system.” (upon visiting the Bismarckian welfare state and central economic planning system)

Both Churchill quotes. As a student of history, I really couldn't resist pointing that out ;). Not hugely relevant to the thread I admit, but I do wish some of the posters on here wouldn't use Churchill as a shorthand for everything they believe in when in fact he was a supporter of the post-war British welfare state (and European integration, for that matter from what I remember).

As for the Spanish elections, I can't help but think there's a little over-reaction going on here- The Spanish population overwhelmingly opposed the war in Iraq so it shouldn't be too much of a surprise to see them (closely) elect a party that takes this position as well. From what I can see it isn't as if their presence in Iraq was that much more then symbolic in any case.

[Iberian]

The tactics already worked here!! what are you saying that we are immune to a strike 2 days before election??
Smell the roses. What happened in Spain should be used as a model for things to come for all the allies.
We must exterminate all of them.

[stands2reason]

The Islamofascists will have Europe in a generation or two without a fight anyway. Europe, my ancestry, will become their legacy.
And so it goes....

[empirekin768]

Aznar: "Whoever they are, wherever they come from, we will not let terrorists and fanatics cow Spanish society, divide it or destroy its freedom." excerpted from

[ZULU]

The Spaniards have shown themselves even more craven than Americans. At least the margin here is much closer.

But I wouldn't worry about Spain being hit again.

They capitulated.

The Islamofascist ganters will move on to Poland, Italy, Eastern Europe, Britain.

Needless to say, the Frence and Germans need not troub;e themsleves unduly.

As co-conspirators, they are safe.
It will be us against the world - IF Bush gets re-elected. If not, better learn Arabic and buy a copy of the Koran.

[Redcoat LI]

Makes sense now.

[Redcoat LI]

Makes sense now.

[Redcoat LI]

Makes sense now.

[raloxk]

" bet the terrorists will try the same thing on Britain since it worked on Spain"

It wont work in Britain either. Italy is the next target most likely.

On the bright side, this attack clearly means the US is winning in Iraq and elsewhere. We need to step up the pressure. Dont forget historically, the enemy lashed out when they are losing.

Japan used kammazakis at Okinawa not Pearl Harbor or Phillipines. The largest German attack in Western Europe was Dec 1944, not May 1940.

[empirekin768]

If we got 77% to the polls, elections would not even be close and the GOP would run the table every election.
Unfortunately, I think the GOP would be doomed. Laziness and letting others carry the load-- these are more predominant among the Socialists/Democrats No kidding, a 77% turnout in any Western country would be a Left-wing landslide.

[kropcke]

But Azner was pretty much expected to win hands-down...and he just got destroyed instead.

Terror worked. Sux - but it did.

[Unam Sanctam]

But it's not that they opposed the Iraq war, it is that they allowed the terrorists to dictate the result of their election. Pre-bombing polls showed the PP ahead.

[raloxk]

"But Azner was pretty much expected to win hands-down...and he just got destroyed instead."

He wasnt running, he retires. I dont know that his party was expected to win hands down

[normy]

You my friend are under estimating the will of the Spaniards. They are not French, they have a history for fighting. More so than we have

I didn't underestimate anything. If the socialist want to pull out of the WOT then the Spaniards will lose their seat at the table as a power broker. They had a chance to move into position as one of the top 3 or 4 countries, replacing Germany and France.

I do not care about their history, if we elect a socialist like Kerry , we will be giving up on the WOT no matter how bad the people want to fight it. Put it this way, Clinton had the chance to honor those dead in Somalia by exacting vengence but he was a coward and we became cowards because he was our leader. After 9/11 we became warriors because our leader is a warrior. It makes no difference if you or I want to keep fighting.

[empirekin768]

Relax Zulu, the PSOE will not be able to withdraw from the WOT after this. Remember the intital reaction after 9-11 in the States?

Actually, the PSOE will be able to take a harder line against AQ precisely becuase they don't have the Iraq baggage of the PP.

[kropcke]

correction - his successor - not Azner.

[raloxk]

The Spanish Civil War and the ycarnage it produced, caused Spain to be a pacifist nation