Posted on 03/15/2004 2:33:02 AM PST by kattracks
Spain's Socialist Party prime minister-elect has confirmed his intention to pull Spanish troops out of Iraq. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said: "The war in Iraq was a disaster, the occupation of Iraq is a disaster."The Socialist Party won a shock poll victory after voters appeared to turn on the government over its handling of the Madrid bombings.
Spain, with more than 1,300 troops in Iraq, supported the US-led war on Iraq despite much domestic opposition.
Mr Zapatero told Spanish radio that no decision would be taken until he was in power or without wide political consultation.
But the soldiers would be pulled out if there was no change in Iraq by the 30 June deadline for transfer of sovereignty.
Our world affairs correspondent, Paul Reynolds, says that the situation in Iraq may well have changed by 30 June, but whether that influences the new government remains to be seen.
By then the US and UK hope that the Security Council will have given UN approval to the handover plan.
In addition the interim Iraqi government will be asking foreign troops to stay as part of a UN-approved multinational force.
Outsider
Socialists won 42% of the vote, while the centre-right Popular Party won 38% in Sunday's general election, held in the wake of the Madrid train bomb attacks that killed 200 people.
The BBC's Chris Morris, in Madrid, says the bombings did more than shock Spain to the core; they proved to be the decisive factor in the general election that ousted the government.
Mr Zapatero was - until Thursday's bombings - considered an outsider for Spain's top job.
Despite his party's victory, however, there is expected to be much political horse-trading because the Socialists did not win an absolute majority.
While Mr Zapatero said his first priority was to tackle terrorism "in all its forms", he is thought likely to do it in a very different way than the outgoing government.
A larger than expected 77% of the electorate turned out to vote in the wake of last Thursday's attacks.
Our correspondent says the late swing to the Socialists raises one disturbing thought - if al-Qaeda was responsible for Thursday's attacks, it appears to have had significant influence in changing the government of a leading Western democracy.
Investigations are continuing into who was behind the bombings.
A videotaped claim of responsibility by a man identifying himself as al-Qaeda's military spokesman in Europe forced the government to change its stance on the most likely suspects.
The tape - claiming revenge for Spain's "collaboration with the criminals Bush and his allies" - was found in a litter bin on Saturday following a tip-off to a TV station.
'Suspect has al-Qaeda link'
Three Moroccans and two Indians are being held in connection with the attacks.
The three Moroccans being held have been named as Jamal Zougam, 30, Mohamed Bekkali, 31, and Mohamed Chaoui, 34.
The two Indians arrested were named as Vinay Kohly and Suresh Kumar.
Spain's El Pais newspaper reported that investigators had found links between Jamal Zougam and the Salafia Jihadia group held responsible for attacks in Casablanca last May in which more than 40 people died.
One of the targets of the Moroccan attacks was a Spanish cultural centre, where four Spaniards were among the dead.
Reports also linked Jamal Zougam to a Spanish cell of al-Qaeda which was headed by Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, also known as "Abu Dahdah".
Abu Dahdah has been indicted by the Spanish anti-terrorist prosecutor Baltasar Garzon on charges relating to the preparation of the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States.
El Pais said Jamal Zougam was cited at two points in Garzon's indictment, but was not charged.
Spain has been going downhill since the summer of '88 -- (that's 1588!).
Spain just threw al-Qaeda a major victory by showing them that their terrorism will be rewarded.
...right next to Spain's integrity and principles.
You could argue that Spain did more to help us in WWII than France. Franco refused to allow the Germans to use Spain as a launch pad to attack Gibraltar. Also, he protected Spanish Jews.
Which is why America IS a superpower. Values, courage, commitment, sacrifice, industrriousness lead to wealth and power. It is no accident.
Yeah..but it's sole purpose is to support the head.
You are confusing a backbone with a hard on.
Sure it will...though they've never STOPPED trying to attack in the US since 9/11...we've just managed to stop the attempts thus far. IMO, Italy's a softer target, and will be used by al Queda and their ally John F-ing Kerry to send the same message to US voters.
It must be remembered that the Spanish Sociaslist P.M. got into office with 42% of the vote. That is less than the 43% that got Bill Clinton elected in 1992 and less than the 49% that got Clinton re-elected in 1996.
This is not about "Spaniards". This is about Leftists. Spain has 'em. We have 'em. Sometimes our side wins and sometimes they win. Right now, a flaming one of ours is trying to win the White House in November.
Franco accepted aid from Hitler to fight the Soviet aided Leftists because that is where he could get aid during the Spanish Civil War. After World War II broke out, Franco paid Hitler lip service but did not let the Germans into Spain or allow them to use Spain to attack British Gibralter. Franco's Spain also declared Sefardi Jews whose ancestors had left Spain 450 years ago to be Spanish citizens and thereby saved thousands of them.
One thing that Franco did do for Hitler is take his most radical Right-wingers and send them off in the Blue Brigade to fight the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front thereby striking back at the USSR while cutting down the number of his most radical elements. If there was one "good" way to help Hitler, that was it.
This was obviously al-queda's plan. Look for repeat performances.
Yeah, not at all.
The correct terminology for the country formerly known as Spain is "al-Andalus".
Congratulations, Spain. You just encouraged al-Qaeda to start a whole new wave of attacks and you just showed the world what a bunch of Frenchies that you really are.
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