Spain 'May Not Pull Out Iraq Troops'

News Scotsman ^ | March 23 2004 | Andrew Evans

[knighthawk]

Spain’s new socialist government may not carry out its threat to withdraw from the coalition forces in Iraq, Foreigh Office minister Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean suggested today.

“Of course there have been a number of things said by the incoming government which have caused some eyebrows to be raised on various issues,” she told the Lords.

“The incoming Prime Minister of Spain (Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero) has made it very clear that no formal decisions will be taken about the way in which they deal with Iraq issue until he has come into office and had the opportunity to consult more widely.

“So to all of those who say that this is a fait accompli and that Spanish troops will be withdrawn, I do say let’s just wait a bit and see what the government actually decides to do.

“I also understand that the incoming government will be very interested to see what the attitude is likely to be in relation to the United Nations.”

Lord Howell of Guildford, for the Tories, described Spain’s new leader as “a little loose with his rhetoric”. He hoped Spain would not revert to its “traditional isolationism”.

[CasearianDaoist]

Bet Blair and Straw had a little chat with him. He proanly also got to see Chirac up cloase and personal.

[Beenthere1]

Is it me or does the new Spanish prime minister's name translate to "shoemaker" or "cobbler"?

Yes. You're correct.

[AmishDude]

You can thank 3 consecutive years of Spanish I for that!

[Levy78]

Too bad Kerry's old man didn't 'pull out'.

[anonymous_user]

I realize it was probably a rhetorical (and funny) question, but according to AltaVista's Babelfish, it's "galleta."

[JasonC]

These people aren't even brave enough to surrender - lol. Beyond parody. The Spanish left will come to a decision - when the clouds part, and a great white hand comes down and points to one. Until that Day...

[navyblue]

Sounds like someone (Powell?) had a heart to heart talk with the Spainards and made them an offer they couldn't refuse.

Ya mean like closing down our Air Force bases and our Naval base at Rota?

[OldFriend]

Zapatero seemed to have forgotten that he won and remained in campaign mode. This has made Spain a subject of ridicule and shamed the brave Spanish forces in Iraq.

[Guillermo]

Yes, or shoe salesmen, ala Al Bundy ;)

[alloysteel]

Spain has plenty more trains - al-Qaeda will be back to blow up another one, and another, until the Shoemaker comes around and starts showing a little reliability. Tick-tock, tick-tock, El Señor Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

[Guillermo]

Galleta is cracker.

[anonymous_user]

Galleta is cracker.

Cracker for what? ;)

[alloysteel]

A "Florida cracker" or a "Georgia cracker" - from before the term "redneck" was invented. What'd you think a "cracker" was?

The English, she is such a strange language.

[anonymous_user]

What'd you think a "cracker" was?

Coming from South Dakota, I thought it was a Saltine cracker, but in catching five minutes of MTV one afternoon, I guess it's a derrogatory name for white people.

Anyway, I don't find it offensive, and I certainly speak "Cracker" better than Spanish. :)

BTW, what's a Florida or Georgia Cracker?

[cajungirl]

I wonder what Powell or Bush said to him or was it his own people. Interesting. Today OPEC backed down on lowering the amount of oil pumped. Me thinks he got a whipping too. Boy I love our big dogs in the WH,,they don't pamper these nancy boys.

[Dr. Marten]

"Put 'em in - Pull 'em out - Put 'em in - Pull 'em out"

Somehow I feel like we are being screwed.....

[listenhillary]

"Put 'em in - Pull 'em out - Put 'em in - Pull 'em out" Somehow I feel like we are being screwed.....

My thought exactly - someone may need to hand them a towel.