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Europe
Bush invited to mark Madrid massacre anniversary
2005-02-04
Via Barcepundit, might be old news:
The Madrid Club of former Spanish heads of state has invited US President George W Bush to mark the first anniversary of the 11 March terrorist bombings. The move could be seen as an effort to try to boost the poor relations between Spain and the US, which have not improved since the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq last year soon after the present Socialist government came to power. It also came as the Spanish daily El Pais reported Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero was considering changing tack on Iraq in order to lift the chill on US-relations. Zapatero is not thought to be considering re-deploying Spanish troops, but suggesting some aid to Iraq in order to thaw relations with the US.

The Madrid Club has also invited heads of other EU countries and the 15 members of the UN Security Council. They include Vladamir Putin, the Russian premier, Hu Jintao, the Chinese head of state, the Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Indonesian premier. UN Secretary General Kofi Anan is known to be attending the ceremony in Madrid to mark what was SpainÂŽs worst terrorist atrocity in which 191 people were killed and 1,500 injured when ten bombs went off on four commuter trains. Islamic extremists were behind the series of devastating attacks. So far, 100 people have been arrested in connection with the terrorist attacks.

Spain is not among the countries on US Secretary of State Condoleeza RiceÂŽs forthcoming tour of Nato countries between 3-10 February. Bush is also coming to Europe later this month, but is not expected to meet Zapatero. The Madrid Club works to improve international understanding and is separate from the national government.
Posted by:anonymous2u

#11  I agree w/SteveS. Pay respect to the victims, when they woke up that morning they did not envision it would be their last time. After W pays his respects - get out of dodge. Snub zappie.
Posted by: Jeamp Ebbereting9472 aka Jarhead   2005-02-04 10:29:04 PM  

#10  TU - your #7 comment means the same applies to the 9/11 victims - you say forget 'em? This is precisely what I meant when I warned where that logic takes you. The people in the Madrid train massacre were victims on 3/11. On election day, the nation voted to become dhimmis.

Sorry, but you're wrong, IMHO. I guess we can agree to disagree, but I do not accept that the 9/11 and 3/11 victims are different. What differentiates the two situations is how their people and elected Govts responded.
Posted by: .com   2005-02-04 9:53:46 PM  

#9  "Spain is not among the countries on US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice´s forthcoming tour of Nato countries..."

Spain, coulda been a contenda. They went with Aznar having a place with Bush and Blair to begging to give Iraq money to make the US a bit friendlier. They coulda been somebody.
Posted by: Jabba the Tutt   2005-02-04 9:44:25 PM  

#8  A clarification on #4. The R.U.N. comment was from an old joke. Something about bending over and spelling "RUN" (are you in) three times real fast.

JerseyMikes, bend over and spread `em remark caused some spontaneous neuron activity resulting in my post.
Posted by: Analog Roam   2005-02-04 6:44:15 PM  

#7  Gotta disagree a bit there .com. The best way to remember an anniversary such as this is to simply treat it as any other day. Give no respect, no remembrance, no chance for comment, and no spotlight to the event (and in turn those who perpetuated it). The dead are gone, their families have grieved, in the context of a leftist European state this event will serve no purpose other than as a platform from which to trumpet the need for tolerance and understanding of Islamist killers.
Posted by: Thraing Uloluper1664   2005-02-04 5:55:14 PM  

#6  JM / AR - Gotta differ with you guys. It was after the attack that the public beat feet and brought Zappie to power. The election, held only days after the event - before the Spaniards could make sense of it and see the big picture, was shameful, the attack was cowardly on the part of the attackers. I see no kow-tow involved in honoring the victims - for they were victims. Spain didn't ask for it - not until afterwards, IMHO. Your logic leads to a place you don't want to go, methinks.
Posted by: .com   2005-02-04 5:04:16 PM  

#5  How to mark this sad anniversary? Dip your finger in purple ink, show up and stand solemnly next to Aznar and beat feet out of town the moment it's over.
Posted by: SteveS   2005-02-04 4:47:44 PM  

#4  "By bending over, spreading your cheeks and yelling...
...R.U.N., R.U.N., R.U.N.!
Posted by: Analog Roam   2005-02-04 4:25:11 PM  

#3  How do you celebrate this shameful anniversary and the disgusting stab at appeasement that followed?
By bending over, spreading your cheeks and yelling Thank you sir, may I have another?
Posted by: JerseyMike   2005-02-04 8:02:39 AM  

#2  One other observation is that he clearly likes and respects Aznar, so if Aznar will be there that might sway the decision, as well.
Posted by: .com   2005-02-04 1:44:15 AM  

#1  Interesting. I'll bet this got quite a bit of "play" from the various entities advising the President - and would have had one or two eye-opening assessments. Knowing Bush, he just might go - if only to show respect for those who died at the hands of terrorists. Hard to say if the situation would offer quality meeting time or if he even wants to meet with any of the other attendees. Certainly, Zappie is not on his list - if / when that happens, it will be on US turf and the invitation initiated by the US.
Posted by: .com   2005-02-04 1:41:56 AM  

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