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| Europe | |||
| Zapatero: I solemnly swear to reward al-Qaeda. | |||
| 2004-03-15 | |||
| Can you say "Maeglin"? MADRID, Spain - The leader of Spain’s victorious Socialists said Monday he will bring Spanish troops home from Iraq by June 30, fulfilling a campaign pledge a day after his party’s win in elections overshadowed by terrorist bombings. "We have overpopulated here in Spain!" "It’s evident that I considered the participation ... of our country an error," Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said at a news conference. Then his lips fell off. "I think the military intervention was a political error for the international order, for the search for cooperation, for the defense of the United States.... I maintain the idea was an error," he said. Zapatero said during his campaign that Spain’s 1,300 troops, sent in the aftermath of last year’s U.S.-led invasion, might stay if the United Nations assumed control of the peacekeeping operation. "Iraq needs tyrants and bloodshed!" Asked Monday to specify a date or condition for withdrawal, he said, "I don’t want to provide a date. I have expressed that June 30 is the limit ... established by the government of our country," he said, adding a date would be set after he formally takes over as prime minister, some weeks from now.
Millions of people across Spain took to the streets following the attacks. The government of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar was accused of misleading voters by insisting that armed Basque separatists were the prime suspects even as evidence mounted of an Islamic link. The Popular Party’s loss marks the first time a government that backed the U.S.-led Iraq war has been voted out of office. A vast majority of Spaniards opposed the war. Zapatero said Monday he would attempt to form a purely Socialist government, not a coalition with other parties.
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| Posted by:Korora |
| #27 Aris, Americans want to leave EU/NATO, pretty much sick of the wimpering. What you refer to is people who are upset about losing their power. What do you think Spain will do about the bombings? I don't think they'll do anything other than try to find the mules and maybe upset some cell. But other than cacooning, what? They're not going to go after anything. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-3-15 10:27:47 PM |
| #26 Ptah> Judaism survived the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon's temple -- I don't see any reason why Islam wouldn't survive the destruction of Mecca. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2004-3-15 8:08:06 PM |
| #25 Old Patriot> "Right now, they have no incentive to do it - they expect us to do it all.Right now, they have no incentive to do it - they expect us to do it all." Then why is it that all European defense agreements have been obstructed by American (and British) opposition to them, because it will supposedly duplicate or conflict with NATO? Ofcourse I believe that Europe should go ahead and have its Euroarmy and EU Defense pact, regardless of what Americans and Brits think about it -- but alas, you will then obviously consider it a "betrayal". Depend on Nato - we are weaklings. Depends on ourselves - we are stabbing you on the back. Can't win this one I'm afraid. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2004-3-15 8:04:08 PM |
| #24 "Messianic Christianity". Hmmm. Have to think about that term for a while... However, I have to disagree with you, ed, about this: What is the proper response to a religion and peoples who have vowed to kill and enslave all who do not believe as they do? We will destroy their cities, plunder their wealth, and enslave them. Any survivors will forcibly be converted to Christianity. That is the future of the Umma. *Shakes head* Forced conversions to Christianity only contaminates the religion with hypocrites (those who say one thing, but act and believe otherwise.) As if we didn't have enough of THOSE. No, the best way would be to do something so plainly and so obviously not Allah's will, that actually doing it disproves that Allah is not a viable god. Unfortunately, the only thing that comes to mind would be to nuke Mecca. During the Haj. Several times. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2004-3-15 6:07:22 PM |
| #23 If only Bush would articulate this type of thing. Then there could be a debate. Americans will vote to leave EU, bam like that. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-3-15 3:35:59 PM |
| #22 DPA - NATO was supposed to be a mutual defense treaty. Spain, France, Germany, and Belgium have now all decried it's only a defense of THEM, not us. It's money down the toilet. End the farce, pull out (we're 80% of the effective force, Britain's 15%, Italy and Turkey make up most of the rest) and force Europe to defend itself, if it has the willpower. We made it too easy on Europe, and now they're sliding into the same pile of slime they were in 1905 and 1935. It's time to end the farce. Europe can only be safe if Europe develops the cojones to defend itself. Right now, they have no incentive to do it - they expect us to do it all. Tell them to go piss up a rope. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-3-15 3:18:18 PM |
| #21 Old Patriot, pulling out of NATO is a bad idea. Pulling out of Europe is a great idea though. There is no reason for a single american troop to be on the European continent. We should also pull out of South Korea, though remain in Japan. |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2004-3-15 1:57:22 PM |
| #20 I think it's time to start hinting that the United States will pull out of NATO in the coming months. We can use those troops more effectively elsewhere. We will only maintain military and economic cooperation on a state-by-state basis, such as with the United Kingdom. It's time Europe had to face the responsibility of defending itself, instead of depending on the United States in a one-way relationship. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-3-15 1:52:52 PM |
| #19 The long term bright side may be that al-Q may now gravitate to anti-US, anti-WoT friendly countries like Spain, therefore somewhat centralizing the terrorists, as happened in Afghanistan. Of course, that sets up several delicious future scenarios where the WoT, versus sticking-your-head-in-the-sand appeasment, is proven to be the only legitimate course of action. Sadly, as I've stated before, all this will take a long time to pan out (and longer with the emergence of appeasment governments), and cost the lives of many innocents throught the cowardice and near sightedness of the Spanish electorate. Spain: enjoy your "peace dividend" while you can. |
| Posted by: Hyper 2004-3-15 12:29:20 PM |
| #18 "Zapatero said Monday he would attempt to form a purely Socialist government, not a coalition with other parties." . . . A purely Socialist government . . . NOT a coalition with other parties . . . Hey, but I thought SOCIALISTS were such "nice" people--all for sharing wealth and power and everything, for building bridges between people with differences, for making the world better and more "progressive" and safer, and more, more fun and stuff. . . . Are you listening, antiwar? |
| Posted by: ex-lib 2004-3-15 12:22:35 PM |
| #17 Bastards. Just insert 'Nationalist' between 'Spanish' and 'Socialist'. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2004-3-15 12:18:52 PM |
| #16 Even though I am disappointed at what I deem the Spanish electorate’s kowtowing, if there is any good to come from this massacre, it is that we move another step toward the time we take our gloves and blinders off. Bloodless, patrician, northeastern liberalism is dying. The future belongs to Messianic Christians of the south and interior. The Muslims have violated our most sacred beliefs. They have attacked us in the most bloody, shameful, and dishonorable manner. They have attacked our religion, and massacred and enslaved our co-religionists around the world. On Sept 11, 2001, the US dodged a bullet. The Muslims tried to kill 100,000 of us. It is by sheer luck and the skills of the structural engineers of the WTC that the towers did not fall over immediately, and that people had enough time to evacuate the area. Still, I think 7 or 8 other large buildings were so damaged they had to be razed. Two million tons of concrete, steel, glass, and people falling from such a height released the energy of a small nuclear blast. Eventually the people will see through the lies and propaganda that Islam is a Religion of Peace. We will study the history of Islam, thier conquests, and their enslavement of the infidels. Then a new leader will emerge and America will take the Jihad to the Muslim infidels. Islam will get to know the uncompromising way of war of the people from Texas, Tennesse, Ohio, and Montana. What is the proper response to a religion and peoples who have vowed to kill and enslave all who do not believe as they do? We will destroy their cities, plunder their wealth, and enslave them. Any survivors will forcibly be converted to Christianity. That is the future of the Umma. The Madrid bombings are just another brick in that wall. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-3-15 12:09:58 PM |
| #15 Way to go Spain! So, now the Spanish don't control their own destiny, they have decided to let AQ call the shots for them. How long ago was it that the Muslims ruled Spain? Shouldn't be much longer until they are back in power. |
| Posted by: AllahHateMe 2004-3-15 11:57:53 AM |
| #14 Cowards! They will regret voting for someone who had no clear plan for the country except to defeat Anzar, sound familiar?! The Socialist party left Spain in economic ruin 8 years ago and Anzar brought prosperity to Spain. That's exactly what the LEFT is doing here, "short term satisfaction" voting to help their egos and "feel safe" by appeasement. |
| Posted by: CobraCommander 2004-3-15 11:55:40 AM |
| #13 Evacuate Rota. Let's find some more steadfast friends. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-3-15 11:55:39 AM |
| #12 How does "Peace in our time" translate into Spanish? |
| Posted by: Dar 2004-3-15 11:30:06 AM |
| #11 Not just a boom here... a boom in every western democracy before elections will now become the norm. The Spanish are appeasing cowards. Their actions will and should be an embarrasment to them from this day forth. History will always record that the Spanish chose appeasement over victory and honor. |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2004-3-15 11:09:49 AM |
| #10 Well, kiss the Spaniards goodbye for now, I guess. I hope they figure out how they were used pretty soon, but don't hold your breath for the Socialistas to go away. It'll probably take a few years for them to tank the Spanish economy again. |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-3-15 11:02:15 AM |
| #9 But... but... where's the part where he says he's going to shut off Muslim immigration??? Didn't Mike S. PROMISE us they'd do that?? Oh, dear... |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2004-3-15 10:50:20 AM |
| #8 I'd expect a boom here as well. Although, Bush will be in office no matter what until Jan. We'd unleash a lot of hell on anyone remotely connected in the interim if a boom occured here. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-3-15 10:49:53 AM |
| #7 JM - I sadly concur |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-3-15 10:42:08 AM |
| #6 I expect AQ to try and influence our election in November by booming something here. |
| Posted by: JerseyMike 2004-3-15 10:39:26 AM |
| #5 ETA's gotta be encouraged...all they need do is up the ante in their attacks and they can get whatever they want. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-3-15 10:37:17 AM |
| #4 AQ has proven that the USA is not the only one capable of implementing "regime change" to bring into power governments more friendly to its war aims. A dangerous day for us all. |
| Posted by: gromky 2004-3-15 10:34:22 AM |
| #3 don't forget his harsh words of warfare too, expect loads of 'we will crush them' 'spain will fight terror' etc etc, binny and his chums must be fuckin lovin this greasy spaniard.Threat to spain from AQ = 100%, Threat to AQ from Spain = 0%. |
| Posted by: Jon Shep U.K 2004-3-15 10:32:58 AM |
| #2 Perhaps Zapatero will encourage more "anti-terrorism rallies" to really bring Al-Quaeda to their knees. |
| Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2004-3-15 10:25:20 AM |
| #1 Alluha Akbar! to Mullana Zapatero (PBUH) and the Socialist Umma. Al Andalusia and the Cordoba Caliphate will rise again. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-3-15 10:21:34 AM |