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Europe
Spain hails Italian withdrawal from Iraq
2005-03-17
Spain welcomed a decision by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to begin withdrawing the country's troops from Iraq from September. The Spanish media saw the approach of Italy's regional elections as prompting the move. Spain's Socialist government withdrew its own troops, sent in by the previous conservative administration, shortly after taking office last April. A government source said Madrid "clearly welcomes with joy" news of Berlusconi's announcement.
Note: This is the only gov't source quoted, and (s)he is quoted anonymously. The balance of the article is a compendium of the opinions of the Spanish press.
Spain's government pulled its troops out in line with an electoral pledge, the decision to send them into Iraq having been hugely unpopular with the electorate. Berlusconi's move to deploy 3,000 troops, making Italy the fourth-largest troop contributor in Iraq, was also massively unpopular at home.

"Berlusconi reacts in time," was how El Mundo daily saw the Italian leader's move. The paper noted that Berlusconi "is seeking re-election in 2006 and he knew full well that keeping troops in Iraq would pose a serious risk to his chances." Italy is also holding regional elections next month, and El Mundo opined that his decision showed that "his political noose is greater than the fine speeches which he made to defend his participation in the occupation of Iraq."

For Barcelona-based El Periodico, "Berlusconi has understood, albeit late in the day, that you cannot dismiss public opinion and he is trying to leave Iraq while annoying his friend (US President George W.) Bush as little as possible."

In the opinion of El Pais, "if the withdrawal begins in September as scheduled Berlusconi will arrive at the polls having unburdened himself of an unpopular participation in the (Iraq) conflict."
Posted by:seafarious

#9  "Spain!? Spain couldn't whip Vanderbilt for goodness sake." -- Lewis Grizzard, A Great American
Posted by: Psycho Hillbilly   2005-03-17 12:38:25 PM  

#8  Yes, we Spanish did run away, but in a timely fashion, and now our Italian friends have seen the light and agreed to withdraw... Whaddaya mean, "according to plan?"
Posted by: Bobby   2005-03-17 9:48:23 AM  

#7  It's sad to see the hard work of Aznar thrown away so quickly. Actually, he had built up substantial influence in Latin America and was encouraging free economies and governments there - no wonder the socialists were in a panic to do anything they could to bring him down and reverse his policies.

They deserve what they will get.
Posted by: too true   2005-03-17 9:01:52 AM  

#6  Spain is passing France and Germany in a race to the bottom. But that is where bottom feeders belong.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-03-17 8:57:38 AM  

#5  What happened to the fighting spirit of Spain?

Very simple. Allow teachers to poison the minds of kids since kindergarten, allow the MSM feed them politically correct crap and in a few decades you can make cowards from the descendents of Cortez. That is what awaits Americans if they aren't vigilant.

Not being allowed to own arms is also a factor for the "cowardizatioon" of a society: people get used to think that when facing violence best thing is to not resist. I think that people educated in a society where you are educated to resist intruders by force will look for ways to turn the tables even when unarmed and facing an armed opponent and that people educated in disarmed societies can fail to resist even when on equal terms with the agressor (assuming they can distinguish the firing end of a gun of course).

Spain has no Second Amendment. Don't let yours be voided or abrogated.
Posted by: JFM   2005-03-17 8:51:12 AM  

#4  Spain, being left in the dust of history. On it's way to be reconquered by Islam. What happened to the fighting spirit of Spain? Has the will to fight been bred out of them?

I am glad as heck Bush is making the appointments he has been making. It brings the crap these useless light weights do and say in to sharp contrast. Oh by the way Spaniards, Italy says it may not be leaving in September after all.
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom   2005-03-17 6:56:22 AM  

#3  at least the stamp graphic is cool.
Posted by: Chinese Spymole5448   2005-03-17 1:55:00 AM  

#2  How small and petty the Spanish government has become. If this is the mettle of the Spaniards, then they deserve neither peace nor freedom. May they return to their rightful place in history, under the boot heels of the Moors.
Posted by: ed   2005-03-17 1:38:46 AM  

#1  I guess they were feeling lonely and put upon by the American public's perception that the Spanish electorate are gutless, faithless cowards who surrendered their honor and their manhood by directing their armed forces to abandon allies in the field. They didn't like the ridicule aimed at Zapetero and the respect accorded Berlusconi. Too bad. Italy stayed the course while the Spanish cut and ran. This won't change that.
Posted by: RWV   2005-03-17 12:37:36 AM  

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