[Former Fetus]

I grew up in Spain, and those hats always meant help and order. Yes, they could be harsh, but they were always there when you needed them. I still remember when I was a pre-teen and started climbing the face of a rock, then looking down and freaking out... I don't know how long I clinged to the rock before I saw two guardias civiles passing by! One of them climbed all the way to where I was, helped me down, and they took me home. I used to hate the ETA terrorists because they mainly attacked guardias civiles or their headquarters.

[gorush]

I enjoyed your perspective but still cast my lot with the Basques.

[rlmorel]

I respect them. More than the Spanish in general, now, since they caved to the muslims.

Spain used to be my favorite European country...went there many times in the USN, took my wife to Mallorca on our honeymoon, and went back for our 10th, but...I just couldn’t reconcile their reaction to the bombing of their trains in Madrid.

They just caved.

[gorush]

Be that as it may...Spain in ‘77 was wonderful, especially out in the Majorca s. Breakfast in bed included for $5.00/day, all the calamari, wapatuli and prescription drugs (got a bad cold) you needed and could freely purchase.

[ken5050]

I was stationed in Spain from 68-72...Catalonia was then pretty unsettled....strong separatist movement..and the Civil War was only 25 years before, and Spanish hold grudges...I remember..once you got outside of the city..you’d see the GCs..no helmets..just the tr-corns...patrolling the roads..on the big Butalco bikes..always in pairs...with assault weapons strapped to the rear...scary dudes..

[livius]

The Guardia Civil are the good guys.