Spain PM to withdraw Iraq troops

BBC ^ | 3/15/04

[kattracks]

Spain's Socialist Party prime minister-elect has confirmed his intention to pull Spanish troops out of Iraq. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said: "The war in Iraq was a disaster, the occupation of Iraq is a disaster."

The Socialist Party won a shock poll victory after voters appeared to turn on the government over its handling of the Madrid bombings.

Spain, with more than 1,300 troops in Iraq, supported the US-led war on Iraq despite much domestic opposition.

Mr Zapatero told Spanish radio that no decision would be taken until he was in power or without wide political consultation.

But the soldiers would be pulled out if there was no change in Iraq by the 30 June deadline for transfer of sovereignty.

Our world affairs correspondent, Paul Reynolds, says that the situation in Iraq may well have changed by 30 June, but whether that influences the new government remains to be seen.

By then the US and UK hope that the Security Council will have given UN approval to the handover plan.

In addition the interim Iraqi government will be asking foreign troops to stay as part of a UN-approved multinational force.

Outsider

Socialists won 42% of the vote, while the centre-right Popular Party won 38% in Sunday's general election, held in the wake of the Madrid train bomb attacks that killed 200 people.

The BBC's Chris Morris, in Madrid, says the bombings did more than shock Spain to the core; they proved to be the decisive factor in the general election that ousted the government.

Mr Zapatero was - until Thursday's bombings - considered an outsider for Spain's top job.

Despite his party's victory, however, there is expected to be much political horse-trading because the Socialists did not win an absolute majority.

While Mr Zapatero said his first priority was to tackle terrorism "in all its forms", he is thought likely to do it in a very different way than the outgoing government.

A larger than expected 77% of the electorate turned out to vote in the wake of last Thursday's attacks.

Our correspondent says the late swing to the Socialists raises one disturbing thought - if al-Qaeda was responsible for Thursday's attacks, it appears to have had significant influence in changing the government of a leading Western democracy.

Investigations are continuing into who was behind the bombings.

A videotaped claim of responsibility by a man identifying himself as al-Qaeda's military spokesman in Europe forced the government to change its stance on the most likely suspects.

The tape - claiming revenge for Spain's "collaboration with the criminals Bush and his allies" - was found in a litter bin on Saturday following a tip-off to a TV station.

'Suspect has al-Qaeda link'

Three Moroccans and two Indians are being held in connection with the attacks.

The three Moroccans being held have been named as Jamal Zougam, 30, Mohamed Bekkali, 31, and Mohamed Chaoui, 34.

The two Indians arrested were named as Vinay Kohly and Suresh Kumar.

Spain's El Pais newspaper reported that investigators had found links between Jamal Zougam and the Salafia Jihadia group held responsible for attacks in Casablanca last May in which more than 40 people died.

One of the targets of the Moroccan attacks was a Spanish cultural centre, where four Spaniards were among the dead.

Reports also linked Jamal Zougam to a Spanish cell of al-Qaeda which was headed by Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, also known as "Abu Dahdah".

Abu Dahdah has been indicted by the Spanish anti-terrorist prosecutor Baltasar Garzon on charges relating to the preparation of the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States.

El Pais said Jamal Zougam was cited at two points in Garzon's indictment, but was not charged.

[dfwgator]

Translation: We want AQ destroyed, but we won't help do it. And what did exactly Spain do in WW II to fight Hitler? Gee, if I remember correctly Franco was an ally of Hitler.

[Neets]

Wonderful.

[CasearianDaoist]

By then the US and UK hope that the Security Council will have given UN approval to the handover plan.

In addition the interim Iraqi government will be asking foreign troops to stay as part of a UN-approved multinational force.

This news to me. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this?

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

Eurocowards.

[goldstategop]

Eurotrash.

[Clock King]

I wish a reporter would throw this in John Kerry's face and ask him how the US has driven away Spain, since he is always harping on how we need all of our "old" allies. How are we responsible again? How is Bush responsible for this? How can J Kerry and the masses of fools like him NOT realize that the TERRORISTS will do these things and they don't care who gets hurt?!!

[MJY1288]

Pathetic, I didn't realize Spain had so many cowards. Have the French been migrating South across their border?

[leadpenny]

Michael Moore, Susan Surandon, Tim Robbins, Babs, John Kerry, the Democrat Party and the rest of the Bush-Hating crowd will have the blood of untold numbers of future innocent victims and our brave fighting men and women on their hands. Have mercy on their souls.

[FreedomPoster]

Europeans paid tribute to the Barbary pirates, because it was cheaper than confronting them. Jefferson was unable to create an international coalition to rid the world of that problem, so, Guess what? He acted "unilaterally". One result is in the first line of the Marine Corps hymn.

[Dane]

Actually it looks the only way cowardly socialists in Spain will stay with its piddly 1,300 men is to have it under UN control according to a Bloomberg report. The BBC put thier own spin on it as ususal.

March 15 (Bloomberg) -- Spain's 1,300 soldiers in the U.S.- led coalition in Iraq will be withdrawn unless there is a United Nations mandate requesting their presence, Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said today

LINK

[dfwgator]

Actually when you think about it, in some ways the Spanish are even worse than the French. Even Franco's worst critics are glad that Spain pretty much stayed out of the fighting during WW II, even though they hated the Fascists. In other words, let others do the fighting for us. At least some French did fight during WW II (albeit not very well).

[RonDog]

Looks like we will need some NEW signs at our "Support Our Troops" rallies, post-3/11:

UNLIKE SPAIN,
U.S.A.
WILL NEVER
SURRENDER!

[Amelia]

Hate to see this...on one day, the Spanish are out in the streets in record numbers, shouting their defiance to terrorists...

On the next they are capitulating to them at the ballot box.

Or so it appears.

[MJY1288]

True

[spetznaz]

Europeans paid tribute to the Barbary pirates, because it was cheaper than confronting them. Jefferson was unable to create an international coalition to rid the world of that problem, so, Guess what? He acted "unilaterally". One result is in the first line of the Marine Corps hymn.

Hey Vab, you need to post the hymn pronto.

There is something about the USMC that is so amazing. I respect all branches of armed service in the US, but i seem to hold the Marines with an almost fanatical sense of reverence. I have met my share of marines, and a couple are friends, and all are the craziest but bravest son-a-guns one could ever find. Either the Marines attract a certain type or it converts enlisters to a higher form of manhood.

Either way, although i have not earned the right to say it, 'Semper Fidelis.'

Semper Fi.

[Unam Sanctam]

Our correspondent says the late swing to the Socialists raises one disturbing thought - if al-Qaeda was responsible for Thursday's attacks, it appears to have had significant influence in changing the government of a leading Western democracy.

At least the BBC recognized the capitulation to terrorist aspect of this. I expect to see the liberal media fully downplay this.

[Beck_isright]

"Gee, if I remember correctly Franco was an ally of Hitler."

You remember inccorectly. Spain was 100% non-aligned and many prisoners escaped through Spain during the war. Franco was a friend but Spain was in no condition to fight in WWII after the Spanish Civil War.

[FreedomPoster]

All very true. Though Franco's forces would not have won the Spanish Civil War without German assistance, he did stay neutral in WWII. Most importantly, he didn't allow the Germans passage through Spain in order to take Gibralter, which was hugely important.