Heavy terr act in Madrid

[yaroslav]

Oliver,

Acebes, the Secretary of Internal Affairs said this morning that it was ETA and now he is saying that Al-Quaeda is a high possibility.

Stations are speaking about a suicide terrorist in the train.

And this is not the first time the extreme islamist attacks Spain... do you remember attack in Mororoco against Spanish interest?

[yaroslav]

Extract of Al-Quaeda's letter:

"We've been able to infiltrate in the heart of Europe and destroy one of the most important support of the crusader's alliance: Spain".

"Aznar: Where's America now? Who's going to protect UK, Italy or Japan?"

"This is a way to put thing in balance with Spain, crusader and America's ally in her war against Islam".

[chequita guevara]

Spain is an historic enemy of the Muslims. It would not be an unreasonable assumption that this was AQ.

[Shi Huangdi]

"I'd have to wonder if ETA made the attack and is trying to pawn off responsibility on Al Queda to deflect blame and raise greater fears. "

I doubt it. If ETA were to do this attack, I don't see why they wouldn't claim responsibility like they have in the past. Pawning off the responsibility would negate any political gain they may see themselves as getting fromt his attack.

[OliverFA]

Originally posted by yaroslav
Oliver,

Acebes, the Secretary of Internal Affairs said this morning that it was ETA and now he is saying that Al-Quaeda is a high possibility.

Stations are speaking about a suicide terrorist in the train.

And this is not the first time the extreme islamist attacks Spain... do you remember attack in Mororoco against Spanish interest?

For me they are death people. No matter if its AlQaeda or ETA. There is very few difference. I don´t discard it has been AlQaeda, but it´s terribly hard to believe that ETA hasn´t helped them knowing how much they like each other.

[yaroslav]

On the other hand. Although Spain has fought muslim, that is becuase we're neighbours. Spain has been though to be arabs' friend (remember there was no Spanish embassy in Israel until 1982, and only because EU ask for it)...

[yaroslav]

Oliver, I agree with Shi Huangdi... why would you make a terrorist attack and then denying it?

[OliverFA]

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
I doubt it. If ETA were to do this attack, I don't see why they wouldn't claim responsibility like they have in the past. Pawning off the responsibility would negate any political gain they may see themselves as getting fromt his attack.

I will tell you why. Is it´s AlQaeda people will blame the government for the deaths. They will say (wrong opinion, but they will say it) that AlQaeda has attacked just because Aznar helped Bush.

And remember. The elections are on Sunday. The ones who did it had this in mind for sure.

[GePap]

If it was Al Qeada, it would most likely have to do with the strong Spanish support for the Iraq operation (as the letter insinuates), not about Grenada 500 years ago or Lepanto.

I guess my queston is, if it turns out to be AQ, how will this affect Spanish public opinion about Spains position in Iraq and its support of the US?

My guess, it will increase backing of the government and more support for it's Iraq position, since people like to be contrarians when it comes to terrorists.

[Niessuh]

It is a very strange situation. If ETA has not been, they have copied its way to act. What is clear is that ETA and Al-Qaeda are worlds apart.
We follow the word of our government. If now they repent from what they said then an horrible mistake has been made

[yaroslav]

Although I've hear this theory, I don't agree OlvierFA. Nobody I know is going to change his vote for this. Plus, ETA people hates more PP than PSOE, and for ETA to have their people mobilized it's probably better a PP goverment.

PP and PSOE could be very different, but both has a strong record of police's efficiency against ETA (since 1986 or so... before PSOE's record is no so good)....

But let me say one thing. This is not time for politics. It's time for solidarity

Thanks you all in this thread for your solidarity.

Nice avatar, Oliver.

[OliverFA]

Originally posted by GePap
I guess my queston is, if it turns out to be AQ, how will this affect Spanish public opinion about Spains position in Iraq and its support of the US?

My guess, it will increase backing of the government and more support for it's Iraq position, since people like to be contrarians when it comes to terrorists.

Or they can blame the government for it and believe that if Spain hadn´t backed US we would be "safe". Of course, no one is safe with terrorists and the only way to deal with them is strength.

[GePap]

Originally posted by OliverFA


Or they can blame the government for it and believe that if Spain hadn´t backed US we would be "safe". Of course, no one is safe with terrorists and the only way to deal with them is strength.

If that were true, there would be no terrorism as is-or at least, not against India and Israel....

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by GePap


If that were true, there would be no terrorism as is-or at least, not against India and Israel....

He said the only way to deal with them - he did not say it was a 100% effective way. Note that terrorism against Israel went down after Israel took aggressive action in spring 2002.

Do you really think if Spain were to withdraw from Iraq AQ would leave them alone??? note that AQ targeted Istanbul and Jakarta, despite opposition to the Iraq war from both Turkey and Indonesia. AQ is playing its own games.

[GePap]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
Do you really think if Spain were to withdraw from Iraq AQ would leave them alone??? note that AQ targeted Istanbul and Jakarta, despite opposition to the Iraq war from both Turkey and Indonesia. AQ is playing its own games.

Did I say anytime this might be the case?

Though of course, both Turkey and indonesia are moderate Muslim states, so bringing them down in in AQ's interest regardless of their iraq position.

And yes, Israel's actions cut down attacks-but they did not end them.