All though I must admit we sould never under estimate what the terriost are capable off. I must say that they aren't Einsteins. Its really not that hard to leave a bag full of explosives or detonating it nor it that hard to plan it. What bothers me the most though is that these people had to have had some planning prior to bombing the trains they knew exactly who they were going to kill.

Silvita, your first point I agree totally. I have LONG stated that we should cut ties with Saudi Arabia. Your second point, well, I just don't see anyway around it. The way "I" see it, the Palestinians bomb civilian coffee shops and the Israelis target radicals. Yes, civilians are killed, but until they develop "smart bullets", that's always going to happen. I see the Palestinian people as pawns by the regimes in the region. They use them to rally their people against anyone besides themselves, the real oppressors. As far as Bush targeting civilians, again, Bush doesn't target anyone. The military is given a mission and they carry it out. Sometimes civilians get killed, but you are basically stating the military targets civilians again. Last I checked, Bush hasn't fired one round in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Interesting article in today's Wall Street Journal. Written by Congressman Christopher Cox. Generally stating that Zapatero probably didn't expect to be thrown on the world stage like this and that he too must see the reality of the past. He will also have to deal with terrorist threats. They are not finished with Spain, (especially the Andalucia cause), or western society.

I quote:

"Spain's rank and file Socialists may not wish to acknowledge the depth of their nation's infection with al Qaeda. Mohammed Atta held top-level meetings in Madrid to plan the Sept. 11 attacks. Several al Qaeda cells have been discovered in Spain: more than 30 al Qaeda operatives have been arrested there. It is against this backdrop that last week's train bombings, apprently the work of a multinational cell of al Qaeda loyalists, must be understood."

As Edmund Burke famously said, "The only thing necessary for triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

We must stick together in this common cause, or it will be way worse in the future, and we will STILL be dealing with it.......at a much more drastic level.

Your welcome madridman:) I also haven't heard anything about it from major new sources. It seems as though if someone isn't killed or if large numbers of people aren't injured then it isn't news unfortunatly. I get most of my news from AOL wich pulls news from many different sources and also posts it's own stuff. Like right now some of the news stories are "Madrid suspects where known years ago", "Annan: Spain blaming ETA affected election", "Spain media say outgoing govt. pressed them on ETA". I would happily post some of them for everyone to read if anyone would like? I would make sure to add the copyright stuff so I wouldn't be breaking any laws.

The last news story heading about the spanish press is what a lot of the Spaniards here are talking about I believe. Not the actual news story but the controversy that is going on right now. There is a lot of talk going around about the media and censorship of the spanish bombing coverage. It seems from the news stories that the spanish media and the government are taking a lot of heat for not being objective enough in reporting the attacks. But I have yet to visit Spain so I am not sure how big the debate over there is. All I can do is read news from many different sources and try to come to my own conclusions on what I think is going on in Spain right now.

Take care everyone

I was in Madrid with my brother and my girlfriend. We were staying 2 blocks from Estacion Atocha when the bombs went off. We would ate breakfast just across the street from Estacion Atocha everyday and take the commuter trains in and out of the city to see friends, and we were suppose to head out on the train that very day. I'm not gonna comment on the caos and carnage nor will I talk about the political aspect of this tragedy. But I wanna tell those of you who are planning on going to Madrid anytime soon and have doubts, put them to rest. Madrid has come together much the way NY has after the World Trade affair. The city and ppl are still warm and inviting as ever before. Don't let this attack scare you from visiting such a beautiful place. I know I will be back soon to help out Madrid (my family.)

ps. stay strong Madrid you have been great to me and my family, I love you guys.

my husband and i are not backing down from our spain trip in april/may. we will not be pushed into a corner to cower in fear.

sookwan,

I'm afraid I am, but it has nothing to do with the bombing. Right afterwards I was proud to be taking my family for a month there this summer. I love Spain. But after the election I was deflated. Not only did Spain provide a second victory to the killers, but the rhetoric against the US has gone UP from there. It seems that defference to the terrorists is going to be a long term policy (although I have to admit, based on the positive remarks from terrorist organizations, this victory for them will probably have them leaving Spain alone - so from that aspect it has been a success....of sorts)

Very sad - "El Cid is dead, long live El Cid"

Fup

Ok, I've followed the whole thread of issues and I feel caught up. Here's my spin, from somewhere in Canada:

Spain's new government is the laughingstock of the modern world. I don't know whether to blame the government itself, or the people who voted. Clearly you have people who are angry and hurt who went to the polling station; and when emotions run high, poor decision making is usually the result. Look what you're left with. Spain's new "democratic" government has no sense of what being democratic and free really means, as they don't stand with other democracies--they and the people of Spain have largely chosen to side with the terrorists in the most selfish way possible. You don't want terrorism in your country, I can understand that. But the result of your actions, Spain, is that you have sent a very clear message to terrorists the world over: "Terrorism Works!!" And now the rest of the world will have to stay on their toes because Spain has given in to the terrorist demands, have sided with terrorism so that the terrorists leave them alone, and them only, alone. Well Spain; and I'm talking to the lucky survivors/voters who take world peace and basic human freedoms for granted: Being alone is what you deserve. When Iraqis need you most, you want to leave them alone. If you have anybody at your side, it is now the terrorists, as they too will leave you alone--but how do you feel good about that?

Bottom line is this. The terrorists achieved everything they wanted to and more. You have given terrorism no greater reward. You have given the rest of the world no greater plague. And now you can calmly sit on the sidelines, because now you at least have your safety. Selfish selfish selfish. Tut tut tut.

"TheShameOfSpain" award goes to the Spanish government which withheld information that the likely suspects for the bombing were Al-Qaeda terrorists. Instead, they decided to continue blaming ETA in order to win sympathy votes. When the people found out the government essentially lied to them they (a very very slim majority) voted out his/their butts. BACKFIRE! Good for them. The people of Spain are "ThePrideOfSpain"! I salute them!

Saludos, MadridMan