Translation:

ETA is blame of the killings. These same people are the ones that CNN keeps on calling "the basque separatist group ETA". They are nothing but a bunch of terrorists and bloody criminals who deserve to be for all they life imprisoned.

Fernando

I don't have a problem with CNN's wording. It focuses on the points on which I think we can all agree: they're Basque, they're a group, and Basque independence is their stated goal. And they're killing people: that is the essence of the CNN reports. Anything beyond that gets into loaded language: the line between a freedom-fighter and a terrorist is mighty slim. (Wasn't it Benjamin Franklin who observed that revolutions are always illegal in the third person and legal in the first person?)

Whatever they are, they're killing innocent people and should expect to face the consequences.

With all due respect el viajero, I can't agree with your statement.

ETA does not represent the basque people, ETA is not a group, but a band, and ETA does not seek separatism, but the elimination of any other political choice and the establishment of a marxist-leninist regime of terror in the Basque Country by violent means.

To call it "Basque Separatist Group" is a cruel euphemism. What would distinguish themselves from other groups which are really basque separatist groups (as for example Eusko Alkartasuna, a legal political party).

Thanks God the US Government has seen the difference. ETA and their "political" arm Batasuna are considered by US Government and EU countries as terrorist bands. The US Government is also helping our government to erradicate this bloody criminals.

Fernando

Fernando, excellent explanation. I totally agree with your comment on CNN. They have been taken to task many times for the way they use language.
In this case, as you pointed out the ambivelance may lead readers to believe that all Basques who believe in a separatist Basque state are part of this killer group, and that is just not the case.

Right on Fernando;

This was being an incredibly tranquil year in this regard, with so far "only" one other killing last February,....I guess the criminals of ETA didn't want to be outstaged by the Iraqi war situation, but now that it's over, they want to claim center stage in this, horrid, nightmarish obscene scenario.

I wished with all my heart that both CNN, Amnesty International, and several other organizations/people would get their stories right about ETA once and for all.

Sad news indeed, those ETA animals continue their rabid ways.

I too disagree with calling them a "separtist group". It is time they call a spade a spade, ETA is a ruthless terrorist band, nothing less is correct. How would Americans feel if CNN called Al-Queda an "islamic separtist group"? I ,for one, would throw my TV out the window upon hearing such nonsense.

The amazing thing for me has been the attitude of PNV and it's followers. It seems they want to convert themselves into the poltical wing of ETA. PNV used to be a "Basque separtist group", but it is beginning to look more like an ally of ETA.

Saludos

Shawn,

A BIG THANKS to you for understanding.

Saludos.

Fernando, my heart goes out to the brave policemen who daily put their lives at risk against ETA. Their killings and maimings are always the cowards way. Hopefully now the French authorities are more active more of them will see the inside of prison.
El viajero's reasoning is the same as the misguided people who supported & funded the so called Irish Republican "Army" (IRA)whose organisation is disintergrating into criminal & drug running activities.

Shawn, you have the insight of a spaniard and the objectiveness of being a forgeiner

I say the same as Pim: Thanks.

Thanks zorro, thank you very much.

Terrorism is terrorism everywhere. There is not political arguement which can support the assasination of a person.

We have nothing but gratitude for the countries who are helping us against these criminals, mainly France, US, Belgium and central and south-american countries.

Fernando

Ugh, another ETA/Basque politics thread... is it really that necesary to bring it up everytime there is an attack? There are many different views on this subject and if you do a quick search you will find previous threads on this idea. Can we just move on before things turn ugly?