Several random thoughts to add fuel to the fire-

Early in February I read an editorial by Felipe Gonzalez in the english language edition of El Pais. While I don't remember all the details, the gist of it was 'Don't count me out, I'm not finished yet'.

If I recall correctly, wasn't the downfall of the Gonzalez socialist government due to a scandal involving the assassinations of ETA members?

It appears to me as if Zapatero may be in over his head.

Shouldn't we be refering to him as Rodriguez or Rodriguez Zapatero?

I can't wait to be called an idiot!

Felipe González has been, without difference, the worst president in spanish democracy.

His first years were very necessary. He and his Government gave some fresh air to the country, showing a new kind of politics to the people, but his last 8 years were awful. His Governments were plagued with corruption (ministers and other chairmen involved in scandals were thousands of million pesetas were stolen).

He was also involved in a scandal of irregular (and illegal) financing of his party, giving radio and TV licenses to his friends and even what you mentioned: State's terrorism of the worst nature. He and his government were involved in the killings of many innocent people (and a few terrorists).

Zapatero didn't reject all this facts, so he has assumed them as if they had never existed (to his shame).

He should be called Rodríguez. The problem is that Rodríguez is a very common surname, so journalists decided to call him for his second surname (the one from his mother) from the very beginning.

And you are not an idiot for asking for somthing you don't have to know

Fernando

I don't agree with you Fernando.
PP has been as corrupted as PSOE in my point of view.
The State terrorism González made was in a time when France didn't cooperate in fighting terrorism and terrorist had a Santuary in France, that why they decided to go against the law.
Aznar, the most defensor of Constitution nowadays asked for voting NO in 1976 when it was approved by the majority of Spanish, so I think there's people who must be more ashamed of his past than ZP.

Good morning from America.

Wow, just finished reading the posts since I last posted, looks like a lot has been happening over there in a very quick order.
The whole thing of Z selling his people out to the terrorists like this is amazing. Considering how he is capitulating in this extreme it would almost appear that maybe the socialists did not just reap the benefits of the terror attacks on the trains.. one must wonder if a deal may have been struck at some time before that with the terrorists. God, I hope things do not continue down the path it appears you are on. From the looks of things I would not be suprised to see an Al Q training camp appearing on spanish soil one day. Would hate to see a situation at some time in which Tomahawks were falling in Spain.
With this whole European Union acting as a counterbalance to American power idea, Spains possible entrance into the EU, and (dare I say it?) possible collusion with terrorists by the new spanish govt... well the southern hemisphere may well end up dominating the world as the northern hemisphere gets a major dose of landscaping, 20 megatons at a time, on both sides the Atlantic.

I hope you guys have the ability to do recall elections, and wake up before it is too late.

It appears that in the elections, many spaniards voted with their heart rather than their head. As nice and flowery as such thinking may seem to romantic types... my personal experience has been that every time I make decisions based upon emotion, they turned out to be the worst mistakes of my life.

A question for my Spanish fellow board members-Do members of your congress have the ability to call for a vote of no confidence or are the elections fixed like here in the US?

A couple of quotes:

"You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will have war." - Winston Churchill reply to Neville Chamberlain's claim of "peace in our time"

And:

"An infallible method of conciliating a tiger is to allow oneself to be devoured." - Konrad Adenauer

Well I sure am glad that the PSOE won over the PP. I can see the islamic terrorists fleeing over the boarders to France as we speak! (NOT REALLY.)

Madrid Warned About Supporting U.S.

Now that the terrorists got what they wanted, they're going to go for more! Give an inch take a mile?

Whaddyer bet Z gives in and pulls out troops immediately? Any takers on that bet? (i'm not sure i would really go for that bet, but it sure is fun to rib Z)

BTW, Fupanier, nice quotes! How applicable...

What's happening in Spain may or may not have anything to do with the elections in the mind of the people, but to the terrorists, its obviously something they can point at and indicate from their own perspective that they did in fact cause the people of Spain to change their minds before they reached the polls. As such, it becomes a selling point for them in their recruiting efforts, and what we're seeing developing as more frequent attacks in Iraq, and other nations, could be the end result of their improved recruiting. But that's all conjecture, because we don't really know if there has been an escalation in activities, or its about where the extremists intended to be in the first place.

What does concern me though is that Spain is now being directly challenged to do what the terrorists tell them to do, or face the horrible consequences. It concerns me because the Spanish government has done so much to distance itself from the US. Will the US step forward and give unquestioning support to Spain after the new government has denounced our government and President? If the US does step forward, will it be without concession from Spain, or in the name of fighting terrorism, without taking the rhetoric of post election comments into consideration?

Right now its a difficult time for Spain. They've moved from the side of the US to the side of the French and Germans, and God only knows neither of them will lift a finger to help Spain secure the safety of their own borders, or give them support in fighting terrorism.

Wolf

Nicely said Wolf.
As a Spaniard living in the US I can say that living outside of Spain gives you a more clear view of the "whole picture" which most local people don't get.

Chus

We are pinned. No matter what we do, we are going to suffer more massive killings and/or savage attacks to our troops in Irak.

It was very irresponsible for Zapatero to hang his political campaign in the discontent of Irak's War. Now we will suffer the consequences.

However, no matter I dislike Zapatero's choice, I'm sure he is not going to let terrorists win. He may call the troops back from Irak, but he won't call back the troops in Afghanistan, and won't comply with terrorists' demands.

If he does the opposite, then we will have a never-ending list of demands: Call back the troops from Irak, call back the troops from Afghanistan, don't aid USA against arab nations, give Ceuta, Melilla and Canary Islands to Morocoo, make the army abandon Andalucia, give Andalucia to Morocco,...

If terrorists see they can manage victories by killing people, they will kill more people to achieve what they want. Is as simple as an economy problem.

How many people will cost us all these...

Fernando