The Election in Spain

[crazytimes]

What do you think about the election in the Spain?

I think it is very scary, because it sends the message that terrorism can affect an election. To me that is telling the terrorists that they have power to effect change in the government - not a message we want to tell them!

If they were attacked because they supported the war in Iraq, then why hasn't there been an attack in Britain? I don't think anyone would deny that Britain was our strongest ally in the War in Iraq.

[pandybat]

Britain is more watchful of terrorist activity than Spain is. Not to say it can't or won't happen in Britain, it happened here and I thought we were pretty watchful to begin with. But 9/11 shows you there are cracks in every system no matter how big a country you are.

[luvmetender]

The new leader is pulling out the troops in Iraq. Another blow for Bush.

[Taxman]

Originally Posted by luvmetender

The new leader is pulling out the troops in Iraq. Another blow for Bush.

No, it's a blow for all of us. This has shown that terrorism works and that is truly frightening. We're going to see this tactic repeated.

[monkee]

Originally Posted by Taxman

No, it's a blow for all of us. This has shown that terrorism works and that is truly frightening. We're going to see this tactic repeated.

I believe you're right, Taxman. It's very scary. And much more likely to happen, IMO, if the person or persons leading your country aren't committed to standing up to it, since that means blowing something up is that much more likely to work.

[whitequeen96]

I'm a "bleeding-heart liberal," and I REALLY hate to agree with you, but ........ I do.

[Rockabillie]

I heard an analyst on the radio today who said the bombing didn't affect the election results, that exit interviews and polls before the election support that people voted the way they would have regardless. I don't think we're giving the Spanish enough credit. How many of you would change your vote because of what a terrorist wants? Of course not. We'd forge ahead and NOT change our beliefs because of some message from a terrorist. I believe the Spanish are just as honorable as Americans.

[Taxman]

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Up until last Thursday's devastating bombings in Madrid, which killed 200 and injured more than 1,500 people, opinion polls had clearly shown that the conservative Popular Party would win the election by a comfortable margin. However, the widespread belief that an al-Qaeda-linked terror group was behind the mass murder completely changed the closing dynamics of the election.

Every news report I've seen says the same thing: the ruling party had a wide margin until the attack.

It doesn't have anything to do with the Spaniards being honorable. It has to do with terrorists creating panic before an election to achieve their political objectives. The same thing could happen anywhere and the results would be similar.

[Pipanella]

Originally Posted by pandybat

Britain is more watchful of terrorist activity than Spain is. Not to say it can't or won't happen in Britain, it happened here and I thought we were pretty watchful to begin with. But 9/11 shows you there are cracks in every system no matter how big a country you are.

That may or may not be true, Sandy. Terrorism in Spain is certainly nothing new, it's been going for YEARS. I don't know if they're less watchful than Britain or not, but since they've been dealing with it for a long time, I would guess they've got some experience with this issue of terrorism.

As far as the recent bombings affecting the election, my personal opinion is that they could have. Maybe Spaniards are tired of the terrorism in their country and maybe they feel that the current government isn't doing what they could do about it. Maybe a well-timed terrorist attack just could sway those sitting on the fence.

Since most of us in the US are for the most part unaware of Spain's politics, issues, etc. (heck, there are TOO many Americans that aren't aware of OUR politics, issues, etc.), I think it's hard for us to make a good assessment of what effect the bombing had on their election.

[Jwelch111]

The straw that broke the back of Spain's voters' support for Aznar's party was the LIE advanced after the attacks. The unwillingless of Aznar's government to examine any other possible responsible group for the bombings, other than the group ETA.

In fact, Aznar's party immediately claimed that ETA WAS responsible.

An article appeared on the front page of a paper read on Washington Journal this morning. It said, within the story, that a reporter, pre-election, suggested the possibility of Al-Quada in the bombings.

The reporter was repudiated by an official of Aznar's government.

And that is why Spain's ruling party lost. They attempted to deceive the people with a LIE, as to the identity of those responsible for the train bombings.

Couple that reason with the FACT that 90% of Spainards OPPOSED the Iraq Invasion.

SPAINARDS do not support President Bush's War: that is the message this election sent to the world (and US).

That message, and this one: LIE to your people (the true source of government) at YOUR peril.

[Pipanella]

Originally Posted by Jwelch111

Couple that reason with the FACT that 90% of Spainards OPPOSED the Iraq Invasion.

SPAINARDS do not support President Bush's War: that is the message this election sent to the world (and US).

No wonder much of the world has the impression that the US thinks the world revolves around them.

[FUNdamental]

Originally Posted by Pipanella

No wonder much of the world has the impression that the US thinks the world revolves around them.

The piece Jwelch reffered to was written by Keith Richburg and was on the front page of this morning's Washington Post.

I read it while eating my eggs.

[Pipanella]

I was referring to Jwelch's personal opinion.

[bassmount]

I may be wrong, but I could have sworn I read in my copy of the USA Today (yes, regular print. LOL) that the reason ETA was blamed is because just a few days before they caught ETA members setting up similar attacks or ETA had written letters saying that bombings would happen. Wished I had kept the paper now, but I did throw it out, so I am not 100% sure.

Maybe Spanish Government came to that conclusion because ETA has done similar attacks in the past. I think it has little to do with a lie and more to do with the fact that in this day and age it is expected that a country or government, by it residence, lay blame as quickly as possible. People want someone to blame quickly. No one wants to wait and see for a fact "who" did it. They just want someone to blame quickly. Everyone denounces Spain now for being so quick to blame, and yet on several news channels I saw Spaniards being interviewed and they wanted to know "who did this right now" Seems no one can really win. You are "d" if you do "d" if you don't.