Spain.

[Wholley]

It seems the Socialistas have won the Spanish General Election.
Germany is nervous about the result.My own opinion is that this is NOT good for Europe.Spains new government will play havoc within the EU.
Any thoughts?
Wholley

[Andy O'Pray]

I think that the results of this election was more to do with a government not listening to the people. 90% of Spaniards were against supporting the war with Iraq, but the government chose to ignore them. In the latest bombings in Madrid the government tried hard to put the blame on ETA, knowing that if it was al Qaeda who perpertrated this atrocity, the electorate would hold the government responsible. Beware Tony Blair.

Aye - Andy.

[Whitey]

Socialist's? OMG! Spain? Them Mexskins want to be commies? That is sad when you vote for slavery. Well Andy got it right I think, the Spainiards didn't wanna play war but the Politico's couldn't resist the money. I'm worried some new crap will make its way here now. Election year and all, wouldn't put it past some ass hat pulling a stunt. Hope the big boys are more intune than Spain. So what exactly happened to the train, I heard at first it was a suicide bomber and then just a bomb, which is it? Then I hear they caught one of the planners or something?
Man this new mellinium is starting to suck. I wish it was the 80's, future looked so upbeat from that decade. Now it looks like a Grunge Rock toilet bowl.

[Wholley]

I tend to agree with your assement Andy.
It seems to me that AQ may have scored in Spain.I think that was the point of the bombings.Having said that,shortsightedness is not what Europe needs right now.A Socialist Goverment in the heart of the EU is going to be an anathema.Mind you,It might just wake them up,now that they realise that the US is no longer the only target.Didn't take Gerhart long to demand a summit on Terrorism did it.
Wholley.

[Jon]

Whitey - 10 bombs on the trains. They were detonated by mobile phones within 15 minutes. The bomber wanted them to go off when the trains were pulling into the stations for maximum damage. Luckily, they were running late.

The Spanish have been great over this. 8 million marching against terrorism, huge turnout in the elections. The scoialists won because the Popular Party invaded Iraq, not because of the bombings. Reading in the papers today that many Spanish blame the outgoing government for the deaths and that the socialists are attactive because they are promising to pull their troops out of Iraq by June/July. Ive been to Spain a few times and my sister used to teach out there (up in the North way from the tourists). The people are great and in no way did they deserve this.

[dootybooty]

My own opinion is that this is NOT good for Europe.Spains new government will play havoc within the EU.
Yes please, anything that pisses off the Eurocrats is fine by me.

[Tab]

We need some else in the EU who are not following the mob with rose tinted glasses on. With the emlargement of the EU Spain could be one of the big losers in grants, buit I think thay are far to late to stop that happening.

[Whitey]

Man this sucks.

[Tom Dickson]

Is´nt the new party in spain right of centre and not socialist

[El Prez]

Tom, I think this is the conundrum for Blair, the new party is Socialist. Aznars party was Conservative, and Blair got on with him. The new Presidente, Zapatero is keen to forge an alliance with Germany and France. Blair and Bush will be on the periphery again. Blair presenting more conservative credentials than socialist tendencies is not doing his party any favours. It is interesting how the views of those members of the public, in many European countries, who were opposed to GW2 are being heard and broadcast again. This is a real kick in th enuts for Blair.
Aside from the present issues, I don't think Labour will be so keen to hand over Gib now. Maybe some good will come from this after all.

[owdun]

Rob, Bliar would give his dog away if he thought it would buy him some kudo's. Gibraltar has no chance, if the new guy wants it.


Aye Owdun.

[Whitey]

Spain is pulling 1200 troops out, big loss. Socialists voctory? Oh well I hope they enjoy slavery. Any Americans remember Clinton and the Democrats aka American Socialist Party?

[Powder monkey]

Al Qaeda really got a nice payout this time. 200 spaniards killed, massive publicity, recognition that they are still a serious threat and a partner of the coalition pulling out of Iraq - directly down to a bomb they planted.

We can expect a hell of a lot more to come now.

One thing that puzzles me is why haven't they bombed the UK yet? They have definently got the man power here (just walk around any city center and you will see the radicals 'preaching') and it would not be hard to smuggle anything into the UK thanks to the politically correct immigration department and lack of any real form of boarder control.

Makes you wonder dosen't it.

[Jagd]

Al Qaeda never rush these sort of things, shown by the fact that nearly 8 years passed between the first World Trade centre attack and the second ones.
What really pisses me off is Blunket, Ken Livingstone and countless other politicians going on about an attack being 'inevitable', what kind of an attitude is that?
It seems like, by preparing people for an attack and making it seem 'inevitable', they think people will be less angry with THEM for failing to prevent it when it actually happens (if it does).