Ex-Spain Govt Erased Records After Bomb, Zapatero

[maddezmom]

MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero accused the former government of deceiving the public between the March 11 Madrid train bombings and March 14 elections and of erasing computer records concerning that period.



"It was all deceit. It was massive deceit," Zapatero told a parliamentary commission Monday.


He said the former government deceived the public by blaming the train bombings, which killed 191 people, on Basque separatist guerrilla group ETA. Investigators later determined that Islamic militants were responsible for the attacks.



http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&ncid=732&e=5&u=/nm/20041213/ts_nm/security_spain_zapatero_deceit_dc

[tngledwebb]

1. The parallels with 9/11

are manifold.

[Sideways]

2. Except The Spanish Are Smart And They Tossed Aznar Out On His Arse

EOM

[tngledwebb]

3. Old Europe, you know with their

paper ballots and their democratic elections...Bah!

[ilovenicepeople]

12. The Madrid bombing took place 911 days after 911

[wordout]

4. Is there another e.u. leader like Zapatero?

http://search.csmonitor.com/search_content/1213/p07s01-woeu.html

MADRID, SPAIN - As José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero prepares to testify before the March 11 commission Monday, his goal appears to be nothing short of reshaping the struggle against terrorists - both at home and abroad.

In a series of statements beginning last week, Mr. Zapatero revealed his plan to use his country's recent antiterror agreement - a rare example of nonpartisan cooperation that has proved successful in combating domestic terrorism - as a model to lead both the European Union and the UN toward similar accords.

Sunday, Zapatero disclosed the most striking part of his proposal: to seek collaboration from Islamic countries, especially Morocco, to underscore the difference between Islam in general and a relatively small group of violent Islamist radicals.

But Zapatero's ambitions will be sorely tested. Internationally, his proposed course would further distance him from the Bush administration's efforts, although it may enhance his standing with his European neighbors, especially France and Germany.

>snip

By last week, the political mood in Madrid had soured further as the conservative Popular Party (PP) of José María Aznar, who was prime minister at the time of the attacks, OPENLY ASSERTED THAT MARCH 11 HAD BEEN PLANNED TO GIVE THE SOCIALISTS THEIR VICTORY. The Socialists angrily countered that the PP was trying to undermine the current administration.

-------------

i would love to watch the reaction if kerry ask bush what he thought of Aznars accusations that 'Zapatero planned the bombings for political victory'! Then i'd like to see kerry follow up with the same accusations of bush!

Much intrigue in Spain at the moment. Zapatero appears as the e.u. "good guy" to contrast the u.s. "bad guy" -at just the right time. EU foreign minister Solana announces his "7" plan. bush's fear of and hiding from mr Zapatero -followed by King Juan Carlos mysterious visit to bush ranch. Zapatero's own peace plan which is INclusive rather than EXclusive(u.s.). now king george telling troops HE wants peace.. who will be the peacemaker?

we live in VERY interesting times!

[maddezmom]

5. $16,000 bill for the massive erasing

"There was a massive erasing (of computer records) ... There is nothing from March 11 to March 14 in the prime minister's office," Zapatero said. But, he added, "they did leave us the bill for the massive erasing."


El Pais newspaper reported the job cost 12,000 euros ($15,940).

[struggle4progress]

6. kick

:kick:

[goforit]

7. Destroyed records due to US involvement?....Wouldn't that crack the

mold of Fascism.

It would be an interesting dilema for Washington.

[leesa]

8. Exactly as I thought...RW conservatives did it, just like 9-11.

[Judi Lynn]

9. I've got so much respect for this man.

Hope he starts a trend among leaders. It would tell us a new world is possible, rather than this nightmare looming before us.





There are some hilarious, though naughty photos of Aznar, done by Spanish and other European sources in google photos, if you look in google "images" for Aznar + Bush. I don't think they liked him.

Best wishes for a long, healthy, successful career and life for Zapatero. He's a miracle.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Kick!

[neweurope]

11. Oh yes, I hope he will stay healthy. But a lot of damage

has been done already. New European security regulations decided upon just ten days after the Spanish 9/11 will make surveillance of the population much easier. Fingerprints, biometric data and a lot of other things the US had been asking for we now have. Some even say these new regulations make it now possible that the army be used on the population. For instance when there are big demonstrations against a visiting head of state...

[Judi Lynn]

13. I've never read this before now. Glad you informed us on it.

If _Bush doesn't back away from his life of crime as the U.S. pResident, he'll be getting large demonstrations every time he makes a trip.

I can't imagine why he insists on showing up in other countries, knowing how unpopular he actually is. Odd, isn't it?

[Minstrel Boy]

14. A headline last Spring: "Bomb squad link in Spanish blasts"

From The Times of London:

Bomb squad link in Spanish blasts

The man accused of supplying the dynamite used in the al-Qaeda train bombings in Madrid was in possession of the private telephone number of the head of Spain’s Civil Guard bomb squad, it emerged yesterday.

Emilio Suárez Trashorras, who is alleged to have supplied 200kg of dynamite used in the bombs, had obtained the number of Juan Jesús Sánchez Manzano, the head of Tedax.

The revelation has raised fresh concerns in Madrid about links between those held responsible for the March bombings, which killed 190 people, and Spain’s security services, and shortcomings in the police investigation. Señor Suárez Trashorras and two other men implicated in the bombings have already been identified as police informers. Other members of the group had evaded police surveillance, despite concerns within the security services about their activities and evidence of their association with al-Qaeda.

The telephone number of Señor Sánchez Manzano was contained in a Civil Guard dossier handed to Juan del Olmo, the investigating judge, at the National Court in Madrid. The number was written on a piece of paper found in the possession of Carmen Toro, the wife of Señor Suárez Trashorras. Both are in custody accused of supplying dynamite used in the Madrid bombs.
http://avantgo.thetimes.co.uk/services/avantgo/article/0,,1150429,00.html

[Judi Lynn]

15. Missed this the first time around. Thanks so much.

It really throws a different light on the subject, doesn't it, reading the small details withheld in our own daily "news" diet?

Yep, we are deliberately being kept in the dark. It's going to be so much easier for the rightwing, once they find the way to control "the Internets," so every bit of illumination we can get now is really important.



"I hear there's rumors on the internets."

[wordout]

16. Zapatero reborn

ZP reborn, renamed, redressed, retouched

THE man with the common touch, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, whose ability to tap into the mood of the nation contributed to his unexpected election success in March, has succumbed to the image makers. The Socialist Prime Minister is said to enjoy being referred to as ZP (Zeta-Pe), favoured by his advisers, instead of the more formal Zapatero of old.

He is also more likely to be seen in dark blue tailored suits, rather than the browns and greys of his days in opposition, at formal occasions while adopting a relaxed open-neck look when he is interacting with the public and at party events. The Prime Minister has been given a new fashionable hairstyle and hints of grey have been disguised.

The daily newspaper El Mundo said that the makeover by professional stylists had created a modern and relaxed version of “the man with an eternal smile”. The rebranding of Señor Zapatero echoes that which transformed Tony Blair from just another opposition figure to a leader with a distinctly presidential mien. “Not a single aspect of his physical appearance is left to chance,” El Mundo said.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1402823,00.html

[Judi Lynn]

17. Funny, we never saw any hatchet jobs on Aznar, did we?

No, we never got any descriptions of his wardrobe, his dependence upon "image makers," his phoniness, etc., etc.

Nor did we read any articles designating him as the "rightwing Prime Minister."

Maybe it was a simple oversight.