NYT: Background on Sp. govt. attempt to manipulate voters

[DeepModem Mom]

Mods: This story, which appeared on page one of the NYT this morning, was locked as a dupe earlier because the headline indicated it was another report about the demonstrations in Spain last night. I've been permitted to repost, however, because of the story's emphasis on the Spanish government's attempt to manipulate information about the perpetrators of the Madrid attacks, in order to influence the election.


Grieving Crowds in Spain Seethe at Train Attacks
By ELAINE SCIOLINO

Published: March 13, 2004


MADRID, March 12 — Grief and fury blanketed Spain on Friday evening as the country mourned the victims of its terrorist attack and struggled to discover who was responsible....

***

The center-right government continued to assert that the armed Basque separatist group ETA and not Al Qaeda, the terrorist organization, was probably responsible for the attack, although the evidence is confusing and nothing has been ruled out.

The political stakes in uncovering the identity of the terrorists are high. Spain's voters will elect a new government on Sunday. Mariano Rajoy, the handpicked successor of Prime Minister José María Aznar and the candidate of the governing Popular Party, is in the lead. He has pledged to continue the policies of Mr. Aznar, including Spain's full participation in the Bush administration's antiterror and Iraq policies....

***

Mr. Aznar's decision to join the American war effort in Iraq and send 1,300 troops there was overwhelmingly opposed by his people. If Al Qaeda is shown to be involved, perhaps as punishment for Spain's involvement in the war, it could affect the election's outcome.

With the party machine behind him, Mr. Rajoy, an uninspiring candidate and five-time minister, has run an extraordinarily organized campaign. Government and party officials went on the offensive against their political opponents to build the argument that ETA was responsible for the terrorist attacks....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/13/international/europe/13SPAI.html

[boobooday]

1. This is all very creepy

What the hell is going on?

What is in store for us?

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[monobrau]

2. Much respect to the Spanish

It's obvious that the people of Spain are way ahead of the pathetic sheep that inhabit this country when it comes to critical thinking skills and a having little tolerance for lies that result in the deaths of it's citizens and innocents abroad. There were 11 million people in the streets today. Hopefully Aznar will pay for his treachery, while we just pray that at least a majority of electoral votes will unseat the murderous scum that infects our nation. In a just world, those responsible would be held accountable and perhaps executed for such a malicious betrayal of civilization in the name of greed and lust for power.
Meanwhile, more Americans die today while the sheeple watch sports on TV.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. There were 11 million people on Friday, not Saturday

please note the Friday marches included government members, and were not anti-government in any way. The Saturday protests were considerably smaller.

And another thing - shouldn't this be in General Discussion? It's 24 hours old, and the title doesn't match the news report.

[NYC]

3. Link: Spanish Envoys Told to Blame ETA. (Ana Pslacio)

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=475302§ion=news

Excerpt:

"You should use any opportunity to confirm ETA's responsibility for these brutal attacks, thus helping to dissipate any type of doubt that certain interested parties may want to promote," El Pais quoted Foreign Minister Ana Palacio as writing in a memo.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Adding a report from Madrid friend, posted by July in GD --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1228350

"Arrests have been made (2 Indians, 3 Moroccans, I think).

Could influence the election, friend doesn't believe PP (Aznar's party) will get an absolute majority, unlikely that PSOE (Socialists) will, either. PP could form a coalition with conservative party from the Canaries or one of the Catalan parties. Could be close. Not sure there is enough time for everyone to absorb news of arrests and have it influence their votes; undecideds become more important.

Shocked at cynicism of Ana Palacio's memo to diplomats to insist on ETA as guilty in attacks."


ON EDIT: see NYC's post #3 re. the Palacio memo.

[bpilgrim]

5. hope the neoCONs are pay'n attention

just'n case they are thinking of jump-starting *'s poll#s in sep/oct

peace

[Gman]

7. If another Timothy McVeigh blew up another federal building

Bushco would blame Al-Queda and suppress any information to the contrary. Bush and Rove may eventually believe Bush needs another Al-Queda attack to win the election. Everyone should stay off trains and out of high buildings after Labor Day because Bush will do it.