Spain Will Shift Away From U.S., New Leader Says

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/16/international/europe/16SPAI.html?ex=1080018000&en=1d471a9804ada48c&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

MADRID, March 15 — Spain's newly elected Socialist prime minister pledged Monday to shift allegiance away from Washington to Paris and Berlin, a move that could lead to a reduction of American influence in Europe on a range of issues. snip

"I want Europe to see us again as pro-European," he told the Spanish radio station Cadena Ser on Monday.

He added: "The war has been a disaster; the occupation continues to be a great disaster. It hasn't generated anything but more violence and hate. What simply cannot be is that after it became so clear how badly it was handled there be no consequences." He said President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain "will have to reflect and engage in some self-criticism, so things like that don't happen again."

In a news conference at party headquarters later in the day, Mr. Zapatero pledged to repair relations with France and Germany, which were badly damaged when Spain supported the war in Iraq and France and Germany opposed it. "Spain is going to see eye to eye with Europe again," he said. "Spain is going to be more pro-Europe than ever. I am deeply convinced of that."

more

[bemildred]

1. Another stirring policy victory for Shrub.

Kiss hegemony goodbye.
:puke:

[LoZoccolo]

2. That's what I don't get...

...I don't really disagree with how some people present PNAC in a hugely abstract sense (as in, we should take some leadership to promote democracy and not let everything in the world go to shit - interventionism is traditionally a liberal position as opposed to isolationist conservatism), but then you look at what the people in it are doing and you're like...OK...and going around pissing everyone off and earning their distrust is supposed to do that how?

[bemildred]

5. Yeah, I know what you mean.

I get dumbfounded when I stand back and think about it.
It is absolutely amazing how much damage they have done,
in how little time, and how directly opposite to their
stated intentions their results have been. I wish Barbara
Tuchman was still around to write it up.

My theory is that they are ignorant, narrowly educated,
arrogant, and not overly bright. Critical thinking is
frowned on in their circles, so they don't do any. That
theory seems to hold up fairly well so far.

[rfkrocks]

3. Great foreign policy Shrub!

Now Europe hates us-the uniter not divider is uniting everyone against us-good job Gopers for undoing 50 years of bi partisan foreign policy for your Iraqis wet dream- Bush out the door in 04

[whistle]

4. Now let me see, who is it that Bush could send to Spain...

...the meet with Sr. Zapatero and patch things up with this very important ally in the War on Terrorism? Condo-for-less Rice? Colin Powell? The Don Rumsfeld? I know, Vice President Chaney. He could Zapatero a business deal to sub-contract under Halliburton, ohooo pick a figure, 35%....no, no...50% of the reconstruction contracts in Iraq. Hummm, don't think they'll bite, they don't have that many railway trains left. :nuke:

[bemildred]

14. James A. Baker III, if anyone.

Or maybe Poppy.
But don't bet on it.

[Zomby Woof]

6. Zapatero!

Beautiful! A wise move by the new PM. :thumbsup:

Spain has longed to be a major player in Europe, and this will be the first important step in doing so.

[Yavin4]

7. See, Bush Is A Uniter!

Wow, Europe is getting more and more united in their hatred towards us every day! Score one for Bush.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[markses]

9. I suppose we should tell the French soldiers

humping it over the mountains in eastern Afghanistan, looking for Osama bib Laden rather than protecting Halliburton thieves in the Kirkuk oil fields, that Europe is the "side of peace." Oh, but that would shatter the illusion of some imbeciles who get all their talking points from other imbeciles - facts on the ground be damned - and never have anything mildly interesting, much less enlightening, to say, though whatever they say is usually dripping with the sarcasm of the terminally weak-argumented.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

15. Oooops, a slip. Go back to acting school.

"no bone". Tsk tsk. See ya later.

[dArKeR]

10. New Spanish leader lashes out over Iraq war - ABC

Spain's prime minister-elect has hit out at United States President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair on their decision to launch a war against Iraq.

"Mr Bush and Mr Blair need to engage in some self-criticism," Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said.

"You can't just go ahead and do things. You can't bombard a people just in case .

"You can't organise a war on the basis of lies."

Mr Zapatero earlier called the US-led war in Iraq "a disaster" and confirmed a pre-election pledge to withdraw the 1,300 Spanish troops serving there by the end of June unless a UN-led multinational force takes command.

He insisted that Spain would seek to maintain strong relations with other countries, specifically naming the US, despite his opposition to Washington's stance on Iraq.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1066490.htm

[cliss]

11. I agree. It's like Spain

really doesn't have much of a choice in this situation. It's either stay "friends" with the US and risk losing the support of their own people, or they decide to walk alone and risk incurring the Wrath of the Neo-Cons.

Recall how they treated the French and the Germans a mere 1 1/2 years ago, when they had the courage to stand up and say NO to BeelzeBush. They were subsequently punished for their boldness.

HOWEVER, all they need to do now is to hang tough and withstand the barrage that is coming. You can count on the Bushmeister and his cronies will be red-hot on the phone, calling and badgeting Sr. Zapatero to change his mind.

At this point though, the Neo-"CONS" are not as powerful as they were 2 years ago. People have stood up to them, and these guys can't keep punishing and isolating countries indefinitely. They'll get wise to the bull-crap and unite.

[Exultant Democracy]

12. You can bet he prefers Kerry to Bush. n/t

[Exultant Democracy]

13. dupe

[fishnfla]

16. Uh-oh, look for a boycott of all things spanish from the freeeper sect

no more spanish fly for starters.....