Spain to Double Afghanistan Contingent

[Nile]

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Spain's incoming government, under pressure over plans to withdraw its troops from Iraq, has agreed to double its military presence in Afghanistan to 250 soldiers this summer, an aide to the future defense minister said Monday.

The Socialist party insisted that its plans on Iraq remain firm. A poll released Monday said 72 percent of Spaniards agree with its position.

Outgoing Defense Minister Federico Trillo made the decision on the Afghanistan troops last week in consultation with his Socialist replacement, Jose Bono, according to Bono spokesman Jose Luis Fernandez.

Reports that the Socialists, who won March 14 general elections, planned to increase Spain's presence in Afghanistan first surfaced last week.

(more)
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SPAIN_POLITICS?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[sniffa]

1. such cowards!

more appeasement of the terrorists, i see.

[hang a left]

2. Which terrorists are you talking about, eh?

[sniffa]

5. doh

didn't mean for my sarcasm to not be picked up.

[mot78]

6. Uh...the people who actually murdered 3,000 Americans on our soil

And not the "terra-ists" that had "WMDS".

[KissMyAsscroft]

3. Good Point sniffa!

Because of the 9/11 attacks, America broke down and elected more Republicans...man...we are such cowards, eh?

Door swings both ways, sparky.

And 90% of the public was against the Iraq War. That's why he was tossed out on his ass. Not to mention he lied about who was responsible for the train bombings.

[JoFerret]

10. Yep - is there no end to their yellow streak!

Good move by Zapatero - making a clear distinction in the commitment of resources between terrorism by Al Qaeda and terrorism by neo-cons and their puppets.

[mobuto]

4. Its a symbolic gesture

A good gesture, but still symbolic. 250 troops isn't enough to do squat.

[Lisa]

7. even so ...

Our guys (Canadians) will appreciate some help over there. Maybe we can form our own "Let's clean up after Shrub" coalition?

[goz]

8. Over where? Iraq?

[Lisa]

9. Afghanistan

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/01/20/Afghantroops_040120

Someone I know was stationed out there for almost a year.

[goz]

11. Now, it's the Vandoos turn but I don't approve

The war in Afghanistan is as unjust as the one in Iraq. The only difference is that the former has the UN "fig leaf"... Apparently, I'm not the only one. A few days before leaving, 17 to 19 of them made sure to fail the drug test by smoking grass!

[mobuto]

13. Huh?

The difference is kind of stunning. Afghanistan harbored the people who attacked us on September 11, Iraq didn't.

[goz]

15. Stunning my ...

September 11 was an "inside job". The Talibans, no matter how disgusting was their behaviour, had NOTHING to do with it! The TRUE reason for the war was to secure a stupid pipeline that was going to run across Afghanistan. Now that it has been established for certain that there is no "Oil Bonanza" in the Caucasus (Central Asia), the "Sisters" (Oil Companies) are pulling out! Our soldiers are not...

XXI Century definition of "naïve": Someone who would believe, for instance, that a handfull of cavemen could have fooled the most powerfull Intelligence apparatus (400 BILLIONS a year) on the Planet...

The TRUE reason for the war in Iraq is similar. OIL, again...

PS. In my previous post, I should have written "unjustified war" instead "unjust war".

[mobuto]

16. Well we disagree

I think the evidence that Al Qaeda was responsible for 9/11 is nothing short of overwhelming. And Al Qaeda was most clearly harbored by the Taliban. And I'm not going to debate this with you.

[goz]

18. Well, I will! Show us that "overwhelming evidence".

That is an OPEN challenge!

[newyawker99]

19. Hi goz!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[leesa]

12. Stupid move! From supporting one bogus war to another bogus war

This whole thing...both wars were just another Bush con job. Afghanistan was ONLY about getting the oil pipeline Kenny Boy wanted built. Had nothing to do with 9-11. Was ALL planned in July of 2001. They MUST tap the Indian market and they are doing so not only with the fossil fuel boys, but they are taking your jobs there.


Stop believing this terrorism bullshit!

[mobuto]

14. ???

And here I thought the Taliban hosted Al Qaeda which attacked us on September 11.

Afghanistan was ONLY about getting the oil pipeline Kenny Boy wanted built.

Really? The US cruise missile strikes in 1998 were to level the grade?


Stop believing this terrorism bullshit!

Its kind of hard not to believe in terrorism when they're flying planes into skyscrapers.

[goz]

17. All diversions that seem to be working...

Osama Bin Laden was and STILL IS on the CIA payroll! As I have mentionned in another post, the "Company" has paid him a "visite de courtoisie" (courtesy), in July 2001, in Dubai, while he was hospitalised there. That was 10 months AFTER 9-11! It was reported in the international Press, on October 30, 2001, I believe. You should read it, once in a while...