New Spanish Leader Vows Iraq Pullout
Monday, March 15, 2004
MADRID, Spain – Spain’s new Socialist leader vowed Monday to bring home the 1,300 Spanish troops now in Iraq, a move that follows the worst terrorist attack ever to hit the U.S. ally.
“The military intervention was a political error for the international order, for the search for cooperation, for the defense of the United States,” Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (search) told reporters, adding that Spain would maintain “cordial” relations with Washington.
“It divided more than it united, there were no reasons for it, time has shown that the arguments for it lacked credibility and the occupation has been managed badly.”
And I thought the frogs were defeatist.
PS: For what it’s worth, I don’t fault the courage of Spanish troops or of outgoing President Aznar and his government. It’s the lefty people of Spain and their new lefty government that I call cowards.
PPS: Lileks:
Vote against the party that maddened the terrorists, so the terrorists will leave you alone for a while — brilliant. It’s like sitting on a cooler of raw meat with tigers prowling around, and deciding to put down your rifle so you can throw some steaks at the tigers. If you throw hard enough, they won’t come back.
At least Spain knows what’s expected of them now. If they remove the Socialists from power some day, they can expect a few bombs here and there to remind them of their place.
No kidding.