Terrorist Attack in Spain - Over 60 dead

[Jon_in_london]

The ETA is justified in blowing up three Madrid train stations. Why?

1) The Spanish "settlements" on Bask land.

2) The Spanish "occupation" of Bask lands.

3) The Spanish government's "arrests and assasinations" of Bask leaders.

4) The French "deportations" of all the ETA members in 1986.



Or is blowing up civilians only acceptable when Israelis are the targets?

Only took 1 hour.

 

[zenith-nadir]

Only took 1 hour.

What's that jon? Feel free to share.

 

[Fendetestas]

I'm here in Madrid and I must say I'm very pleased with the reaction of the population. You wouldn't believe the enormous queues of people willing to donate blood, for example. My University has cancelled all activities today as a gesture of protest and solidarity (a quick one too, as the bombs exploded this morning, it's 13:25 here now) Another reason is the obvious one: the bombs exploded in a commuter train station and a lot of people couldn't made it to the city. The last number of victims I have heard is 173 killed, hundreds of wounded.

 

[The Don]

Only took 1 hour.

I think you should get the $1m

 

[Reginald]

Or is blowing up civilians only acceptable when Israelis are the targets?

Don't you think there are enough threads on that issue without having to have a stab at derailing this one????

 

[Fendetestas]

It seems now that the plan was to detonate all 5 bombs when the train entered the station, it could have been worse (only three exploded and outside the station)

 

[zenith-nadir]

Don't you think there are enough threads on that issue without having to have a stab at derailing this one????

Derailing? One post "derails" an entire thread at JREF? Wow do you have ADD Reginald?

I was makig a point. That point being some find palestinian terrorism "acceptable" while everyone finds this example of terrorism in Madrid "unacceptable"...Why is that?

Ok...back to your easily-derailed thread...

 

[richardm]

Latest just in from ITN:

ETA say "It wasn't us, guv".

Whether this is because it really wasn't them, or whether they've realised they've overdone it this time, I don't know.

 

[Reginald]

Derailing? One post "derails" an entire thread at JREF? Wow do you have ADD Reginald?

I was makig a point. That point being some find palestinian terrorism "acceptable" while everyone finds this example of terrorism in Madrid "unacceptable"...Why is that?

Ok...back to your easily-derailed thread...

I didn't say you had derailed, I said you were having a stab at derailing it, kindly read before attempting a retort, however weak.

 

[Fendetestas]

I think this will be a major blow for ETA (though I don't think it will be their end) In the past four, five years they have lost an awful lot of their support, with ever growing demonstrations, concerts... And don't forget we're having general elections this sunday. I think this will make some people who weren't going to vote change their minds, and I'm sure the Partido Popular (the current governing party and the favourite in the upcoming election) will gain votes because of this. I know this is the case with some friends of mine. Not with me, I don't like them at all (compulsory Religion in all schools and highschools...)

By the way, the Minister of Justice has just said that they have no doubt is the responsibility of ETA, and also that they were trap bombs, with retarded timers.

 

[Fendetestas]

Latest just in from ITN:

ETA say "It wasn't us, guv".

This doesn't mean anything. ETA doesn't claim responsibility for all its attacks and they never do it so soon.

 

[Oleron]

I'm here in Madrid and I must say I'm very pleased with the reaction of the population. You wouldn't believe the enormous queues of people willing to donate blood, for example. My University has cancelled all activities today as a gesture of protest and solidarity (a quick one too, as the bombs exploded this morning, it's 13:25 here now) Another reason is the obvious one: the bombs exploded in a commuter train station and a lot of people couldn't made it to the city. The last number of victims I have heard is 173 killed, hundreds of wounded.

This atrocity just gets worse..
I just can't imagine how you guys in Madrid feel at the moment. Perhaps some of the New York members have some idea.

 

[Oleron]

I think this will be a major blow for ETA (though I don't think it will be their end) In the past four, five years they have lost an awful lot of their support, with ever growing demonstrations, concerts... And don't forget we're having general elections this sunday. I think this will make some people who weren't going to vote change their minds, and I'm sure the Partido Popular (the current governing party and the favourite in the upcoming election) will gain votes because of this. I know this is the case with some friends of mine. Not with me, I don't like them at all (compulsory Religion in all schools and highschools...)

By the way, the Minister of Justice has just said that they have no doubt is the responsibility of ETA, and also that they were trap bombs, with retarded timers.

These 'own goals' damage these organisations badly, just ask the IRA. Hopefully more peaceful means of protest can now be explored.

 

[Fendetestas]

This is an incredible shock here, and a "quantum leap" in the atrocities of this organization. ETA has killed more people today than in the past 12 years (until this morning, we had 800 people killed since 1968) I can't wait to hear what Otegi (leader of the political arm of the band) has to say.

 

[zenith-nadir]

I didn't say you had derailed, I said you were having a stab at derailing it, kindly read before attempting a retort, however weak.

Actually Reginald, I don't believe you are psychic and 'know' the 'reasons' and 'motivations' for every post I make at JREF.

I don't believe that you actually 'knew' I was "having a stab at derailing this thread"....I believe you just didn't like what I wrote and instead of addressing it you prefer to take the easy way out and "invent" my motivation and call it a "having a stab at derailing this thread"....

 

[Graham]

This doesn't mean anything. ETA doesn't claim responsibility for all its attacks and they never do it so soon.

On the other hand, the US has been heavily publicising Spainish involvement in their little alliance against Iraq.

Of the three big players (the US, UK and Spain) in that alliance, Spain is probably the easiest target (being on the mainland for a start).

It's not beyond possibility that Al Queda or some offshoot are behind this, IMO.

Graham

 

[richardm]

This doesn't mean anything. ETA doesn't claim responsibility for all its attacks and they never do it so soon.

Maybe not, but in this case they've condemned the attacks, so they're not just ducking responsibility but actively distancing themselves from this. This could just be cowardice, but it might be worth noting that synchronised, near-simultaneous attacks are an Al-Qaeda trademark, so perhaps they're being truthful (although why they should consider it acceptable to kill a few people at a time but condemn the killing of dozens, I cannot imagine).

There's nothing to say that other people can't do sync'd attacks as well, of course, but it will be interesting to see what the investigation can turn up.

 

[Bluegill]

I'm here in Madrid and I must say I'm very pleased with the reaction of the population. You wouldn't believe the enormous queues of people willing to donate blood, for example. My University has cancelled all activities today as a gesture of protest and solidarity (a quick one too, as the bombs exploded this morning, it's 13:25 here now) Another reason is the obvious one: the bombs exploded in a commuter train station and a lot of people couldn't made it to the city. The last number of victims I have heard is 173 killed, hundreds of wounded.

I hear things about the people of Madrid, and the Spanish in general, that make me admire them. My condolences to the people of your city. Though I guess it's not likely, I hope the casualty estimates start to go back down.

 

[Fendetestas]

Well, I'm not saying I'm certain ETA is behind of this, but I'm quite convinced. First of all, the Minister of Interior has just said in a public appearance that they have "no doubt" ETA is behind this. Furthermore, it's logical for ETA to do this (and I believe there'll be more in the following days) just before the elections.

 

[richardm]

Well, I'm not saying I'm certain ETA is behind of this, but I'm quite convinced. First of all, the Minister of Interior has just said in a public appearance that they have "no doubt" ETA is behind this. Furthermore, it's logical for ETA to do this (and I believe there'll be more in the following days) just before the elections.

I agree that the motivation is there for ETA, timing-wise, but I'd love to know how the Minister is so certain, so quickly. Especially considering that the attack is so disproportionately large compared to past ETA efforts.