Al Qaeda's Plan For Spain

Elections, Withdrawal Just as Planned

Published on March 16, 2004 By Larry Kuperman In Current Events

In an online document, Al Qaeda posted their plan to use terrorist acts to influence the Spanish government and force a withdrawal from Iraq. This document was posted months before the bombings last week. What is astonishing is that Al Qaeda was able to execute the plan to perfection and get exactly the desired results.

Posted in December on a message board, the Al Qaeda document predicted the Spanish reaction to terrorist acts:

"We think the Spanish government will not stand more than two blows, or three at the most, before it will be forced to withdraw because of the public pressure on it," reads one excerpt.

"If its forces remain after these blows, the victory of the Socialist Party will be almost guaranteed -- and the withdrawal of Spanish forces will be on its campaign manifesto."

As everyone knows, the Socialist Party was in fact victorious and did announce the withdrawal of Spanish troops from the coalition.

Comments

Dynosoar

on Mar 16, 2004

How long before the Spanish public realize they were played by the Socialist as well as Al Queda?

JillUser

on Mar 16, 2004

It only took one blow didn't it? I heard Poland offered to send troops to replace the Spanish troops. What is Spain thinking?! They are jumping right into Al Qaeda's net. I am truly glad the US didn't react that way to 9/11.

bakerstreet

on Mar 16, 2004

I almost wish this was cowardice. I think it is spite, simple backstabbing to gain favor in the EU. The Spanish people have always been against the war on the whole. Now that it is over, now that the Iraqi people have the opportunity to build a new nation and need the support and stability... they pull out to make a political point. It defies their anti-war concerns for the Iraqi people. This isn't because they are pacifists, or because they are afraid of more bombs, this is to placate the EU members they offended by siding with the US.

Maybe a few percent of Spanish voters were swung by the bombing. I tend to think there wasn't enough time for it to sink in and really change minds. The Socialists put in place, though, aren't effected by it at all. They are bean counters, bureaucrats who didn't like the fact their EU power was effected by siding with the US. They don't care about the Iraqi people, and they don't care what message this sends to terrorists. It is just self-serving apathy.

Sherye Hanson

on Mar 22, 2004

Larry, please write more articles. You are a very good writer.

Solitair

on Mar 23, 2004

Just because it was what Al Qaeda wanted does not mean the Spanish withdrew troops to applease Al Qaeda.

If the old Spanish government had not screwed up so badly in trying to immediately pin the blame on ETA they probably would have won the election. As for withdrawing troops from Iraq, Spain have offered to keep them there if the US agrees to allow a UN led peace keeping force. France and Russia have also offered troops.

So if you really care for the Iraqi people you can add thousands of troops instantly by handing the peace keeping mission to the UN.

Do you care about them?

Will you hand control to the UN?

Paul.

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