John Finora
Why Spain is Trouble for Bush
Wed Mar 17 02:03:02 2004
64.140.158.123

Why Spain is Trouble for Bush
by John Finora

The Al Qaida bombings in Spain have the political world reeling with fear
and rumor. Many think that the reaction of the Spanish electorate to the
well-timed terrorism is a placating retreat from the fear of future
targeting by the Islamists.

The turn of the Spanish tide against keeping troops in Iraq is seen as a
personal defeat for Bush and his scant coalition in the “War Against Terror”
, which turned out to be just a war in Iraq. The threat to Bush is much
bigger than that.

The big reason for the change in voters’ hearts in Spain wasn’t fear of
terrorists. It was the fear of having a government that wouldn’t level with
the people about the facts surrounding this horrific experience for a
country.

After the bombing, which was obviously well-organized with some tell-tales
signs of Al Qaida participation, the right-wing government tried to cover-up
the real source of the bombings. Initially, then doggedly, they clung to the
story that ETA, the terror arm of the Basque Separatist Movement, was at
fault in bombing Madrid.

The people felt otherwise. They realized the obvious signs that spelled
involvement by the Islamist terrorists striking, at will around the world.
The Spanish people originally opposed Bush’s war in Iraq and 90% opposed
sending their troops to the invaded country.

Having the Prime Minister show a contemptuous lack of trust in his own
voters, the five-point lead he enjoyed in the polls became a five-percent
margin of victory for the Socialist candidate, in one day. That is where the
threat to Bush lies.

Americans are getting the point that their own government has been less than
honest with its people. Most of all, there is the “weapons of mass
destruction” issue. Then, the nuclear threat in Iraq that didn’t exist at
all, the lack of chemical or biological weapons, the failure to prove any
connection with Al Qaida and the mounting American deaths all point to
political trickery, cover-ups and a lack of trust. The move into Iraq was
more important than being honest with the American people.

If that had been the extent of it, it might still fly. After all, the
American people want to support our troops when they are in action,
anywhere. But Americans can see through the Halliburton connection. The vast
overcharges didn’t help.

There was the Bush sell-out to the prescription drug industry. The man had
the gall to call it a breakthrough for Americans on Medicare. Has all the
trust and honesty disappeared from politics? (Maybe, so) Do you really think
it’s just a coincidence that gasoline prices are hitting all-time record
highs while Bush is President and Cheney is Vice President?

This, being less than honest with the American people, is what Bush has to
fear from Spain. If the Spanish would turn ten points on an incumbent Prime
Minister who thought it was more important to ride through election day than
tell his people the truth about this terrible bombing, then the American
people might well be ready to reject the misleading, politically tricky,
policy-for-sale Bush White House.

Now the question for American voters is what is the greatest fear in
Washington? Does Bush fear the affect that the terrorists may have gained
over world events, or does he fear losing the election, more?

What do you think about this article? Write a letter to the editor at:
http://www.bulletinboards.com/view.cfm?comcode=gulf1msw

Comments should be sent to: Finora@gulf1.com   

• US President George Bush: Looking for a quick fix — Khaled Dawoud, Wed Mar 17 23:38