Thursday, March 11, 2004
The AP report in the New York Times offers a couple of reasons for thinking that this may indeed be ETA's work:
1100 pounds of explosives would make a pretty massive bomb and these folks do seem to be targeting the rails in Madrid. An ETA-linked politician is denying that they were responsible:
I'm amused that ETA is malicious enough to perpetrate these attacks but strives for consistency as to how they're reported. What if they decided to change their MO? What if they want an attack blamed on Al Qaeda? If the government has been taking a strong anti-ETA position, an ETA-blamed attack would probably help it (the government) make its case. An attack attributed to Al Qaeda would reopen the question of whether Spain should have participated in the Iraq war, thereby damaging the government's prospect. It does seem that this Otegi wants to pose with his comment about "Arab resistance elements." Even if ETA didn't do it, Otegi's sneaking praise of Al Qaeda speaks volumes about the character of ETA and its mouthpieces.
On Feb. 29, police intercepted a Madrid-bound van packed with more than 1,100 pounds of explosives, and blamed ETA. On Christmas Eve, police thwarted an attempted bombing at Chamartin, another Madrid rail station, and arrested two suspected ETA members.
1100 pounds of explosives would make a pretty massive bomb and these folks do seem to be targeting the rails in Madrid. An ETA-linked politician is denying that they were responsible:
Other Spanish officials and media also blamed ETA. But Arnold Otegi, leader of Batasuna, an outlawed Basque party linked to the armed separatist group, denied it was behind the blasts and suggested ``Arab resistance'' elements were responsible.
Arnold Otegi told Radio Popular in San Sebastian that ETA always phones in warnings before it attacks. The interior minister said there was no warning before Thursday's attack.
I'm amused that ETA is malicious enough to perpetrate these attacks but strives for consistency as to how they're reported. What if they decided to change their MO? What if they want an attack blamed on Al Qaeda? If the government has been taking a strong anti-ETA position, an ETA-blamed attack would probably help it (the government) make its case. An attack attributed to Al Qaeda would reopen the question of whether Spain should have participated in the Iraq war, thereby damaging the government's prospect. It does seem that this Otegi wants to pose with his comment about "Arab resistance elements." Even if ETA didn't do it, Otegi's sneaking praise of Al Qaeda speaks volumes about the character of ETA and its mouthpieces.
