Thursday, March 11, 2004
News from Spain of an set of rail bombs responsible for at least 173 deaths is deeply shocking. Spain is blaming ETA, the Basque separatist organization, for what is probably the worst terrorist attack in continental Europe since 1945.
ETA is extremely bestial but as an American I must confess some initial doubt that they'd be behind this - seeing the high death toll, my first thought was Al Qaeda. Still, this does conform with Spanish fears of an ETA campaign and coincide with Spain's general election. Just as the Bali attacks were Australia's September 11, this cannot fail but be that for Spain. If the ruling party wins - which it was already favored to do - the campaign against ETA may escalate and the United States should do everything it can to help.
ETA is extremely bestial but as an American I must confess some initial doubt that they'd be behind this - seeing the high death toll, my first thought was Al Qaeda. Still, this does conform with Spanish fears of an ETA campaign and coincide with Spain's general election. Just as the Bali attacks were Australia's September 11, this cannot fail but be that for Spain. If the ruling party wins - which it was already favored to do - the campaign against ETA may escalate and the United States should do everything it can to help.
