Alarm in Spain over al-Qaeda call for its "reconquest"

[Vegas]

http://www.eux.tv/article.aspx?articleId=6283

Madrid (dpa) - The emergence of a new al-Qaeda-linked organization in Northern Africa is alarming Spain, which is concerned about Islamists' calls for the reconquest of the country they regard as a lost part of the Muslim world.

"We will not be in peace until we set our foot again in our beloved al-Andalus," al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said on claiming responsibility for an attack which killed at least 24 people in Algiers on Wednesday.

Al-Andalus is the Moorish name for Spain, parts of which were ruled by Muslims for about eight centuries until the last Moorish bastion, Granada, succumbed to the Christian Reconquest in 1492.

The terrorists will undoubtedly attempt to extend their offensive from Northern Africa to European soil, anti-terrorism judge Baltasar Garzon warned, cautioning that Spain was at a "very high risk" of suffering an Islamist attack.

The reference to al-Andalus was not the first by al-Qaeda, which has also vowed to put an end to the Spanish "occupation" of the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the Moroccan coast.

Such announcements worry the security services in Spain, where 29 mainly Moroccan suspects are on trial for the 2004 Madrid train bombings that killed 191 and injured about 1,800 people.

The bombings were mainly a reaction to the war alliance of Spain's former conservative government with the United States in Iraq, but some of the terrorists are also known to have dreamed of reconquering al-Andalus.

The bloodbath in Algiers could launch a new string of attacks in Northern Africa and Europe, including Spain, terrorism expert Fernando Reinares warned.

Al-Qaeda is extending its activities in Northern Africa, where the Algiers bombings were preceded by the suicides of three Moroccan Islamists who blew themselves up to avoid being captured by police on Tuesday.

The Algerian-based al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), intends to federate North African Islamist cells under a common umbrella.

Some of the people who could attack Spain may already be in the country, where nearly 80 per cent of prison inmates jailed on charges related to international terrorism have come from Northern Africa over the past five years.

Islamist radicals proselytize at an estimated 10 per cent of Spain's hundreds of unofficial mosques, which operate in garages, basements and the like.

Spain has become an important base for the recruitment of suicide bombers who are sent to Iraq, according to press reports. Some of the fighters are believed to be trained in new al-Qaeda camps in Sahel countries such as Mali, Niger or Mauritania.

The Madrid train bombings appear to have been organized by a home- grown Islamist cell with the backing of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM).

Ceuta and Melilla, which have sizeable Muslim populations, could well be the next targets, judge Garzon warned.

[Potomac Yank]

My paternal side stems from the area where the Spanish reconquest from the Moor's started.
It's located in the northern mountainous part of Spain.
A roddy hardy group, bag pipes and all, drinking their wine from la bota.
La bota is raised above your face, and tilted in a way that the wine spray heads towards your mouth.
Beginners usually get a good wine face wash, but if it's good wine, who really cares. :)

Tell me, how soon should I get the men ready?

BTW, how much is the pay at The Ministry of Fear? :)

[i_hate_righties]

I hope there arent any Al Qaeda muslim groups in mexico wanting to reclaim lost land, or were really screwed!

[Potomac Yank]

I hope there arent any Al Qaeda muslim groups in mexico wanting to reclaim lost land, or were really screwed!

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Our bota drinkers will gladly come to the aid of our former colonies

We'll call it the reconquest of the New World. :)

[Iron Jaw]

The Muslim conquests and attempted conquests of Europe were prime reasons for the Crusades. Of course, when the Crusades are mentioned today, the so-called scholars rarely mention the Crusaders as a reactionary force.

The modern Spaniards elected a new president and pulled out of Iraq as a concession to the terrorists. And statements such as "reconquista" are the thanks they get for their efforts.

Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar is long gone - sounds like they need a new "Cid" to lead Spain in the 21st Century.

[IBC]

The Muslim conquests and attempted conquests of Europe were prime reasons for the Crusades. Of course, when the Crusades are mentioned today, the so-called scholars rarely mention the Crusaders as a reactionary force.

The modern Spaniards elected a new president and pulled out of Iraq as a concession to the terrorists. And statements such as "reconquista" are the thanks they get for their efforts.

Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar is long gone - sounds like they need a new "Cid" to lead Spain in the 21st Century.

A concession, or because the war has been a disaster? They elected a new president, and he has done a good job. His approval ratings were above 50 last time I saw. Sorry he dropped out of the awesome coalition of the bought and paid for.

[Potomac Yank]

The Muslim conquests and attempted conquests of Europe were prime reasons for the Crusades. Of course, when the Crusades are mentioned today, the so-called scholars rarely mention the Crusaders as a reactionary force.

The modern Spaniards elected a new president and pulled out of Iraq as a concession to the terrorists. And statements such as "reconquista" are the thanks they get for their efforts.

Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar is long gone - sounds like they need a new "Cid" to lead Spain in the 21st Century.

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1. General Lejuene being on the same page with General Smedley Butler.

2. The Crusaders being a reactionary force.

Two different posts.
Two good points.
Like they say .... "Tell it to the Marines!"

Always Semper Fi

[Iron Jaw]

A concession, or because the war has been a disaster? They elected a new president, and he has done a good job. His approval ratings were above 50 last time I saw. Sorry he dropped out of the awesome coalition of the bought and paid for.

Actually, the Partido Popular was doing a pretty good job and was heavily favored to gain reelection until the bombings, which took place three days before the election. The Partido Socialista Obrero Español and their Prime Minister candidate, Jose Luis Rodriguez-Zapatero succeeded in winning the election solely because of the terrorist attack. They were trailing by a significant margin in the polls prior to the bombings on March 11, 2004.

Spain had gained prosperity, outperforming most of it's European partners, under the direction of the Partido Popular and Prime Minister José María Aznar-Lopez. In 2003, Spain had the second fastest growing economy in Europe.

Though there were protests against Aznar when he openly supported President Bush and Prime Minister Blair on the Iraq War, he was leading in the polls by 8 percent prior to 3/11/04. Without the terrorist attack, Aznar quite likely wins reelection and Spain continues to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

[ryr8828]

Actually, the Partido Popular was doing a pretty good job and was heavily favored to gain reelection until the bombings, which took place three days before the election. The Partido Socialista Obrero Español and their Prime Minister candidate, Jose Luis Rodriguez-Zapatero succeeded in winning the election solely because of the terrorist attack. They were trailing by a significant margin in the polls prior to the bombings on March 11, 2004.

Spain had gained prosperity, outperforming most of it's European partners, under the direction of the Partido Popular and Prime Minister José María Aznar-Lopez. In 2003, Spain had the second fastest growing economy in Europe.

Though there were protests against Aznar when he openly supported President Bush and Prime Minister Blair on the Iraq War, he was leading in the polls by 8 percent prior to 3/11/04. Without the terrorist attack, Aznar quite likely wins reelection and Spain continues to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I'm interested in hearing a liberal response to this.

[Potomac Yank]

I'm interested in hearing a liberal response to this.

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RYR, what's the big deal?
One doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out why the people didn't want to support Aznar after the terrorist strike.
It snapped them into a state of awareness, and they saw no future in backing someone that was bought by Bush and Co.
They were able to see that Bush has been a failure from the very beginning ... why be part of it?

[ryr8828]

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RYR, what's the big deal?
One doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out why the people didn't want to support Aznar after the terrorist strike.
It snapped them into a state of awareness, and they saw no future in backing someone that was bought by Bush and Co.
They were able to see that Bush has been a failure from the very beginning ... why be part of it?

Terrorists bomb a train because of Iraq.

It influences the election, the liberal wins and withdraws from Iraq, meeting the terrorists demands.

Now the terrorists are threatening Spain again.

There is a moral to this story, and as much as you'll hate to hear it, it has nothing to do with George Bush.

[Potomac Yank]

Terrorists bomb a train because of Iraq.

It influences the election, the liberal wins and withdraws from Iraq, meeting the terrorists demands.

Now the terrorists are threatening Spain again.

There is a moral to this story, and as much as you'll hate to hear it, it has nothing to do with George Bush.

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RYR, Tell that to all the people JUMPING the Bush Titanic.

[IBC]

Actually, the Partido Popular was doing a pretty good job and was heavily favored to gain reelection until the bombings, which took place three days before the election. The Partido Socialista Obrero Español and their Prime Minister candidate, Jose Luis Rodriguez-Zapatero succeeded in winning the election solely because of the terrorist attack. They were trailing by a significant margin in the polls prior to the bombings on March 11, 2004.

Spain had gained prosperity, outperforming most of it's European partners, under the direction of the Partido Popular and Prime Minister José María Aznar-Lopez. In 2003, Spain had the second fastest growing economy in Europe.

Though there were protests against Aznar when he openly supported President Bush and Prime Minister Blair on the Iraq War, he was leading in the polls by 8 percent prior to 3/11/04. Without the terrorist attack, Aznar quite likely wins reelection and Spain continues to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.
And Zapatero is very popular. Maybe if the PP didn't try and lie about the attacks it wouldn't have gone the way it did. I am well-versed on Spanish politics. I realize what you say is mostly true, but it is also important to note the tried to blame the attacks on ETA, and continued trying to do it when they knew it wasn't true.
I interviewed people in Spain as part of a class project about the PP and the job they were doing right after 9/11.

[IBC]

Actually, the Partido Popular was doing a pretty good job and was heavily favored to gain reelection until the bombings, which took place three days before the election. The Partido Socialista Obrero Español and their Prime Minister candidate, Jose Luis Rodriguez-Zapatero succeeded in winning the election solely because of the terrorist attack. They were trailing by a significant margin in the polls prior to the bombings on March 11, 2004.

Spain had gained prosperity, outperforming most of it's European partners, under the direction of the Partido Popular and Prime Minister José María Aznar-Lopez. In 2003, Spain had the second fastest growing economy in Europe.

Though there were protests against Aznar when he openly supported President Bush and Prime Minister Blair on the Iraq War, he was leading in the polls by 8 percent prior to 3/11/04. Without the terrorist attack, Aznar quite likely wins reelection and Spain continues to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Additionally, Spain had been growing that fast for decades. They had the most to grow. The mass privatization of gov'mt run industry was happening, and lead to lots of investment, foreign and domestic.

Aznar was a very moderate righty by our standards.

[IBC]

Terrorists bomb a train because of Iraq.

It influences the election, the liberal wins and withdraws from Iraq, meeting the terrorists demands.

Now the terrorists are threatening Spain again.

There is a moral to this story, and as much as you'll hate to hear it, it has nothing to do with George Bush.

Yes, Spain is being threatened with a reconquest because they withdrew from Iraq. If they just stayed and fought it would go so much better, like it has for us. GO WAR ON TERROR!