joker said on March 11, 2004 12:45:

http://www.elmundo.es/fotografia/2004/03/atentados/atentados1.html
PLEASE SEE THIS PHOTOS THIS IS .............NO WORDS.
170 DEATHS AND MORE 500 INJURED

lawyer said on March 11, 2004 13:19:

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mattias said on March 11, 2004 14:45:

I don´t think it’s for sure that it is ETA. And if it is, I believe they do it because they want independece from the rest of Spain.

ally77 said on March 11, 2004 15:14:

The world is a crazy place...

lawyer said on March 11, 2004 18:18:

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mattias said on March 11, 2004 20:03:

In my opinion, the word “terrorist” is heavily overused. There is not even a globaly accepted definition of a terrorist. Most countries agreed upon a definition, but the US refused to acknowledge it, for obvious reasons. And as with many things, if the US don´t agree it’s not much worth.

And ever since the Americans justified their recent wars with terrorism, everyone else grabbed the opportunity to justify their own deeds. Whoever is unpleasant becomes a terrorist.

Also, the line seems very thin between a terrorist and a fighter of freedom. Tonight it´s “The Patriot” on TV, an example of terrorist Americans using force to overthrow the British to gain their independence. Who wants to the blame the Americans for being originated in terrorism?

I am NOT defending killing people, just trying to make a point.

Roxlander said on March 11, 2004 21:22:

Terrorism is the worst plague of modern times. Nothing justifies killing people.

From Costa Rica my prayers with my Spanish brothers.

DaminehGessle said on March 11, 2004 22:23:

I just wanted to quote Mr. May. Well said:
“We were all appalled to hear of the despicable bomb attacks in Madrid. How could anyone justify this vile attack on innocent people, women, many pregnant, youths, small children ....?

I have spoken with Luis and was relieved to hear that no-one from our Company was hurt - thank God - the biggest blast was very near the Calderon Theatre - but our hearts go out to the victims and their relatives... And all this from a group of extremists who are NOT nursing a grievance of any violence against them. I find this much harder to understand than a Palestinian youth sacrificing his own life because he has nothing to lose, because he feels his people are being destroyed. These terrorists are well-fed beasts, in a democracy which denies them no human right, fighting for a cause which could do nothing except give them power. Who, in Heaven’s name, could sympathise ??!

So sad. Nothing can bring back these innocent souls. I hope Heaven gives them a warm place.

Love

Bri”

Denstandigaresan said on March 12, 2004 00:11:

Judith... swear all you like... if someone gets pissy over a few swear words on here when stuff like this is going on, there is no hope!
FUCKING TERRORISTS. >:(

DaminehGessle said on March 12, 2004 06:47:

The old AL Q? no way hahaha! Why would they go for spain? no!

Santi said on March 12, 2004 08:35:

I don’t know who did it but I don’t find it so weird that could be Al Qaida.
Let me tell you why.
- Did you know some of the suicide pilots who flew the 9/11 planes were educated 15 km away from my home, in Valencia Airport facilities?
- Did you know that most of those people were staying for quite a long time in Spain?
- Did you know that along with the UK (which has already suffered terrorist attacks in Turkey recently) Spain was the only EU member that supported the war against Iraq by the USA?
- Did you know Spain is a NATO member state?
- Did you know Spain is the most accessible of all the European countries coming from Islamic countries (Northern Africa), because we are the only one to have a physical boundaries and also the Strait of Gibraltar is just 14 km wide?
- Did you know ETA has never in almost 36 years used a suicide terrorist like the one who was used in one of the trains yesterday?
- Did you know Osama bin Laden has threatened “former Al-Andalus” (where I’m sitting right now... in other words) not long ago?
- Did you know there have been found links between ETA and Al Qaida in the investigations carried out after the 9/11?
- Did you know ETA uses to warn the authorities whenever “civilian” objectives can be killed?
- Did you know for “ETA’s fight” such an attack serves no purpose (reason for which they’ve never but once used it before, when in 1988 they blasted a supermarket in Barcelona) while mass-killing is the tactics preferred by Al Qaida?
It doesn’t serve their purpose because the Basques who still support them would never defend such a thing, even Arnaldo Otegi (a Basque separatist politician) has regreted the attack... and he’s never done it with previous ETA attacks.

All that is why I think it’s not that ilogical as to laugh about that possibility. It’s plausible, it has to be if even the Spanish government (who wishes ETA is the responsible) still considers it.

However I think ETA are people disturbed enough as to do such a thing, but what makes me doubt the most is that ETA can blast 4 trains with 10 bombs in 3 minutes... I think that is too perfect for ETA.
We’ll see what happens, what makes me more frightened of all this issue is not to know who is responsible for it.

P.S.: I’m a Basque myself.

lawyer said on March 12, 2004 11:38:

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Denstandigaresan said on March 12, 2004 13:55:

Santi: On the news here in the UK yesterday, they were saying the two could’ve got together for this.

ally77 said on March 12, 2004 14:09:

There is so much conflicting information on the news about this! I just don’t know what to belive!

Denstandigaresan said on March 12, 2004 14:26:

Roxlander: Ok, now that is just spooky. :-X

Roxrider_USA said on March 12, 2004 18:42:

Abd the Madrid bombings were exactly 911 days of 9/11.

Horrifying but true.

Carlos E., New York.

Jud (moderator) said on March 12, 2004 20:35:

this of the 3/2004 and the 911 days is FREAKY... :(

Jud (moderator) said on March 13, 2004 10:27:

the Spanish goverment insist on blaming ETA (they need it like that, first off), but everything else points to some islamic group.. even though the goverment seems to prefer the ETA version, I think both show how great our goverment is.

If it was ETA then they have changed their way of acting/operating and this is freaky because if they have managed this one, they can manage more. It also means that the great politics (?) against ETA that Aznar has been carrying for the past years haven’t not only NOT stopped ETA but have made them worse.

If it was Al-Qaeda - then we have to thank our president for NOT listening to the country he is supposed to be running, thank him for ignoring the millions of people that went out to the street to demonstrate against the war and Spain’s participation in it 1 year ago, thank him for wanting to play the hero and get “contacts” (and he still thinks he can be president of the EU?) and for putting Spain in the target of such islamic fundamentalists - as if we didn’t have enough with ETA. All that for his own (+ his pocket) benefit.

What’s more, one of the “justifications” for cooperating with Bush was that Spain would get US’ help to control and stop ETA.. facts speak for themselves.

Btw, 10th March was Bin Laden’s bday. A late bday present?

Ferdan said on March 15, 2004 05:28:

joker, your appeal to point your finger towards ETA without question is sickening. You don’t seem to care about finding the real author behind this, you seem to be more interesting in supporting the government’s politicaly convenient author.

Anyway, it’s sad what happened ... too sad :(

And it was emocionante to see so many people in the streets, and later so many people protesting against the lies of the government.... the americans should learn from my spaniards brothers and sisters. Sigan con fuerza!.... ya se van a encontrar a los culpables, y van a saber lo que es bueno grrrrr

PS: this is the transcript of the video:
“Full text: ’Al-Qaeda’ Madrid claim

This is a transcript of the videotaped message claiming al-Qaeda carried out the Madrid train bombings, as translated by the Associated Press.
We declare our responsibility for what happened in Madrid exactly two-and-a-half years after the attacks on New York and Washington.

It is a response to your collaboration with the criminals Bush and his allies.

This is a response to the crimes that you have caused in the world, and specifically in Iraq and Afghanistan, and there will be more, if God wills it.

You love life and we love death, which gives an example of what the Prophet Muhammad said.

If you don’t stop your injustices, more and more blood will flow and these attacks will seem very small compared to what can occur in what you call terrorism.

This is a statement by the military spokesman for al-Qaeda in Europe, Abu Dujan al-Afghani.”