Thousands gather in Spain to demand end to occupation in Iraq

[Judi Lynn]

Thousands gather in Spain to demand end to occupation in Iraq
By Mar Roman, Associated Press, 2/15/2004 16:24



MADRID, Spain (AP) Thousands of protesters demanding an end to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq took to the streets in downtown Madrid and other Spanish cities Sunday, holding banners reading, ''We are with the Iraqi people, Invaders, out of Iraq.''

At Madrid's Plaza Espana square, police said about 10,000 people rallied, while organizers put the number at 100,000.

Some young marchers chanted, ''Where are the weapons? They are in the U.S.!'' and ''The Popular Party, a criminal party!'' in reference to the party of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, one of President Bush's staunchest allies on Iraq and other issues.

People of all ages, from gray-haired couples to toddlers in strollers, joined the orderly stream of protesters in the streets.
(snip/...)

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/046/world/Thousands_gather_in_Spain_to_d:.shtml

[Mari333]

1. Thank god! Go Spain!

I just got a call from Madrid...from my stepson..they arrived in Madrid last night for their last leg to Iraq..I wonder if he knows this is going on..
He also told me he will not be able to contact us for 2=3 weeks, and when he gets to Iraq he will tell us where he is...
in the meantime, Go Spain!

[saltpoint]

2. Can't make it to Madrid this evening --

-- but I am with them in spirit.

Thanks for this post.

[bucknaked]

3. However, they're a member of the "willing"

So much for Democracy and it's part in establishing the "New" Iraq. Lead by example? Nah!

[K8-EEE]

15. Que Viva ESPANA!! OLE' OLE'!!

Ah I am proud of the land of my grandpa's birth, once again -- they have never let up on it, been against it since day one. Spaniards rock!

[DUreader]

4. Remember To Multiply AP #s By A Factor Of Ten

I'll guess there were 50 to 100 thousand based on AP's track record.

[ConcernedCanuk]

5. ''Where are the weapons? They are in the U.S.!'' - they got that right

.
.

USA's got more WMD's than the rest of the world combined,

and if the truth be known,

I suspect that the USA supplied alot of those weapons that are all over the world now anyways . .:shrug:

[goclark]

6. Around The World Protest

Wouldn't It Be Awesome If There Were World Wide War Protest Again!

Each week/month there could be another country. And, during the Republican Convention in New York there could be war protest all Over The Globe on the Opening Day and The Last Day of the Lier's Celebration.

It is also sad that Spain is not afraid of their government and they can protest. The US is so afraid of the Patriot Act that it would be only the brave that will take to the streets.

I'm not afraid, the only way that we will keep the heat on is to take to the streets!

Ole! Si Si Si Spain :toast:

[GreyV]

7. Difference is we need our WMD!!!

Don't you know that?! Why, everybody is jealous of our freedoms so we must protect them... with estimated 8,300 heavy tanks, 24,000 armed infantry vehicles, 9,000 airplanes, 7,000 helicopters, 200 warships, 500 ICBMs with 2,325 nuclear warheads, 432 SLBMs (submarine launches ballistic missiles) with 2,325 warheads, the Army has about 500,000 active troops, the Navy 367,000, the Air Force 350,000, and the Marine Corps 175,000. With reserves added in, the Army has 1.2 million soldiers, the Navy 560,000 sailors, the Air Force 600,000 airmen, and the Corps has 275,000 marines. Don't you understand citizen.. brother?!


Message above was brought to you by your local Homeland security propaganda center.

(numbers are correct though, based on 2002 estimates.)

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[karnac]

9. EEk!

you know you are toast don't you?

Karnac

[NickB79]

10. I just alerted on you

So I don't think you'll even be able to reply to this, but so what.

First, Spain is a predominately CHRISTIAN nation, yet 90% of their population OPPOSED the invasion of Iraq. Where are you getting the idea that only Spanish Muslims protested?

Second, our "tough" foreign policy Bush used has created MORE terrorists, not less. We've only succeeded in pissing off MILLIONS of Muslims around the world that otherwise would have left us alone. Talk about kicking open a hornet's nest, thats exactly what we did in Iraq. Now we're stuck there policing a nation of 25 million and barely holding it together. The whole world has seen that, even with $200 BILLION dollars and state-of-the-art technology, the US forces are still being attacked on a daily basis and have little control over most of the country. We've become a laughing stock worldwide. Oh, and with all our troops and money being spent overseas, what do you think that does for homeland security? We've been left vulnerable because we're wasting money in Iraq that could be spent here guarding the borders and beefing up security.

Finally, Bush himself has already said bye bye to the USA. Why do you think he's selling us out exporting jobs to China and India? He literally sold out his own nation.

[GreyV]

14. Why?!

I wanted to have some fun with him first.

[K8-EEE]

17. Yeah Let The Fascist Stay!

He needs some educating...

[Mari333]

11. Buh Bye!

byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[tabasco]

13. Chickenhawk Alert!!

Hahahaha - the tough guys are all these republican chickenhawks!! Good stuff! Needlessly and illegally attacking an oil-rich country when the real fight was in Afghanistan is just brilliant foreign policy! Now my old unit is stuck in Afghanistan without enough help. Go join the Army if you want to support the troops, hero.

[K8-EEE]

16. Spain Is a CATHOLIC Country That Hates FASCISTS!!

Bush reminds them of Franco -- can you blame them??

[Zomby Woof]

12. Viva Espana!

:bounce:

[K8-EEE]

18. Check Out This Link For Great Pix From Madrid, Barcelona & Seville

http://www.elmundo.es/fotografia/2004/02/manisirak/index.html

The signs in the first pic say "we don't forget"

USA NOS USA = U.S.A. Uses Us

PP NOS ENGANA, DANA A ESPANA, SI VOTAMOS, LOS ECHAMOS=
The Popular Party decieved us, has hurt Spain, let's vote, we'll throw them all out!

The picture in #4 is of a US service man who they say fired the shots at the Palestine Hotel journalists....killing among others a young cameraman from Tele5 TV.