Are we all suddenly in agreement that it WAS Al Qaeda?

[zanana]

Remember the ETA? I just hope that, this time, we'll demand PROOF that it was Al Qaeda, and not just take CNN's word for it. Yesterday morning, I was watching CNN when it all began, and for hours, Spanish officials insisted that there were no signs of Al Qaeda involvement. By the middle of the day, people were taking it for granted that Al Qaeda was responsible. They very well could be responsible; they're certainly capable of it, but why don't we demand PROOF this time? We all get frustrated when Republicans connect Iraq and Al Qaeda together, but that misconception started with little more than conjecture. I fear that we're creating another conjecture that will magically transform into fact when Bush needs a talking point.
C

[SoCalDem]

1. I believe it was because supposedly

there was a letter from someone in AlQueda and they claimed responsibility for it..

[zanana]

2. Then why don't they show us the letter?

I'm way beyond believing what I hear on the news. I did it for the first two years of this administration, but I've finally learned my lesson. Still need proof.

[rman]

8. what if they'd show the letter?

the yellow cake papers were forged, why not this letter?

[WoodrowFan]

12. They did. It was on either CBS or ABC. (NT)

[mwdem]

14. Has Al Queda actually claimed responsibility for anything

they've supposedly done? I thought their MO was never taking the blame for their actions.

[ParanoidPat]

23. Would you like a little salt with that.....

.....in as much as this is the same group that claimed responsibility for the NE power failure last year and were supposed to nuke NY last month. :shrug:

[sadiesworld]

3. Different leaders need different enemies.

[madmax]

4. On a CNN trailer

Spain government official deny they have any evidence that it was AQ.

FWIW :shrug:

[Jacobin]

5. I heard on radio this morning that there is speculation

That it could have been a jointly planned operation between ETA and AQ.

A little early to know for sure maybe?

[Zero Gravitas]

6. No

The MO is certainly like al Qaeda (co-ordinated multiple attacks intended to kill as many as possible) and is very different from the previous small scale ETA attacks. I neither know nor care what CNN has to say on the matter. Form the coverage I have seen it is unclear who is responsible, the official Spanish position is "we don't know who did it yet".

[Ganja Ninja]

7. That's the problem with shadowy groups like al Qaeda & ....

the BFEE crime family, there's no way to verify their clandestine activities.

[BabsSong]

9. Well, I bet I know the line Bush want's pushed

..don't you. Some local yocals who have been fighting for years just doesn't put the fear of God into the American public. Much more preferable that it be the boys of bin Laden. Also makes it much more of a grand victory when they magically capute bin Laden which is getting so hyped up that one just cannot believe he isn't waiting in the wings already trussed up for when our glorious leader needs him.

[GoBlue]

10. Backfire

Don't have any inside knowledge about who did it, but it seems to me that if AQ is responsible, then Bush needs to explain how his War Of Terrorism is making the world safer.

[dansolo]

11. The govt wants to blame ETA

That have been tripping all over themselves to blame ETA, probably for the benefit of the Aznar government. That fact alone makes me think that al Qaeda was really responsible.

[Bridget Burke]

13. BBCamerica made the Al Qaeda connection early yesterday.

Before the dead had even been counted. Pointing out again & again that Spain had been an ally of the US & the UK against Iraq. Therefore, of course, Iraq = Al Qaeda. The latest battle in the glorious War On Terror.

The previous week, I'd wondered why BBCamerica decided to run Blair's big anti-Terror speech live on their US news show. He definitely made the connection & promised a long, hard War on Terror. Of course, he also whinnied on about WMD's. You know, those things not used 9/11, not used 3/11 & not found in Iraq.

Whatever the truth about yesterday's horrible attack, its political uses were immediately evident. Hard not to remember how valuable 9/11 was (and still is) for some.

[Windy]

15. Clearly, the world is not safer!

The last thing the Bush Administration wants is for the Madrid bombing to be linked to Al Q! They have them on the run don't you remember.... The world is safer now that AQ's friend Saddam is gone..
If it is conclusively proved to be AQ, their will be such an outcry from the Spanish citizens to back away from assisting the US. I was just in Europe less than a month ago...London and Paris. The citizens in Britain don't believe one word Blair says. They vehemently dislike Bush and want the election to go to Kerry in the fall. Protest signs are plastering the PM's exit drive from Parliament. And believe me, the French have no animosity toward the US people. They were extremely kind to my family. But, if you strike up conversation with them, they are very eager to tell you that they feel that the real terrorist is Bush and they hope the American people vote him out of office before he can cause more irreparable damage to the world. They fear a second Bush term, when re-election for him isn't an issue.

As for AQ taking responsibility, the letter they are referring to was sent to a arabic news agency in London. While some news reports say that they have falsely laid claim to some terrorist incidents around the world, they have been linked to the bombings in Turkey.
If you want to see a full translation of the letter you can read it on Al Jeezera's English site at http://english.aljazeera.net
Another great website for information and tracking of Al Q is http://www.itshappening.com. You can register to view a forum called AlNeda which is moderated by hackers/analysts/amateur sleuths who have gained access to and track islamic websites. If you don't register, you can go to the breaking news forum and read some of the posts there.

The bottom line is that the tragic Madrid bombing is further evidence that in all areas, the bush administration's goals are misplaced. Instead of spending billions and billions of dollars, sacrificing the US's global image not to mention the tragic loss of American soldiers and the maiming of those forced to serve by going into Iraq for personal reasons (i.e. to get one man and further the neo-con agenda)the effort should have been concentrated to go after Al Queda. If the administration had done that, when we had the support of the world community, maybe those people in Madrid would be alive today... as well as our soldiers, the people in Turkey who have lost their lives... etc.. the list is endless.

Off the soapbox

[darkstar]

18. welcome, Windy!

:hi:

What a great first post!

Don't worry about the soapbox thing, stay on as long as you like.


Hope you stick around,

darkstar

[ParanoidPat]

22. Great first post Windy! Welcome to DU......

.....I'll be looking forward to seeing you around! :evilgrin: :thumbsup: :toast:

[newyawker99]

25. Hi Windy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[el_gato]

16. classic fear inducing tactic (I think this bombing was state sponsored)

and never forget Al Qaeda is a CIA creation

[rustydad]

17. Follow the winners

As in 9/11 follow the dots to who benefits the most. In 9/11 the bush cabal clearly got the free pass to wage war on countries they had already targeted for "regime change". The winners of 9/11 were the bushistas and the Sharon Zionists.

The Spanish attack on 3/11 looks and smells an awful lot like 9/11. It fans the flame of fear the world has of dark skinned terrorists. It adds support for the bush/sharon "us or them" policy. It has been reported that a van has been found at a train station in Spain full of detonators AND a Koranic tape. Remember the "passport" found on the sidewalk that fell out of one of the planes after it slammed into one of the twin towers? This smells a lot more like Mossed than Al Qaeda

[ulTRAX]

19. suspicion is not proof

When I first heard the news I immediately suspected Al Quida. But a suspicion is not proof.

I thought it was premature for the Spanish government to be blaming ETA when obviously there was no proof at that time. It reminded me of the Oklahoma City bombing when foreign terrorists were blamed first... again with no proof. I think it's just wise for officials to just admit when all they have are suspicions.

[mrgorth]

20. This just doesn't seem like an ETA job to me

not that I'm an expert. Not passing the smell test.

[goodhue]

21. probably

but maybe not

[Kitsune]

24. Frankly, I'm more inclined to believe it was the CIA, not Al Qaeda

But then, I'm a paranoid nutcase. :tinfoilhat: