Rice Criticizes Spain on Approach to Cuba

onedomino · #1 (**permalink**) 06-01-2007, 08:52 AM

Actually, there's lots more for which to criticize the Socialist government of Spain than just its approach to Cuba. Ever since Spanish PM Zippo was elected by the fearful Spanish electorate after the Madrid 311 bombings, it has been downhill for US-Spain relations. Almost immediately after being elected PM Zippo (Zapatero) pulled Spanish troops out of Iraq in a humiliating cut and run that was a clearly victory for Al Qaeda. Soon after Zippo was elected PM, he tried to telephone Bush. The US President would not return his calls. Instead of fighting the Spanish terrorist group ETA, Zippo tried to negotiate. His tactic of negotiating with terrorists has been a failure, see second article cited below.

Quote:

Rice arrives in Spain, criticizes hosts over Cuba
By Sue Pleming

Complete article: http://news.originalsignal.com/artic...over-cuba.html

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Spain for what is meant to be a fence-mending trip on Friday but her first words were of reproach for its policy of engaging Cuba.

"Democratic states have an obligation to act democratically, meaning to support opposition in Cuba, not to give the regime the idea that they can transition from one dictatorship to another," she told reporters on her plane shortly before touching down in the Spanish capital.

"There is a major transition coming in Cuba."

Rice is the highest-level U.S. official to visit here since Spain withdrew troops from Iraq in 2004 following the election of Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, giving relations between Washington and Madrid a chill.

"I expect that the issue of Cuba will continue to be an issue between us, and it will continue to be one in which we will make our views known. I am sure the Spanish want to make their views known," said Rice said, who was to meet Zapatero.

The United States has a policy of isolating Cuba and its ailing President Fidel Castro while Spain favors engagement.

Cuba and its former colonial power Spain held talks on human rights in Havana this week but, in a joint statement, did not say whether they discussed 59 dissidents in Cuban prisons.

Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos visited Havana last April and met acting President Raul Castro, passing on a get-well note from Spain's King Juan Carlos to his brother Fidel.

Rice also criticized Spain for not doing more in Afghanistan, where it has up to 690 troops at any one time.

"I would like to see all of the allies do more, and Spain is included in that list," she said.

Rice's visit will be noticeably brief -- just six hours without the symbolic overnight stay reserved for close allies.

Quote:

Interesting evaluation of the Zippo reign, from a Euro no less: http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?ID=17523 From the article:

"But now that Zapatero has had three years in office to test his feminist approach to fighting terrorism, has it brought any tangible benefits for Spain? A Google-search on Zapatero will show that he is almost universally held up as the epitome of a post-modern appeaser. Even those on the political left in a Europe that is awash with like-minded equivocators have expressed serious doubts about the wisdom and efficacy of Zapatero's anti-terrorist policies."

Shogun · #2 (**permalink**) 06-01-2007, 08:57 AM

who gives a fuck what "new arms race" rice has to say about anything?

onedomino · #3 (**permalink**) 06-01-2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shogun

who gives a fuck what "new arms race" rice has to say about anything?

Brilliant, thoughtful response. As you have with other threads, are you going for derailment with your profane and pointless drivel?

Shogun · #4 (**permalink**) 06-01-2007, 09:26 AM

Im sure your worship of rice will amount to so much after we are in another full scale arms race with russia... thanks to that talentless political hack.

indeed, im sure giving me bad rep will make all the difference when MORE countries than spain respond predictably to the same imperialism that gives you your daily morning wood.

***Gunny*** · #5 (**permalink**) 06-02-2007, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shogun

Im sure your worship of rice will amount to so much after we are in another full scale arms race with russia... thanks to that talentless political hack.

indeed, im sure giving me bad rep will make all the difference when MORE countries than spain respond predictably to the same imperialism that gives you your daily morning wood.

Do you EVER post anything that isn't just pure nonsense and hatemongering?

Shogun · #6 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 10:53 AM

Id suggest that you spare yourself the arthritis it takes to type lame shit like that and block me then, gunny.

Did you collect all your rep points from epiphany buster posts like that?

or is that what your handful of RSR-style fellow right-wingers are for?

***Gunny*** · #7 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shogun

Id suggest that you spare yourself the arthritis it takes to type lame shit like that and block me then, gunny.

Did you collect all your rep points from epiphany buster posts like that?

or is that what your handful of RSR-style fellow right-wingers are for?

Actually, I have as many points froms liberals as I do conservatives. Most for hammering on extremist dimbulbs who make illogical arguments based on NO facts, then run away when they called on it.

And I would say my comment in response to yours is EASILY on par with the intellectual level of yours; therefore, ensuring you will be able to comprehend the message.