Spain Bombing

[Gohron]

Since when does the government dictate what the press says in Belgium?

I've been told by people that live there and other Western Europeon countries that the media is heavily influenced by political parties and elected government groups.

[Almaci]

Then why were the Spanish Conservatives, who supported the war, leading in the polls up until the bombing happened? If the Spanish voters felt so strongly about the war, the pre-bombing polls would have reflected that, and they didn't. http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe...asts.election/

I already said all this in my first post, smartfuck. Anyway, their Parliment stands at 164 Socialists versus 148 Conservatives, which is neither a landslide victory or defeat.

Coming from a landslide victory in the previous elections that IS a defeat

I've been told by people that live there and other Western Europeon countries that the media is heavily influenced by political parties and elected government groups.

In that case you have been told wrong or only talk with people from the Vlaams Blok party(a semi fascist populist party who constantly whines that the press is against them), we have a weekly political and topical morning show called the 7th day sunday mornings on the nationaly funded VRT channel and there is NO difference whatsoever with the way they treat the political guests from various parties.
Most of the other media in Belgium just like anywhere else is commercial media meaning they have to turn a profit in order to exist and jhust like everywhere else you have conservative newspapers, liberal newspapers etcetera.

[Gohron]

I'll have to take your word for it, but I've heard that a lot of problematic issues in the government are ignored by the press.

[Almaci]

Oh and Gohron one of the reasons the people were so angry at the conservatives was becouse they forbid the national state owned TVe channel to report on AQ links, they were forced to only report as if the attacks were the work of ETA, it was only after 48 houres and independant media hammering about it that TVe finaly mentioned AQ leads.
People were pissed about the way the conservatives used TVe wich is state owned but supposed to be independant to further their own political cause.

I'll have to take your word for it, but I've heard that a lot of problematic issues in the government are ignored by the press.

No they are not, just about everything is mentioned.
You should see some of the coverage right now in the runup to the elections and with the Dutroux pedophile ring courtcase going on.
Some of the members of the ruling VLD members made some questionable decisions are being called upon it all the time.

[Gohron]

Oh and Gohron one of the reasons the people were so angry at the conservatives was becouse they forbid the national state owned TVe channel to report on AQ links, they were forced to only report as if the attacks were the work of ETA, it was only after 48 houres and independant media hammering about it that TVe finaly mentioned AQ leads.
People were pissed about the way the conservatives used TVe wich is state owned but supposed to be independant to further their own political cause.



No they are not, just about everything is mentioned.
You should see some of the coverage right now in the runup to the elections and with the Dutroux pedophile ring courtcase going on.
Some of the members of the ruling VLD members made some questionable decisions are being called upon it all the time.

I suppose that's fair enough, I'll be honest I don't know all that much about it.

[Almaci]

You shouldnt just believe what others or I for that matter tell you.
The net is a great resource, use it to check up if what people tell you is actually verifyable.

[Diff-chan]

This isn't about appeasement.

The spanish people didn't want to join the war in the first place, it was a decision their government made. The new PM is just doing what the people WANT.

I'm sure it would have happened whether they got bombed or not, but now it's only an issue because of the bombing. (And all the conservatives are gonna start spain-bashing because of it.)

Do you think al-Qaeda will look at it like this?

I dont think so. They will see that they bombed a few trains, people got scared, voted for Socialists, and pulled out of Iraq. And then they will plan more attacks in Spain, because, hey, they want Spain back - bin Laden has mentioned this many times over the years.

I agree that if the people wanted them to stay out of the war they should have, but now is the wrong time for the country to get out. It just sends the wrong message to the wrong people. It shows al-Qaeda that they are weak and can be bullied with a few well-placed bombs.

[Almaci]

They want Spain back and Bin Ladin has mentioned that manny times?

Can you give anny quotes and links to your outrageous claims?

[salmonax]

http://www.iio.org/article.php?story=20030713215615537

And history is alive in the memories of Muslims. The yearning for a return to Islam's cherished province of Al-Andalus (the Iberian Peninsula, aka Spain and Portugal) is often the subject of Islamic poetry.

Osama bin Laden has frequently mentioned the Muslim claim on the territory that for many symbolises the apex of Islamic learning and culture.

[Mfkzt]

I wish some of you knuckle-draggers would stop trying to act like geo-political experts. Parroting the current GOP talking points (vote for Socialists = terrorists win!) is about as constructive as pissing in the wind. If I wanted to hear that bullshit, I'd turn on Sean Hannity and get it straight from the source.