Seems like Giles is finally doing some homework before opening his mouth.
Just a couple of years ago he would entertain himself with one anti-Basque essay after the other.
Not so on his recent article titled "Whatever You Say, Say No", published at the Guardian Unlimited.
Giles talks about the march in Madrid (somehow the press is keeping mute about the one in Bilbo). He is not fooled by the PP's not so subtle manipulation of AVT to attack Rodriguez Zapatero. And he gives us a more accurate figure of how many people actually took part in the demonstration:
The only problem is, back then, it was a million Spaniards demonstrating their rejection to Aznar's failed attempt to become an international power house. This time, it was only a fraction trying to derail a peace proposal that will in turn end the violence that claims victims on both sides.
Some people want peace, others are so bent in some sort of Francoist renaissence that they even post pictures of Basques demonstrating for peace and claim that they are Spaniards in Madrid. Too bad the banner is in Euskera and anyone can tell the city in the picture is Bilbo.
And what does Rodriguez Zapatero has to say?
Well, although he is allowing the repressive State machinery to continue its activities, he says that he will pursue his project aimed at ending ETA's violence:
Just a couple of years ago he would entertain himself with one anti-Basque essay after the other.
Not so on his recent article titled "Whatever You Say, Say No", published at the Guardian Unlimited.
Giles talks about the march in Madrid (somehow the press is keeping mute about the one in Bilbo). He is not fooled by the PP's not so subtle manipulation of AVT to attack Rodriguez Zapatero. And he gives us a more accurate figure of how many people actually took part in the demonstration:
And at the weekend, Madrid played host to 250,000 marchers condemning any negotiations. Relatives of Eta's victims led the march, though it was supported by the opposition People's party (PP), which used the opportunity to take a swipe at the Socialist prime minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. When parliament debated the idea of talks last month, it gave Mr Zapatero permission to enter into negotiations if Eta showed "a clear will" to give up violence. In a reference to some Eta's victims, the PP warned Mr Zapatero against "betraying the dead".That is closer to the figure of 200,000 that La Jornada reported originally, a figure that was corroborated by Wmute on his post "Cuantas Personas Caben en Príncipe de Vergara". Now if you want a laugh, go read the Barcepundit's peyote induced post in which he claims a million marchers showed up, which in turn according to him demonstrates that democracy is at work since a million people demonstrated against Aznar for his support to the war in Iraq.
The only problem is, back then, it was a million Spaniards demonstrating their rejection to Aznar's failed attempt to become an international power house. This time, it was only a fraction trying to derail a peace proposal that will in turn end the violence that claims victims on both sides.
Some people want peace, others are so bent in some sort of Francoist renaissence that they even post pictures of Basques demonstrating for peace and claim that they are Spaniards in Madrid. Too bad the banner is in Euskera and anyone can tell the city in the picture is Bilbo.
And what does Rodriguez Zapatero has to say?
Well, although he is allowing the repressive State machinery to continue its activities, he says that he will pursue his project aimed at ending ETA's violence:
Zapatero spoke from the Senate floor to quell opponents angry that the prime minister would propose talks when a sustained police crackdown has diminished ETA's ability to kill.Which is something this blogger and many other Basques want, peace, as simply as that.
"If there is any chance that ETA is willing to abandon arms and end violence forever, of course the government will hold talks in search of peace, which is what the great majority of Spaniards want," the Socialist leader said while senators from the right-of-centre Popular Party jeered.
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