Who's Next
We spent a fabulous weekend in Madrid in November 2002. We stayed in a hotel not far from Atocha station. We have friends who live there who are, thankfully, OK. It's one of those cities you want to go back to, as Eldest and Youngest have frequently. In fact they'll be going back there in September for a friend's wedding. All of which means that yesterday's atrocity touches me in a way it wouldn't have done prior to our visit. Travel does broaden the mind. I now know that Madrid is a cultured, friendly and beautiful city. I now know the Tapas bars around the area in question. The stalls selling everything from flowers to Real Madrid memorabilia. The teeming Peurto del Sol where Madrilenos queued in their 1,000s to donate blood. The grandiloquent Parque del Retiro full of promenading couples, singles and entire families. I know now that people walking beside me that weekend ended their lives on those trains on Thursday morning and I wonder if we'll ever know who carried out these unfathomable acts?
The current government is convinced that ETA is the culprit but I just don't get it. God knows I'm no expert on the mangled logic of terrorists, but just what would ETA gain? Marginalised and moribund by all accounts, what could they possibly hope to achieve with actions like this? Yesterday's outrage outstrips all ETA's previous horrors. Furthermore the lack of a warning also points the finger elsewhere. Add to that rumours of ETA denying their involvement (although, given the revulsion, they would wouldn't they?) and I think I've got to assume that someone else is responsible.
I think the truth may lie buried in the rubble until Sunday's elections are over. Simply put, if ETA are responsible the current ruling Party Populare looks good. They have successfully campaigned against ETA, reducing it to a fragment of its former self. If it's Al-Quada however (and they have claimed responsibility), the Party's support for the Iraq debacle leaves it looking very vulnerable.
So, OccupiedCountry is predicting an Al-Quada link. If I'm wrong I'll admit it and be suitably ashamed.
Whoever it is I've got a feeling there'll be a massive turnout for the elections this weekend.
No Pasaran!
****UPDATE****
I was extremely moved this evening watching the millions of *ORDINARY* people thronging the streets of Madrid. ETA or Al Quada, who cares. Fuck 'em, the cowardly arseholes.
And now we are told that yesterday was eactly 911 days after September 11th 2001,. and 11/03 is exactly 6 months between the last anniversary of 9/11 and the next. True? I can't be bothered checking. Innocent people went the way of all flesh yesterday because of the twisted logic of a group of dickheads who's political ideals are not persuasive enough to convince the electorate to give them power. That's the final analysis. Roll on Sunday. I'm so looking forward to seeing the results.
Youngest and his Darlin' came round this evening. We had a few drinks at ours then walked to a local pub (The Street Bridge), before ending up in The Saffron for a superb Indian. We still can't make our minds up what we do on Sunday for the 130th Manchester Derby.
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