Mick Hartley

Unlike Oliver Kamm, I think it entirely plausible that the Al Qaeda bombings were an attempt to influence the Spanish election. And to that end they were spectacularly successful. The full extent of that success was only revealed in the haste with which the new Spanish Prime Minister announced that Spain would be withdrawing its troops from Iraq, and his denunciation of Bush and Blair as liars. No doubt he’s sincerely appalled by the bombings, and no doubt he is sincerely opposed to Spanish involvement in Iraq, but by his rush to sever any links with the US and UK and the stance of his predecessor Aznar, he’s removed any doubt as to the extent of Al Qaeda’s triumph.