Bomb Found On Rail Line In Spain

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2004-04-02 10:37am

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... mb_found_9

Bomb Found on Rail Line in Spain
38 minutes ago

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MADRID, Spain - Police found a bomb Friday under the track of Spain's bullet train line between Madrid and Seville, the Spanish interior minister said. Bomb-disposal experts alerted by a railway employee found 22-24 pounds of explosive that might be dynamite about 40 miles south of Madrid, Interior Minister Angel Acebes said.

The explosives were connected to a detonator with a 450-foot cable, the minister told a news conference.

The track is used by Spain's Ave trains, which can reach speeds of 186 mph.

Acebes said it was not known who placed the bomb.

The bomb's discovery came less than a month after 10 backpack bombs ripped through four commuter trains in Madrid, killing 191 people and injuring more than 1,800. The focus of the investigation is a Moroccan extremist group with links to al-Qaida. The bombs were detonated with cell phones attached to the explosives.

On Thursday, police in northern Spain defused three letter bombs addressed to journalists in Madrid.

Acebes said the origin of the letter bombs has not been determined, although the mechanism of the bombs is "similar to those that have been used by anarchist groups on previous occasions."

Separatists or Al Qaeda? Whoever it was, a messy situation was avoided, that's for sure.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-04-02 10:38am

Don't worry, the invasion of Iraq will stop all of this terrorist activity. Just ask any right-wing political commentator a year ago.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-04-02 10:45am

What happened to the promise of no longer attacking Spain since they agreed to withdraw their troops from Iraq?

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2004-04-02 10:45am

The first time was Al-Quaeda,who probably did it to force Spanish soldiers out of Iraq,but now what is the reason (We did it and we can do it again)

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-04-02 10:47am

Darth Wong wrote:Don't worry, the invasion of Iraq will stop all of this terrorist activity. Just ask any right-wing political commentator a year ago.

*Watches the scarecrow from the wizard of oz dance down Mike's yellow brick road.

are you going to go barking up that dead horse's ass every time there is any type of terrorist activity?

Bertie Wooster · Post by **Bertie Wooster** » 2004-04-02 10:52am

Spain is a different kind of target to the Wahabbists since it was a Moslem domain for almost 800 years. The rationale may be that further attacks will force Spain to accept Sharia.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-04-02 10:54am

Col. Crackpot wrote:
Darth Wong wrote:Don't worry, the invasion of Iraq will stop all of this terrorist activity. Just ask any right-wing political commentator a year ago.
*Watches the scarecrow from the wizard of oz dance down Mike's yellow brick road.

are you going to go barking up that dead horse's ass every time there is any type of terrorist activity?

Until people stop characterizing the War in Iraq as a legitimate component of the "War on Terror", yes I will. Kast is hardly the only one who continues to do that.

Bertie Wooster · Post by **Bertie Wooster** » 2004-04-02 10:54am

*oops, i meant to quote The Kernel, and was remarking to his post*

BlkbrryTheGreat · Post by **BlkbrryTheGreat** » 2004-04-02 11:00am

If the goal was to change the government from a pro-war to an anti-war one, which they succeeded in doing (if you accept the neo-con explaination), why would Al-Qeuda plant another bomb along the train tracks? It dosent make much sense to me.

Tribun · Post by **Tribun** » 2004-04-02 11:04am

Hey, mabe this was a vomb that simply not went off, and laid there for days before found?

theski · Post by **theski** » 2004-04-02 11:22am

BlkbrryTheGreat wrote

If the goal was to change the government from a pro-war to an anti-war one, which they succeeded in doing (if you accept the neo-con explaination), why would Al-Qeuda plant another bomb along the train tracks? It dosent make much sense to me.

WTF don't you understand.... They are Terrorists... They will keep doing this no matter what government is in power..... OH They promised not to attack... Did ya really think you can trust them....???

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2004-04-02 11:24am

Darth Wong wrote:Don't worry, the invasion of Iraq will stop all of this terrorist activity. Just ask any right-wing political commentator a year ago.

I thought Spain pulling out of Iraq was meant to stop it?

BoredShirtless · Post by **BoredShirtless** » 2004-04-02 11:26am

Relax people. We don't know who's responsible yet.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-04-02 11:27am

theski wrote: WTF don't you understand.... They are Terrorists... They will keep doing this no matter what government is in power..... OH They promised not to attack... Did ya really think you can trust them....???

Blkbrry has a valid point; AQ realizes by now that their tactics are effective in Spain, and it makes no sense to attack again and simply inflame the passions of the Spanish people against them. You may not like the terrorists, but they are not simply mindless barbarians; they have goals, same as anyone else. Attacking Spain is counter-productive towards those goals.

theski · Post by **theski** » 2004-04-02 11:35am

The Kernel wrote

Blkbrry has a valid point; AQ realizes by now that their tactics are effective in Spain, and it makes no sense to attack again and simply inflame the passions of the Spanish people against them. You may not like the terrorists, but they are not simply mindless barbarians; they have goals, same as anyone else. Attacking Spain is counter-productive towards those goals.

Their hatred for Spain runs very very deep.. That would not change with a Socialist in power... Appeasment does not work with these folks IMHO

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-04-02 11:37am

theski wrote: Their hatred for Spain runs very very deep.. That would not change with a Socialist in power... Appeasment does not work with these folks IMHO

Aparently it does since they sent a letter a few days after the attacks saying that they wouldn't target Spain as long as their troops left on schedule. That's the problem really, appeasment DOES work with these folks and that's what makes them dangerous. There is always the temptation to give into their demands.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-04-02 11:37am

The Kernel wrote:
theski wrote: WTF don't you understand.... They are Terrorists... They will keep doing this no matter what government is in power..... OH They promised not to attack... Did ya really think you can trust them....???
Blkbrry has a valid point; AQ realizes by now that their tactics are effective in Spain, and it makes no sense to attack again and simply inflame the passions of the Spanish people against them. You may not like the terrorists, but they are not simply mindless barbarians; they have goals, same as anyone else. Attacking Spain is counter-productive towards those goals.

When is deliberately blowing up civilians ever productive? One could argue that the attacks of septemer 11th were counter productive in so much as they caused the destruction on Al'Quaeda's safe haven in Afghanistan and gave (at least in the minds of a slim majority of Americans) the US grounds to blow the shit out of Iraq. Don't try to rationalize the actions of suicide bombers and terrorists... you'll end up either crosseyed or looking like an asshole.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-04-02 11:42am

Col. Crackpot wrote: When is deliberately blowing up civilians ever productive? One could argue that the attacks of septemer 11th were counter productive in so much as they caused the destruction on Al'Quaeda's safe haven in Afghanistan and gave (at least in the minds of a slim majority of Americans) the US grounds to blow the shit out of Iraq. Don't try to rationalize the actions of suicide bombers and terrorists... you'll end up either crosseyed or looking like an asshole.

Stop fucking moralizing the issue you fucking blowhard. You want to underestimate your enemy by refusing to look at their motives? Fine, go ahead. I choose to aim higher.

theski · Post by **theski** » 2004-04-02 11:43am

The Kernel wrote:

That's the problem really, appeasment DOES work with these folks and that's what makes them dangerous. There is always the temptation to give into their demands.

if this bomb was ALQ what does that tell you.... "Aparently it does since they sent a letter a few days after the attacks saying that they wouldn't target Spain as long as their troops left on schedule.

Then why did they plant the bomb if they did.???

Gosh... ALQ went back on their word....

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-04-02 11:46am

theski wrote: if this bomb was ALQ what does that tell you.... "Aparently it does since they sent a letter a few days after the attacks saying that they wouldn't target Spain as long as their troops left on schedule.

Then why did they plant the bomb if they did.???

Gosh... ALQ went back on their word....

There are many terrorist groups besides AQ. There are also other possible suspects. I am merely pointing out that an attack by the same group that commited the first bombing would be rather silly in light of the total capitulation that Spain gave them. I'm not saying they are incapable of breaking their "word", only that it makes no sense for them to do so.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-04-02 11:46am

The Kernel wrote:
Col. Crackpot wrote: When is deliberately blowing up civilians ever productive? One could argue that the attacks of septemer 11th were counter productive in so much as they caused the destruction on Al'Quaeda's safe haven in Afghanistan and gave (at least in the minds of a slim majority of Americans) the US grounds to blow the shit out of Iraq. Don't try to rationalize the actions of suicide bombers and terrorists... you'll end up either crosseyed or looking like an asshole.
Stop fucking moralizing the issue you fucking blowhard. You want to underestimate your enemy by refusing to look at their motives? Fine, go ahead. I choose to aim higher.

oh spare me your psudo-intelectual bullshit. Religious fundies kill people because god tells them to. Sure there are often political motives and machinatins at the highest levels, but you are giving them far too much credit. Most of these fuckwits are uneducated god-freaks who do what they think their vengeful god wants them to do.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-04-02 11:52am

Col. Crackpot wrote: oh spare me your psudo-intelectual bullshit. Religious fundies kill people because god tells them to. Sure there are often political motives and machinatins at the highest levels, but you are giving them far too much credit. Most of these fuckwits are uneducated god-freaks who do what they think their vengeful god wants them to do.

Yeah, stupid fundies who don't know how to do anything but kill couldn't possibly pull off a multi-pronged attack involving four simultaneous airplane hijackings now could they? Oh wait, that actually happened didn't it?

If you think that the people making the decisions in AQ are uneducated idiots, you need to get your head examined.

theski · Post by **theski** » 2004-04-02 11:57am

The Kernel wrote:

Yeah, stupid fundies who don't know how to do anything but kill couldn't possibly pull off a multi-pronged attack involving four simultaneous airplane hijackings now could they? Oh wait, that actually happened didn't it?

If you think that the people making the decisions in AQ are uneducated idiots, you need to get your head examined.

Hell, That I agree with.... The leaders are smart, well funded...(Fucking Saudis) but the biggest motovating factor is Religous hatred.... They hate the western world and what we are.... How can you compromise with that??

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-04-02 12:02pm

theski wrote: Hell, That I agree with.... The leaders are smart, well funded...(Fucking Saudis) but the biggest motovating factor is Religous hatred.... They hate the western world and what we are.... How can you compromise with that??

Ski, calm the fuck down. I'm not suggesting any sort of compromise. I'm simply pointing out that from their perspective, Spain was one of the biggest sucesses in their history because they not only affected a political change, but through that they got what they wanted and stirred up even more dissent against the American lead occupation. They would have to be terminally stupid to try an jeprodize that by attacking Spain again.

BoredShirtless · Post by **BoredShirtless** » 2004-04-02 12:09pm

Col. Crackpot wrote:oh spare me your psudo-intelectual bullshit. Religious fundies kill people because god tells them to.

No ding-a-ling. God offers them a place in heaven; he doesn't tell them what to do, nor does he give them motive.

Sure there are often political motives and machinatins at the highest levels, but you are giving them far too much credit. Most of these fuckwits are uneducated god-freaks who do what they think their vengeful god wants them to do.

But the lower levels of these organisations wouldn't act without direction from the higher levels, right? And what drives the higher levels? The feeling of being wronged in some way; motive. So no, it isn't pseudo intellectual wanking to analyse the motive if you want to tackle the issue in an effective way.