No reconciliation between Spain, US in sight

[question everything]

No reconciliation between Spain, US in sight

www.chinaview.cn 2004-12-17 11:23:19

MADRID, Dec. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The governments of Spain and the United States have experienced a distancing in their relations in recent months and there is no expectation in the near future of an evident reconciliation between the leaders of both countries.

The controversy came to surface when the new government of Spain headed by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero changed its foreign policy, from pro-US, taken by the previous government of the Popular Party, to a more pro-European one. A sign of this distance, is the report that US President George W. Bush had been negative to answer Prime Minister Zapatero's phone call to congratulate him for his re-election.

(snip)

After being elected as prime minister, he openly affirmed that the war against Iraq "is a mistake" and a "violation of the international legality," saying that his government pursues a multilateral policy which absolutely respects the United Nations. What has been said and done by Zapatero has absolutely upset Bush, who later accused that the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq "supported international terrorism."

Another diplomatic incident occurred on Oct. 12 when Spain was celebrating its National Day. US ambassador to Madrid George Argyros refused to attend a military parade and a banquet offered by King Juan Carlos of Spain, with the excuse that he had "transportation problems."

More..

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/17/content_2346332.htm

[DireStrike]

1. Way to make allies, chimperor!

[HuckleB]

2. We've elected a group stuck in eternal arrested development.

They act like adolescents every moment of every day. So, of course, they're going piss off the world. That's the goal of such adolescence, after all. No?

[liberalpragmatist]

3. Zapatero publicly endorsing Kerry probably didn't help

Shortly before he was elected, he told the Spanish press, "I think Kerry will win. I want Kerry to win."

[goforit]

5. If * was behind the train bombings, I do believe Zapatero could

give a rats ass.

Considering Bush publically supported Ansar, ya can call it even.

[baby_bear]

4. I had no idea Argyros was the ambassador to Spain

Good grief, how did I miss that, as a Seattle Mariners fan?

http://marinersmorsels.blogspot.com/2004/11/george-argyros-ambassador.html
<snip>
George Argyros was a previous owner of the Mariners. Criticized as one of the team's worst owners, Argyros owned the majority of the M's shares from '81-'89, during which period the M's went 570-725, with an average yearly attendance around $1 million. This included their worst-ever year, 1983, when they went 60-102.

Argyros ran the club even more conservative, fiscally, than the Oakland A's of today. His budget was tighter than a Grateful Dead jam. He didn't retain players when they got expensive, didn't sign impact free agents, and for the most part didn't make trades for good young players. Despite a relatively small buy-in, he made a lot of money when he sold the majority interest in the Mariners. He then went on to be a highly successful, (ultra-rich), real estate developer in California.

Then he did something that allowed him to be appointed an ambassador to a foreign nation, a position he was not qualified for, in a country whose native language he did not speak. What did he do?
</snip>

read more...

b_b

[question everything]

6. George Argyros is a gazillionnaire living in Orange County

and has been a major donor for GOP candidates and causes. Ten years ago he spent $3 million of his own money to shove a mega airport in the middle of a densely populated area, so that John Wayne airport would close and his precious house would be spared the few over flights.

Has been a major donor for Republicans so after he arranged for a $50 million fund raising for Bush in 2000, he was rewarded with an ambassadorship.

Here are some reports about him

http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/02/05/a-coker.php

http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/01/44/news-pignataro2.php

http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/01/44/news-moxley.php

http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/01/43/news-moxley.php

http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/01/42/news-moxley.php

http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/02/29/news-pignataro.php