Against the TERRORISM

I have been thinking that since yesterday...yet he remains ominously silent. Probably complaining to anyone who will listen what a shame it was that it wasn't Americans.


Anyway...to the Spanish people here, we're so sorry. We understand how you are feeling. We went through it before, and will more than likely experience it again. Everything is surreal right now, and after the pain there will be anger. Anger that there are people as cowardly as these terrorists who think nothing of killing innocent people. They want the world to think and believe what they do. You will realize that while you will never forget what happened, life does go on. Stay strong, Spain. Don't let them take anything else away from you...if you let them, they win.

Moment of silence at Spanish Embassy in Washington

Washington-AP -- In Washington today, there was a show of solidarity with the people of Spain.

A day after a series of bombings killed nearly 200 people in Madrid, Americans and Spaniards gathered for a moment of silence at the Spanish Embassy.

Adults and children took part. Many of them had tears streaming down their faces, including the Spanish ambassador. He's vowing that Spain won't forget the attacks -- and won't forgive either.

The mourners stood in front of large signs reading "Against terrorism" and "With the victims."

President Bush and Laura Bush plan to take part in a wreath-laying ceremony this afternoon at the Spanish ambassador's residence.
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From someone at the Embassy in Washington...

I'm just leaving the silent march at the Spanish Embassy. The crowd gathered at the embassy, and then at noon, walked across the street in silence to Washington Circle, across from the George Washington University Hospitals. Everybody filled up the Northern third of the circle, and silently faced the embassy, and the Spanish flag on front slowly flapping at half mast. A few friends greeted each other somberly, along with the inevitable quiet, nearly whispered checking. "Family alright?". "I'm okay, you?". I also heard a number of comments, to the effect that this was the most screwed up thing ever, women and children killed and maimed, a couple "Aznar was right" and of course a few "this means war" comments.

The crowd seemed mixed - a lot of younger people, probably students and World Bank interns and the like; some gray haired diplomats; Spanish expats, other Europeans, and Americans, including military members and some civil servants I know. The quiet dignity of the crowd was impressive.

I'm leaving now - gotta go back to work. The crowd doesn't seem to be abating - as some leave, others show up. It's still really quiet - touchingly so. Just a lot of people looking at the embassy and the flag. It must look odd to the drivers in the slow mid-day traffic; in this town, we're more used to giant papier mache puppets, cheerfully shouting pro-lifers and hollering anti-globalists than quiet, well turned out flash mobs.

By the way, the garden adjacent to the front door of the embassy is packed with flowers.

Well, Spain did a good job at brown-nosing the US during the Iraq invasion, and it has many troops there now. Although this probably definitely isn't connected to that. But in the end the Spanish government supported the murder of thousands of innocent Iraqis by coallition forces. What goes around comes around? Who knows.

And the person that said "I think its just that those terrorists hate people so much that they are willing to kill themselves just to end the lives of others. " I am willing to forgive you since you are so young and have a governent that likes terror-mongering.

I don't recall anyone wanting or asking for your forgiveness, krb.

Aloha !

I don't recall anyone wanting or asking you to leave a reply.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

She sent me a PM and asked.

You neither, for that matter. What is it people like you say here? Oh, that's right. Public message board, you leave a message and anyone can answer you. Or is that only true for people like you?

Does it mean that we deserved it?? You're right, *the government* supported the USA, not the innocent citizents who have been killed few days ago.Just for your information, when the spanish government decided to help the USA, the spanish population (millions of people) did many demonstrations saying "no" to war.There's no reason behind these cruel events.

Innocent Iraqis, innocent Spanish.

Point being, the war in Iraq's main aim wasn't to kill as many innocent people as possible whilst that is exactly what these bastards are trying to achieve.