MADRID, Spain (AP) - Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has admitted for the first time that his government failed to estimate the threat posed by Islamic extremists ahead of the March 11 terrrost attack. In a book published Monday, Aznar conceded that - because of its success fighting Basque separatist groups - his government may have lowered its guard ahead of the Madrid bombings of commuter trains that killed 191 people and wounded more than 2,000.
| If it's any consolation to Aznar, we didn't pick up on 9/11. Kind of man Aznar is, it won't be any consolation. |
Aznar's addresses the election defeat in his book, "Eight Years of Government: A Personal View of Spain," which was unveiled in Madrid on Monday. "Perhaps the successes achieved in the fight against ETA in recent years led us to lower our guard against the fundamentalist threat," Aznar wrote in his book's 17-page epilogue, referring to the main Basque separatist group.
"I must acknowledge, however, that Spanish public opinion was perhaps not sufficiently aware, until March 11, of the extent of the threat of Islamic terrorism, or at least not as much as it was about the threat of ETA terrorism," Aznar wrote. "If that is the case, the government undoubtedly has to bear a responsibility."
| You bear it well. But your successor is going to get more of your people killed. |
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