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Europe
Spain slams US ambassador
2004-10-15
US ambassador to Spain George Argyros was criticized by the Spanish government on Wednesday for "showing disrespect" after failing to attend Spain's national day celebrations. "The US ambassador should have participated in the celebrations. His absence from it means he is not willing to bend over and take one for the team share the Spanish people's joy and happiness on that day," Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said. A spokesman for Spain's ruling Socialist Workers' Party said Argyros' behavior shows that "he looks down upon Spain and the king."
Er, no it means that we look down on your stupid politicians. I think we're OK with the King.
If our soldiers aren't good enough, neither is our ambassador.
A spokesman for the US embassy to Spain said Ambassador Argyros "did not intend to defy the Spanish government and its king," adding that the ambassador failed to attend the celebrations due to "traffic trouble."
Plus the dog ate our homework.
Spanish King Juan Carlos I and all ambassadors to Spain except Argyros attended the Oct. 12 celebrations.
I hope they had a marvelous time patting each other on the back.
Spanish newspapers reported that Argyros deliberately avoided the festival because of US diplomatic rifts with Spain and reported that the ambassador was on a hunting trip outside Madrid.
Posted by:Destro

#18  Spain, France's, and Germany's behavior in the WoT and esp in Iraq is a precursor of the end for NATO. We will work out bilateral alliances in the future. Nato will be like the ancient polish government, with one veto killing any chance for action when action is needed. Have fun with your al Qaeda brethren, Spain. I feel sorry for your intelligence people, who have to work for the good of the Spanish people, as well as a bunch of thankless appeasing politicians.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2004-10-15 11:41:29 PM  

#17  Even the Soviet Union didn't openly state they were going to support a candidate in our elections . Unlike Zapa.

So, why should we treat Vichy Spain any better than the USSR? Keep the embassy, but there is no reason to actually be diplomatic.
Posted by: jackal   2004-10-15 9:45:25 PM  

#16  LOL SPoD!
"I had/have diarrhea." And I'm washing my hair after that for six months.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-10-15 5:23:29 PM  

#15  Even more cowardly than the Phrawnch, the Spanish will not post their Ambassador's e-mail. But you can send your comments here to let them know whether you would have atended their parade.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2004-10-15 11:17:29 AM  

#14  These Socialists in Spain make the French look pro-American. By the way, those two French journalists have still not made their way home. Long live appeasement!
Posted by: Michael Kazmac   2004-10-15 11:09:33 AM  

#13  Yeah... it was... "traffic trouble"... that's the ticket!
Posted by: Amb. Tommy Flanagan   2004-10-15 10:23:59 AM  

#12  2b, you're on to something there.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2004-10-15 10:10:00 AM  

#11  Was Moratinos Kerry's roommate in diplomacy school?
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2004-10-15 10:05:40 AM  

#10  His absence from it means he is not willing to bend over and take one for the team share the Spanish people’s joy and happiness on that day," Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said.

Funny but has anyone paid attention to M. A. M's bending over when he goes on pilgrimage to Ramallah (Arafat in the Muqata)?
Posted by: Cynic   2004-10-15 10:05:07 AM  

#9  obviously the ambassador boycotted out of sympathy with the Catalans and other minorities, no?
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2004-10-15 9:40:57 AM  

#8  it's a frightening prospect! The desperation showed in the last two weeks by the Democrats has made me feel hopeful that this race really isn't as close as we are told.
Posted by: 2b   2004-10-15 4:59:20 AM  

#7  2b, If Zapatero only!

I don't think sKerry would win. He can't. Not in my reality. That single event would precipitate a 3 centuries long disaster.

I am not saying it would be peachy if sKerry looses. It won't be. But the projections with sKerry at the helm are nothing short of a nightmare.
Posted by: Memesis   2004-10-15 4:54:59 AM  

#6  Why do I get the feeling that if Kerry wins, M Rodriguez, aka: Zapatero, will get to have so much fun jerking him around.
Posted by: 2b   2004-10-15 4:15:34 AM  

#5  Do I care? If Al Andalus is Spain's destiny, who are we to bother interfering?
Posted by: lex   2004-10-15 1:58:06 AM  

#4  Rantburgers will be interested to look at
this image.
http://www.libertaddigital.com/fotos/noticias/nzapadesfile121003.jpg

It was a year go for the same celkebration. Mr Rodriguez (PM Zapatero's real name) then in the opposition, refused to lift from his seat when the US flaq passed in front of him.
Posted by: JFM   2004-10-15 1:50:51 AM  

#3  Well this is the perfect solution to all such problems with excuses. (This works well with employers. ) "I had/have diarrhea." Normally you are not asked what kind and the conversation ends quickly. I recomend this to the good ambassador next time.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2004-10-15 1:02:36 AM  

#2  I hear that representatives of various Native American groups also failed to attend.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy   2004-10-15 12:35:52 AM  

#1  Is this the Spain’s national day Moratinos is huffing about? I would also have had traffic trouble, but the 24 flu would have been just as good. I think a 4 year vacation would be even better.

http://rantburg.com/poparticle.asp?HC=&D=10/6/2004&ID=45220
The Spanish government snubbed the United States yesterday by cancelling an annual invitation to US troops to join the celebrations of Spain’s national holiday parade and instead invited French soldiers to Madrid. The Spanish defence minister, Jose Bono, told the COPE radio station there would be no Americans in this year’s "fiesta nacional" which commemorates the day on which Christopher Columbus sighted the New World. The national day "is not the national holiday of the United States, and no one is under any obligation to see the flag of another country in the parade, though it was is a friend and an ally for sure," said Mr Bono. "This is in no way an insult nor a sign of contempt towards the United States."
Posted by: ed   2004-10-15 12:22:49 AM  

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