Fuck ETA

[muckefuck]

Last night, caitalainn and I had a too short, too shallow chat about the messiness of politics, the awfulness of war, and the necessity of fighting terrorism. Not two hours after I left, terrorists (almost certainly members of the Basque separatist movement ETA, although they haven't yet claimed responsibility) detonated ten bombs in Madrid during rush hour. Three went off inside Atocha station, others devasted the commuter stations of El Pozo and Santa Eugenia. In all, over 170 are dead and 600 or more wounded--overwhelming ETA's worst confirmed attack by an order of magnitude.

I'm going to have to take back some of the bad things I've said about NPR. Almost as soon as I heard the news, I called bunj. He immediately rang off in order to check the cable news channels. Half-an-hour later, none of them had told him dick, whereas I knew all the basic details of the atrocity.

What the bloody, rubbery fuck is wrong with these people? News flash to Basque nationalists: Franco is no longer in power! You do not live in a fascist police state, you live in a progressive liberal democracy! Don't want to stay part of Spain? Fine, pursue independence through non-violent means. Wait, most of the Basque people don't want independence? Suck it up. That's what "democracy" means--that the people decide these things, not a band of conscienceless thugs. When Herri Batasuna (Sinn Fein to the Basque Country's Provisional IRA) was banned, I thought Aznar had gone too far in seeking to crush Basque separatism. Now I want to know why each and every politician with links to ETA is not rotting in jail.

See, caitalainn, this is why I think radical pacificism is not a political option. It's simply an invitation to mass-murderers walk all over you. The Basques aren't anywhere near as bad off as the Northern Irish Catholics; on average, they are wealthier and better educated than most Spaniards. Unlike the Turkey's Kurds, their civil and cultural rights are fully protected and respected. They are living proof that, no matter how much some people have, they will never be truly happy until they've imposed their will on others by force. How do you reason with people like that?

Edit: The death toll continues to rise; it's approaching 200. Meanwhile, experts are casting doubt on the theory that ETA are responsible. (Thanks, keyne.) Even if they are eventually exonerated of involvement, it doesn't change the context of my remarks significantly. At best, they're no worse than mobsters, who also seek to intimidate and blackmail through judicious use of murder and violence. The leader of HB announced "The Basque pro-independence left wishes to clearly express the most absolute rejection of what happened today in Madrid. Indiscriminate actions against civilians, against workers ... are absolutely and firmly rejected." (My emphasis.) Thanks for clearing that up, pal.

Comments

Not proud to be basque today

[(Anonymous)]

Family is safe, although some of my cousin's students were likely on the train - we still don't know.

According to El Pais, 186 dead, over 1000 wounded.

Bastards.

-e

[bunj.livejournal.com]

We did manage to see Aznar's news conference on one of the Spanish stations after I talked to you. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but it's hard to believe it's not ETA. Sure, they didn't call ahead as they usually do, but it was an ETA plan using ETA explosives. Considering the situation, I think Aznar showed admirable constraint during the press conference. He was reluctant to mention ETA by name, and he started by declaring three days of mourning and thanking the emergency crews.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy to hear that your relatives are safe and I really hope the students are, too. What else is there to say? Except that this has nothing to do with being Basque; that's just an excuse. For all we know, dozens of Basques are dead this morning, too. Respecting the wishes of the Basque people would mean an end to violence and an acceptance of federalism. This is all about a small cadre of militants frustrated at their lack of control. May they pay the price for what they've done.

Re: Not proud to be basque today

[bunj.livejournal.com]

"When ETA attacks, the Basque heart breaks into a thousand pieces."

Juan Jose Ibarretxe, Basque Regional President

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was Acebes who had no qualms about pinning it all on ETA. Some reporters have even raised the troubling suspicion that ETA might be working in conjunction with Muslim extremists; god, I hope they're wrong about that. As much as I disagree with Aznar on some issues, I've come to really respect him as a leader and will be sorry to see him go--though it's always possible I'll end up liking Rajoy more.

[mollpeartree.livejournal.com]

I haven't been following the history of ETA in Spain at all, but I wonder how this fits in with the theory that democratization will force extremists to moderate their actions in order to win on the field of normal politics rather than terror. Could Aznar's political repression of the "Sinn Fein" wing of ETA have contributed to this uptick in violence? Or did that decision follow an increase in ETA terrorism? (I need to learn more about how legitimating Sinn Fein influenced IRA terrorism and vice versa as well ...) Or if the political goal of the ETA will never succeed politically, is political legitimation of Herri Batasuna just never going to be the right answer?

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Gora Ibarretxe! He's a credit to the nation.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Could Aznar's political repression of the "Sinn Fein" wing of ETA have contributed to this uptick in violence?

It's certainly possible. In 1998, ETA declared a cease-fire. But negotiations with the Spanish government the following year went nowhere. The ETA were soon back to their old tactics of assassinating politicians and law-enforcement officers, but things had been relatively quiet for a while when Herri Batasuna was finally banned last year.

I can't say separatism will never succeed, but I consider it highly unlikely. The connexions between Sinn Fein and HB are actually very close. The ETA cease-fire was closely modeled on the Good Friday Agreement and announced within two months of it. That's on the ropes now, of course, since the Provos never disarmed and I wonder if an analogous Spanish agreement would've foundered on those same shoals.

Sweet Heavens

[febrile.livejournal.com]

They are living proof that, no matter how much some people have, they will never be truly happy until they've imposed their will on others by force. How do you reason with people like that?

I had a dentist's appointment this morning. Your post is the first I've heard about this (followed by a hurried check of the news).

Oklahoma City fundamentally changed my perspectives on terrorism. I would love to see a definition of this word that I could agree with. But the world sure as hell ain't ready for radical pacifism yet. And anybody who would orchestrate this outrage, no matter their politics, deserves whatever Hell may exist.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

I'm ashamed to say that it took 9/11 to change mine, and even then not immediately. I've been guilty of a lot of wishful thinking when it comes to how I want this world to change.

with no disrespect meant to the victims.

[pleinweb.livejournal.com]

I don't know what you think you could change. Some people are as hardwired for pacifism as others are for violence, and people will always strike out against those who they feel are responsible for injustices against them. Maybe the place to start is by not ignoring the injustices, no matter how imagined or how small.

Until we have a global response to atrocities that is as strong as our local response, how can we say that we have really understood anything?

At least we can rest on the notion that the vast majority of people in this world "get it" and the few that don't can only do so much damage. We are, fundamentally, a part of nature, and nature is always a grisly struggle for survival. I don't think you could eliminate violence without also eliminating passion, the force that drives it.

[keyne.livejournal.com]

The latest I'm hearing is that ETA isn't taking credit and American intelligence isn't ready to blame it on them. Don't they usually (a) take credit and (b) phone in advance warnings?

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Yes and yes. They also usually don't attack civilians, though there was the murder of 21 people in a Barcelona supermarket in 1987. (ETA spokesmen later called that attack "a mistake".)

However, etarras were arrested on Christmas Eve on their way to Chamartin Station with 500 kgs of titadine. An unnamed Spanish government source said that this kind of compressed dynamite was the same as was used in the attacks.

Regardless of whether they're actually to blame for this attack, they still think violence against civilians is a legitimate tool for political gain. Fuck 'em all.

[mollpeartree.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. Now, more than ever, paying the price for ignoring foreign news for years and years and years.

And also: Whoopsy. That last sentence in my post should have read:

"Or if the political goal of the ETA will never succeed politically, is political legitimation of Herri Batasuna just never going to be the right political answer?"

Off to hunt up more books on the political history of the politics of political terrorism ...

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. Now, more than ever, paying the price for ignoring foreign news for years and years and years.

You speak for a lot of people. I'll admit to be blindsided myself. I'd vaguely heard of the Christmas Eve arrests, but hadn't done any real reading on them.

the religion of peace

[alfaboy.livejournal.com]

new evidence may point to islamists

Re: the religion of peace

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

According to El Pais, a London-based Arabic-language newspaper has just received a letter from the "Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades" claiming the responsibility. The group previously sent a letter to Al-Quds Al-Arabi denying al-Qaeda involvement in the Ashura massacres in Iraq.

If this is true, and the attacks are payback for Aznar's involvement in the Coalition of the Willing, then I feel even worse.

Re: the religion of peace

[alfaboy.livejournal.com]

Given Spain's history under the heel of islam, this may stiffen spanish backs... but with the country's huge muslim population, their committment may as likely turn wobbly... could break either way.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

You call 1.2% of the population "huge"? That's less than half current estimates for the Muslim population in the USA.

[alfaboy.livejournal.com]

my bad... i shouldn't believe what i hear on NPR.

[gopower.livejournal.com]

I think Europeans have a difference perspective on the size of minority groups. 1.2% may very well seem "huge" to a more homogeneous non-Muslim Spanish population.

[mollpeartree.livejournal.com]

Nonetheless, if it was al Qaeda, isn't the Spanish people's reaction likely to have more to do with how they feel about the U.S. than their own Muslim population? As I recall, Spain's participation in the Coalition was very unpopular there.

Re: the religion of peace

[bunj.livejournal.com]

As many of articles have pointed out, al-Masri Brigades also claimed Al-Qaeda was responsible for the giant US blackout last summer. I think Spain is justified, given the current publicized evidence, in saying it was probably ETA. Let's face it, if the van had contained a Chieftain's tape people wouldn't be saying it was the IRA.

[gopower.livejournal.com]

I don't know enough (anything really) abou the Spanish mindset to say. Certainly it will fuel anti-U.S. attitudes there among the sizable percentage of people who already hold that view. That would be offset, I think, by a fierce resurgence of national pride and outrage over being attacked, causing some to argue Spain should take even stronger action against foreign terrorists.

To some extent, that was what happened in Britain after the Falklands invasion -- had a tidal wave sunk the island, I doubt many Brits would have cared, but because the invasion was seen as a matter of national pride, action had to be taken. Of course, it's been a long,long time since Spain cared much about international affairs (or vice versa) except for the occasional World Cup.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

See iberianbear's recent posts for one Spaniard's perspective. I think his analysis is essentially correct: if it was ETA, then it's the Partido Popular in a landslide. If it was al-Qaeda, then the 90%+ of Spaniards (according to polls taken at the time) who opposed Spain's involvement in the invasion are far more likely to vote them out of office than to demand deeper involvement. As gopower points out, Spain isn't exactly very outward-looking or engaged in international politics.

Still, I don't think it's as homogenous as he makes it out to be. Roma (Gypsies) outnumber Muslims, so if the Muslim population is considered "huge" than the Roma population must be considered "huger". Both populations, however, are concentrated in the south, the Muslims particularly in the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which few Mainland Spaniards have ever been to.

Re: the religion of peace

[lhn.livejournal.com]

Let's face it, if the van had contained a Chieftain's tape people wouldn't be saying it was the IRA.

Is that really analogous, though? Koran readings on childhood education (in Arabic, I presume) aren't exactly pop entertainment in Basque country, are they? And the IRA doesn't have extensive writings about conquering Spain in de Valera's name or something. Al Qaeda has made a big deal about the loss of Al Andalus, even leaving aside Spain's present alliance with us, and this magnitude of mass murder fits their MO. That doesn't mean they did it, and in that part of the world ETA is definitely a prime suspect, but unless they stole the van from a Muslim (which may, of course, be what turns out to have happened) you do really have to wonder what fanatical nationalists (who aren't themselves Arabs or Muslims) would be doing with Arabic documents and audiotapes of Koran readings.

Of course, there's also a history of inter-terrorist support-- it may be that this was done by ETA with Al Qaeda training or by Al Qaeda with ETA assistance. Which points up why this has to be a war against terrorism rather than only against some number of terrorist groups. The analogies to the British Navy's wars on piracy and the slave trade I've been hearing lately strike me as an appropriate comparison. The main issue wasn't who was doing it or which leaders rose and fell, though that might inform particular operations. It was about stamping out a particular activity. Who did what is important on the tactical level, but on the strategic level they're all the enemy.