US embassy cable - 04MADRID3699

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 003699 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/WE 
NSC FOR FRIED 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MOPS, SP, American - Spanish Relations 
SUBJECT: SPANISH OFFICIALS REACT TO PRESIDENT BUSH REMARKS 
ON IRAQ WITHDRAWAL 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires J. Robert Manzanares, 
reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Spanish officials have reacted defensively to 
President Bush's remarks concerning Spain's withdrawal from 
Iraq, made at his September 23 joint press conference with 
Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Allawi.  During a courtesy call 
by Charge and Econcouns September 24, the MFA's Director 
General for Europe and North America, Jose Maria Pons, said 
the Spanish government was "surprised" by President Bush's 
remarks, and the Spanish government is doing a "quick 
analysis" of the comments.  He added that Zapatero never 
mentioned the United States by name in his comments in Tunis. 
(Note:  On September 9 in Tunis, Zapatero said the situation 
in Iraq would improve if other countries were to withdraw 
their troops as Spain did.  End note.)  Pons reminded Charge 
and Econcouns that every Friday the Council of Ministers 
meets and First Vice President de la Vega gives a press 
conference afterward.  He expected de la Vega to comment on 
President Bush's remarks. 
 
2.  (SBU) At the press conference following the Council of 
Ministers meeting, de la Vega was rather controlled, saying 
"Our decision to withdraw the troops was made with the 
overwhelming support of the Spanish people, and was announced 
months  before the attacks in Madrid.  We have three decades 
of experience fighting ETA, Grapa and al Qaeda.  We will 
continue to do so firmly and consistent with national and 
international law."  She concluded by saying the Spanish 
government would not formally protest the president's remarks. 
 
3.  (SBU) But the Socialist Party's spokesperson on 
Congress's foreign affairs committee, Rafael Estrella 
(normally a strong supporter of close U.S.-Spain relations), 
reacted in a less measured fashion, telling the press "what 
Bush said is untrue, because the withdrawal of Spanish troops 
(from Iraq) was a commitment of the Socialist Party in the 
event the UN did not assume responsibility for the situation 
in Iraq.  Since this did not happen, it was decided to 
withdraw the troops."  According to Estrella, it wasn't the 
withdrawal of Spanish troops that "emboldened the terrorists" 
in Iraq because "before the war and the invasion there was no 
terrorism there."  It has been the "illegal war and the way 
in which political change has occurred that has plunged the 
country into chaos and is fueling terrorism."  Bush should 
"correct" his policies in Iraq rather than "transfer 
responsibility to those who have fulfilled their campaign 
promises consistent with international law." 
 
4.  (U) President Zapatero thus far has not reacted to 
President Bush's comments. 
 
5.  (C) Comment:  The Zapatero government and the Socialist 
Party remain intensely sensitive to the charge that the 
Socialists won the March 14 election as a result of the March 
11 terrorist attacks in Madrid.  In that sense it is little 
surprise Spanish officials -- even the normally pro-U.S. 
Estrella -- have reacted defensively to the president's 
comments. 
MANZANARES