C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000520
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN/IRAQ: SOCIALISTS FIRE UP ANTI-WAR RHETORIC
FOR ELECTORAL SEASON
MADRID 00000520 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens; reason 1.4 (B) and (D)
¶1. (C) Summary. In a volatile political climate leading up
to regional/municipal elections in late May, the ruling
Socialist Party (PSOE) and far left political allies have
ramped up criticism of the war in Iraq, in part to
counteract opposition Popular Party (PP) attacks on the
Zapatero Government's controversial policies on the ETA
issue. The Madrid Regional PSOE joined the far left "United
Left" (IU), unions, and pacifist groups staged mass
demonstrations against the war on March 17 - though the
turnout was lower than for the anti-ETA march. On March 20,
high profile magistrate Baltasar Garzon published an
editorial in the left leaning "El Pais" saying that the time
had arrived to investigate "criminal responsibility" for the
war in Iraq, to include possible charges against former
President Aznar, PM Blair, and President Bush (Spaniards
frequently refer to the "Picture of the Azores" in 2003 of
the three leaders as the moment in which the decision to go
to war was made, thus linking Aznar not just with the Spanish
troop deployment, but with full responsibility for the war).
PSOE Secretary Jose Blanco said in a March 20 television
interview that "someone must pay" for the war in Iraq, and
that if someone could demonstrate criminal culpability on the
part of political leaders, Blanco said he was "all for it."
The Ambassador contacted National Security Adviser Carles
Casajuana on March 21 to convey his deep concern regarding
the direction and tenor of PSOE statements on Iraq, which
could only harm bilateral relations. Casajuana discussed the
heated political context of the statements and said he
expected them to abate soon, but assured the Ambassador that
he would convey the Ambassador's concerns to President
Zapatero immediately. The DCM is following up with PSOE
Secretary Blanco to insist that the PSOE avoid dragging the
FUENTE:http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2007/03/07MADRID520.html