June 09, 2004
MADRID ARREST
Italian police have arrested a Madrid bombing suspect:
A man has been arrested in Italy in connection with the Madrid train bombing that killed 191 people in March.
The man is accused of being one of the leaders behind the bombings. His arrest in Milan was part of a international operation by police in Europe targeting suspected Islamic militants.
The arrest follows a three-month investigation by Italian intelligence forces. The Interior Ministry said last year alone 71 people were arrested on suspicion of links to "international terrorism".
UPDATE. Forza Azzurri! The Italian hostages in Iraq have been rescued.
(Via Sullivan)
UPDATE. Joy of Knitting:
Posted by Tim Blair at June 9, 2004 12:24 AMThe three Italian hostages have been liberated. In a blitz, thankfully, and not as a gracious concession on the terrorists' side. This means the kidnappers won't be able to pose as the good guys who are so very nice if you only obey their every whim. Remember the Mafia? The more you feed it the stronger it becomes.
Berlusconi is more of a risk to italy than some measly terrorists.
Posted by: Kernel Failure at June 9, 2004 at 12:36 AMIdiocy is more of a risk to the US than measlyl terrorists. Cranio-rectal inversion is an ugly sight.
Posted by: JorgXMcKie at June 9, 2004 at 12:55 AMHey, it's JorgX the moron who can't understand basic sentences. And moderators, please note he was the first to let fly here.
Posted by: Kernel Failure at June 9, 2004 at 01:01 AMBut Kernel's a conservative. Really, he is.
Oh, Kernel? You're an ass.
The Europeans will never hold the guy. The Arab Street will never stand for it. And hey, it's not like he's a journalist criticizing the EU or something... The Italians will have to extradite him to Spain and he'll be in the street in a month.
Posted by: richard mcenroe at June 9, 2004 at 01:07 AMModerators? Wee don' need no stinkin' moderators!
Moderation is for assholes.
Posted by: mojo at June 9, 2004 at 02:00 AMSomeone, please moderate mojo.
It is, after all, at mojo's request...
Posted by: Parker at June 9, 2004 at 02:46 AMSadly, it appears that the hostage rescue was without bloodshed.
Ideally, all the Jihadis would have been killed. Perhaps even twice.
Posted by: Sigivald at June 9, 2004 at 06:36 AM...Berlusconi is more of a risk to italy than some measly terrorists...
You lefties really get embittered about losing elections, don't you?
Posted by: Byron_the_Aussie at June 9, 2004 at 08:38 AMHey, Kernel Failure, great name! (Will Kernel Failure's caretaker please translate this into simple signs and grunts for him please?)
Posted by: Andrea Harris at June 9, 2004 at 10:22 AMHey, Kernel Failure, great name! (Will Kernel Failure's caretaker please translate this into simple signs and grunts for him please?)
Ooooh... Now I can't wait for KF to complain to the moderators. That was a direct personal attack.
Posted by: david at June 9, 2004 at 10:59 AMWhat? I have nothing but respect for the man or woman who changes Kernel Failure's diapers.
Posted by: Andrea Harris at June 9, 2004 at 11:14 AM...Berlusconi is more of a risk to italy than some measly terrorists...
...Berlusconi is more of a risk IN italy than some measly terrorists...
Posted by: davo at June 9, 2004 at 11:38 AM"I cannot but be happy because we have carried out the right choice and we have chosen the right strategy - on one side utmost secrecy and on the other no negotiation with the terrorists."
Well said, Silvio Berlusconi.
Would that there were more common sense and backbone like this in the world.
Ah, backbone.
What an old-fashioned concept.
Posted by: ilibcc at June 9, 2004 at 12:08 PMNo links in English that I have found yet, but Spanish press is publishing today the content of an intercepted phone call by the arrested guy. He says he started to plan March 11 Madrid attacks TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO before. That would be more or less simultanous to September 11, or shortly after. That is, much earlier than any decision on the Iraq war and Aznar joining the Coalition.
Don't expect an apology by Zapatero, though; he still is saying, in speeches for the European parliament election campaign, "look what Aznar brought to us for joining Bush on the Iraq war".
Posted by: Franco Alemán (from Barcelona, Spain, New member of the Axis of Weasels) at June 10, 2004 at 04:21 AM