The Spain story

Anzar's fall is the first sign of the fall of a doctrine that Bush promoted world-wide a year ago when he ordered the invasion of Iraq on fake allegations against Saddam Hussein, and that too supported by Anzar, Blair and others. With Bush facing re-election later this year, this unprecedented swing in the Spanish ballot is an eye opener. While Zapatero received congratulations from French President Jacques Chirac, South African President Thabo Mbeki and other world leaders, Bush is yet to make a call. Poland and Denmark, other US allies in Iraq till today who contributed soldiers in Iraq, were notable others who gave cool shoulders to Zapatero's win.

Zapatero's recent remarks are interesting. He said both Bush and Blair need 'self criticism'. "You can't bomb a people just in case...you can't organise a war on the basis of lies...wars such as that which has occurred in Iraq only allow hatred, violence and terror to proliferate". Actually, without the invasion of Iraq, people would not have realised their own ability to mobilise themselves. People's 'no' to war world-wide did not serve any purpose in 2003, but it is doubtless be useful in 2004.