[update 13/03/2003 - Someone pointed out to me that this was a sensational piece of journalism and (if i remember what he said) that plenty of evidence still points towards ETA planning this attrocity. No doubt said correspondent will comment if he thinks I've misunderstood him. On the other hand, another correspondent pointed out that this attack came exactly 911 days after 9/11. I'm no fan of conspiracy theories, so make of that what you will]
The Arabic newspaper Al-Quds al-Arabi has said it had received a claim of responsibility for the Madrid train bombings issued by The Brigade of Abu Hafs al-Masri in the name of al Qaida.
The claim received by email at the paper's London offices said the brigade's "death squad" had penetrated "one of the pillars of the crusade alliance, Spain".
The claim said: "This is part of settling old accounts with Spain, the crusader, and America's ally in its war against Islam."
Referring to Spain's Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, the statement asked: "Aznar, where is America? Who will protect you, Britain, Japan, Italy and others from us?"
The newspaper faxed the claim to The Associated Press office in Cairo.
The message referred to last year's attack on Italian paramilitary police serving in the US-led coalition in Iraq.
"When we attacked the Italian troops in Nassiriyah and sent you and America's agents an ultimatum to withdraw from the anti-Islam alliance, you did not understand the the message. Now we have made it clear and hope that this time you will understand," the statement said.
"We, at the Abu Hafs brigades, have not felt sad for the so-called civilians," the statement added, in an apparent reference to the hundreds of casualties in today's attacks in Madrid.
"Is it OK for you to kill our children, women, old people and youth in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and Kashmir? And is it forbidden to us to kill yours?" the claim asked.
Not sure as I'm following the logic here, Douglas. Because there are still some suicidal/homicidal looney-tunes about, we aren't "safer"? All that means is that we are not completely safe, a very different concept, and frankly an unattainable one. Al-Qaida will continue to find ways to slaughter civilians in any place that remotely resembles a free society (which Spain assuredly is). Whether we are "safer" is debatable, but the fact that terrorists are still around doesn't tell us much.
Pavel, you're absolutely right. I actually added it as an afterthought, obviously one I didn't think through. I'll remove it. Always good to see you around here, especially when correcting my logically flawed comments!