Spain's new direction

Spain's election could have some far-reaching effects in the European Union and in Spain.

First, the new government will have to deal with finding the perpetrators of the "11-M" Madrid terrorist attack. The Spanish authorities apparently had little advance intelligence about a possible terrorist attack, even though Spain's efforts against Islamic terrorist networks have been more effective (in prosecuting substantial suspects, at any rate) than those in the US. And the new government will have to focus attention of developing better anti-terrorist approaches inside Spain and in cooperation with other EU countries.

I can't say I've ever followed the conflict with ETA, the Basque terrorist group, very closely. Whoever was behind the 11-M attacks, one would think public opinion would be even less sympathetic to ETA terrorism than before. But this could also be a new opportunity to work out arrangements to reconcile ETA supporters to the Spanish democratic government.

It will certainly help the EU work on developing a common foreign and defense policy. The divisions between the EU countries were never as severe over Iraq as between the US and non-war-supporting EU countries like Germany and France. But, from the view of the other EU countries, Britain and Spain were running a renegade foreign policy in support of a war that was illegitimate in their eyes.

The new social-democratic government should also be more supportive of efforts to set up a more workable European Union constitution.

In Iraq, the pullout of Spain's troops will put even more pressure on the US and British forces there. If Bush and Rummy don't put in more troops to make up for the reduction, it will increase the risks for the Anglo-American forces there. And it may increase pressure on other participating countries like Poland to withdraw their troops, as well.