View Full Version : Spain drops Marines from annual parade
thedrifter
10-07-04, 06:16 AM
October 06, 2004
Spain drops Marines from annual parade
Associated Press
MADRID, Spain — In another dig at the United States, the Socialist government has dropped plans for Marines to march in a high-profile parade commemorating Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the New World.
Marines have taken part since 2001 in the procession marking the Dia de la Hispanidad, which is celebrated each year on Oct. 12.
The Spanish invitation was first issued when fervently pro-U.S. conservatives ruled in Spain and was meant to show solidarity with the United States after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
But the new Socialist government, which withdrew Spain’s troops from Iraq right after taking power in April and realigned the country’s foreign policy away from its predecessor’s focus on ties with Washington, has ended the tradition.
Defense Minister Jose Bono said Tuesday evening there was still friendship and respect between Madrid and Washington. “What does not continue is subordination and getting down on our knees on orders from a foreign government, whichever it may be,” Bono said.
Instead, French troops have been invited to march in the parade as part of celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Paris from Nazi occupation.
A U.S. Embassy official declined to criticize the Spanish decision, saying simply that the Americans were honored to have taken part in the parade in recent years.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero raised eyebrows in Washington last month with remarks suggesting that other countries with troops in Iraq should follow Spain’s lead and bring them home.
In last year’s version of the parade, then-opposition leader Zapatero declined to join other Spanish officials in standing up when U.S. troops marched past the VIP stand.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-390491.php
Ellie
Lock-n-Load
10-07-04, 07:46 AM
:marine: All Spaniards and French/men can march in lock-step into HELL as far as I am concerned...two [2] wimps on the same cigarette...deleting the US Marines from their annual parade was expected with the new anti-America crowd of Spaniards in power there...watch out you two [2] collaborating back/stabbers; one MOAB can get all of you!!!...in that event, don't dial 911/America for HELP!!:marine:
MillRatUSMC
10-07-04, 08:13 AM
Thieves, murders and rapists, who give a $hit if they don't want us in their $hitty parade.
All of the above can go to hades for all we care...
Semper Fidelis/Semper Fi
Ricardo
sniper308vls
10-07-04, 12:27 PM
What do I say to the Spanish, Fine, we don't need to march with cowards anyway, they have show their true colors once again as in the Spanish American war, world war 2, and their not so proud...
tferg78
10-07-04, 12:46 PM
I'm one of the Marines who would represent the US in the parade, and I have to say that I'm glad were not in it anymore. I hate the spanish, I hate Spain, like every country I've been to the women love us here, but the men and their government hate us. Were so restricted on what we can and can't do on base. They've become communists and even worse allied themselves with the French who should be heavily investigated for their role in the Iraqi oil for food corruption.
What's next..... stop us from porting in Rota before entering the Med.
Big Fkn deal !!!
Our Marines can spend time sharpening their bayontes, instead of shining shoes for a gutless government.
Terry
thedrifter
10-14-04, 01:54 PM
October 14, 2004
Envoy shuns parade after Spain snubs US Marines
From David Sharrock in Madrid
THE US Ambassador to Spain snubbed the National Day parade and a reception with the King to go hunting, it emerged yesterday.
George Argyros, who was appointed ambassador by President Bush in 2001, skipped the military parade through Madrid on Tuesday, sending his military attaché in his place.
The ambassador, a Greek-American West Coast businessman, also declined to attend a reception in the Royal Palace with King Juan Carlos after the parade for “reasons of transport”.
The ambassador’s absence followed a decision by José Bono, the Defence Minister, not to invite a party of US Marines to participate in the parade, as in previous years. He invited the French instead.
The US Marines have marched in the parade since 2001, when they were invited to take part in homage to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Last week Señor Bono — who this year called Tony Blair “a complete dickhead” — said that Spain no longer “goes on bended knee” before the United States.
Relations between Spain and the United States have plunged since the Socialist Government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero withdrew its troops from Iraq.
According to Spanish newspapers, the ambassador was out of Madrid, but in the country, on a hunting expedition with James Baker, the former US Secretary of State. An official at the US Embassy in Madrid confirmed that the ambassador was hunting, but declined to give details. “He did not plan to attend the military parade. He did plan to attend the reception, but there were problems with his transportation and he was unable to return to Madrid in time,” he said.
Yesterday Señor Bono rejected suggestions that the American envoy’s absence was a calculated insult, but added that “carrying one’s national flag on three previous occasions doesn’t mean that it is a right to do so for ever”.
Although the United States was a “friend and ally of Spain”, the minister said, this year “we are absolutely not” in the right circumstances for including the US flag in the parade.
To those who “rend their clothing” over the affair, he said, they should ask themselves “how many times has the Spanish flag” been seen in a US national parade? Last month the Prime Minister angered Washington by urging other countries to follow Spain’s example and withdraw their troops from Iraq.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1308231,00.html
Ellie
yellowwing
10-14-04, 02:09 PM
How much money does Naval Station Rota pour into their local economy?
hrscowboy
10-14-04, 02:56 PM
To hell with them non speakin english bastards we dont need them...
LivinSoFree
10-14-04, 03:08 PM
"a complete dickhead..." now THAT's diplomacy!
Devildogg4ever
10-16-04, 06:58 AM
Bunch of retarded buttwipes!! They need to be on both knees praying they don't **** us off!! http://www.angelfire.com/nc3/dshunting0/apages/images1/peesmily.gif
Just a sampling of what to expect from a Socialist government, a true ally will support your efforts. How soon they forget, they could be speaking German instead of Spanish.
bubbaTX
10-16-04, 07:10 PM
No Spanish parade? That's nice, leaves us a few more good Marines to take up the slack for the Spanish who pulled out of the hot zone in Iraq. I was in Spain in 88 as a young LCpl and didn't think much of it other than the women. The Spanish soldiers we had with us on Dragon Hammer were about the most worthless bunch of pukes I ever saw. The only good thing about Spain was that it was in my rearview mirror as The Iwo Jima pulled out of Rota that summer. I have not missed you Spain and I doubt the USA misses your friendship.
Nagalfar
10-16-04, 09:57 PM
I can see why Spain wouldnt want the USMC around.. having the best that planet earth has to offer in the way of a military tradition, Esprit De Corps, the finest of combat records that is 229 years old, the one that all other military's are judged by, why would Spain want to make their military look bad by having the USMC around? it would just remind Spain what is is NOT, and has little chance of ever being, things like being committed to excellence, a spirit that lives on, and lasts a lifetime in those who have wore the uniform of U.S. Marine, Spain has nothing close to this, no country has any military branch, or unit that has a record like the USMC .. I actually understand why they would want the french by their sides.. come on if you want to have your military look good.. just have the French march along side (dont march to fast though, they might get tired and have to call the AMERICANS to save them AGAIN!).. but Spain just can not call the Legionnaire's, they would also make the Spanish look bad, lol.. funny how the best branch of the French military is not French! I know I have often wondered, why can't the French train Frenchmen to be as good as the Legionnaire's? LMAO..