Naturally, there's a different way to look at it. Maybe the Spanish withdrawal from Iraq represents neither pacifism nor anti-Americanism, but rather a realization that they were tricked into being there to begin with and are best off disengaging themselves from that particular disaster.

"...but rather a realization that they were tricked into being there to begin with..."

So explain why the Spanish would then honor the same military that "tricked them" into joining the Coalition in Iraq.

The Spaniards didn't honor "the military." They honored a specific U.S. military officer. The Spanish would seem to be a great deal more capable of higher thought than some Michaels in Michigan.

So if an award or honor is given, it's for "a specific military officer"...but when things go bad, it's an indictment against "the military". I think I understand now.

Why don't you quit being so defensive for a change? Face up to the truth instead of trying to run away from it. Nations that run away from the truth lose wars.

I'll be the cynical one -

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE0D91431F93AA15752C1A9639C8B63&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fM%2fMilitary%20Aircraft

Spain has a $2 billion dollar arms deal with Venezuela, and needs a US Export License to complete the deal.

"Nations that run away from the truth lose wars."

Yep, had we run away from this truth, we would be losing the war.

"Spain has a $2 billion dollar arms deal with Venezuela..."

In other words, Spain is now our enemy, if they are doing business with Chavez, whose goal is to take down the United States. Wonderful people, those Spaniards. Back down to Muslim terrorism and then aid and abet enemies of Democracy.

I think Soldier's Dad may have just solved the mystery or maybe I am just a sad cynical soul.

I'm not being defensive. I'm just stating the position you've made clear time and time again:

Good things are the act of a specific soldier.

Bad things are proof of institutional rot within the military.

Hey Michael, it's even worse than that. Spain has always been the European entrepot for Cuban cigars. In fact, if you weren't such a dweeb I'd tell you how to get Cohibas and Montecristos shipped from the Canary Islands straight to your door. But I'm sure you'd rather smoke Nicaraguan dog turds. Oh well. Your loss.

WW - I don't smoke. Thanks for the offer though.

You can honor a good soldier AND deplore the policies of the moron you people elected president. In this day an age, you would have to be stupid, wiullfully ignorant, or a blind partisan not to understand that.

That is done all the time for the sake of diplomatic relations. It has nothing to do with supporting one cause or another.

You 30% losers are so desperate that you'll jump on anything that remotely seems to validate your delusions.

That's why you are the 30% losers...

Folks:

I usually lurk here but I had to add my $0.02. That's enough. I read the Spanish version of the release. Gen Schoomaker is getting this award for his efforts to foment improved relations between the armies and the support provided the Spanish troops in Afghanistan.

Let's not forget that French, Spanish, German and Canadians are in combat operations there. So whatever, we want to say about their Iraq involment or lack thereof. The truth is they are pulling their weight over there.

Last, civilian governments come and goes, the professional military establishment remains. Like with us and the prior Canadian administration. Our problems were never with their military which are superb. In fact, I read that many Spanish officers expressed very strong feelings at leaving their comrades-in-arms (us) in the lurch.

Ps:

WW it had to be tiredsome to pull out the same knee-jerk responses. Get new ones.

Jose, your suggestion is better directed to the so-called "Milboggers," who continually trot out the same tired justifications.

"So called milbloggers"? What is that supposed to mean? Did I get discharged and not realize it? WW - back to the drawing board for you.

So-called milbloggers because the milblogosphere is almost exclusively a vehicle for far-right wing politics. Military issues are tangential, as illustrated by the so-called milbloggers' nearly total refusal to address a multitude of failures within the VA and within the management of the war.

The milblogs are a Republican megaphone, first and foremost. That's what you're here for. You are Bush's civilian propaganda annex.