The Canary Islands, concerned about possible 'illegal' arms traffic

[EuroObserver]

Original report in DU in English by EuroObserver.

A report in the Canary Islands's 'newspaper of record', La Provincia, today November 28 2005 drew attention to questions which had been repeatedly raised during the preceeding months by majority opposition/coalition politcal parties with representation in the Autonomous Government of the archipielago, which, apparently, have finally elicited some sort of answer from the Central Government of Spain. Canary Islanders (perhaps like most 'isolated' peoples) are very well used to waiting a long, long time before they receive answers, or before their voices, eventually, are heard.

Before the Canary Islands were discovered and colonised, in the 13th, 14th and 15th medieval centuries by Europeans (on the way to the Americas), the indigenous people of the islands, scientists and local people believe, were very closely related to the Bereber tribes of the nearby Saharan mainland. While, after all these years, today's Canary Island population is perhaps a melted-pot (and a tourist paradise), many familes still consider themselves to be, whether relatively pure- or mixed-blood, nevertheless proud but profoundly calm indegenous Islanders.

The Governments (and indeed the municipalities) of the various Autonomous Communities of the Spanish State are, to a greater or lesser degree, free to govern themselves in this very diverse and highly devolved country - including in matters of local taxation. But usually the most important sovereign exceptions of defense and international relations are normally (but not always!) considered to be the exclusive preserve of the Spanish State, centered supposedly in Madrid. Economic, political and environmental corruption tends to be rife at all levels and is the usual focus of local attention; of which the environmental corruption is, of course, the most degrading.

According to La Provincia, the center-left parties PSOE, IU and ICV, which together with regionalist parties usually, at present, Govern (in a sometimes shifting spectrum of unofficial coalition politics) in Madrid, at the local level in the Canary Islands have finally received an answer from the Center: Yes, since at least 2002 until ay least March 2005 US military supply ships have been making use of the magnificent Atlantic harbors of the Canary Islands in order to transport to the center of possibly illegal hostilities in the Middle East, specifically, Iraq, possibly illegal cargoes of certainly illegal radioactive and chemical weapons.

The shipments have included Abrahms tanks with depleted uranium armor and munitions, and white phosphorous, amongst other (yet to be specified) war materiel, the central government in Madrid has confirmed.

Airports in the Canary Islands have also been used by clandestine CIA flights which, if carrying extra-judicial prisioners and/or torture victims, would have been in breach of International Law in Spanish territory.

The central Spanish Government also confirms that the bilateral agreements signed between the US and the previous right-wing Franco-loving Aznar government (which ardently supported the US aggression against Iraq, while prudently refusing to fight. claiming it entered Iraq on an 'humanitarian mission' only - defeated in the March 2004 General Elections) apparently still permit the USA to make use of any part of Spanish territory, without informing the Spanish Government, as a part of its 'war' efforts.

It is not clear how much was paid, by whom or to whom, in exchange for such a deal. But no Spaniard from whichever 'Autonomous Community' will easily forget the visit of Mr. Jeb Bush in February 2003 when, apart from revealing his lack of preparation and his ignorance of history, Mr. Jeb Bush also promised Mr. Aznar a hell of a lot of money in exchange for his support for the projected non-UN-sanctioned US agression against Iraq.

"You shall be well rewarded!" Jeb, on the record, said, speaking in pidgen Texan Spanish.

[EuroObserver]

1. Hmmm. Maybe should have posted in GD:Politics

Or SD: War Crimes investigations ...