Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3-14-04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=Powell / Spain (L-Only)

NUMBER=2-314106

BYLINE=David Gollust

DATELINE=State Department

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Secretary of State Colin Powell says he does not think last week's terror attacks in Spain, even if shown to have been the work of al-Qaida, will undercut Spanish support for U-S-led efforts in Iraq or the war on terrorism. In network television interviews Sunday, Mr. Powell said it is too early to fix blame for the bombings which killed 200 people. V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

TEXT: Though Spanish commentators have said the bombings could trigger a backlash against the ruling Popular Party of outgoing Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and its support of Bush administration policies, Mr. Powell says he believes there will be no lessening of support either in Spain or the rest of Europe for the U-S-led war on terrorism.

In television interviews Sunday, Mr. Powell said the devastating train attacks -- whether they were the work of al-Qaida, the Basque separatist group ETA, or someone else -- only further illustrate that no one is immune from terrorism and that everyone's efforts to combat it must be redoubled.

Appearing on the A-B-C television network, the Secretary of State said Spaniards turned out in the hundreds of thousands in the streets of Madrid and elsewhere after Thursday's attacks in a "remarkable" show of resolve that hardly indicates a retreat on terrorism:

///Powell actuality///

I don't think the case has been made that somehow this will cause Spain to step back from the war against terrorism or step back from their efforts at working with the United States. Even the opposition party challenging the P-P party, as it's called, knows that with a U-N mandate, they should keep their forces in Iraq. So I hope that this will not change Spanish attitudes toward the war on terror, or toward their efforts in Iraq.

///end act///

Mr. Powell said Spain has been on "the right side of the issue" with regard to both terrorism and Iraq, and said he hopes the Spanish people "will continue to move in that direction, and vote in that direction."

He said U-S law enforcement officials have been in touch with Spain on the train attacks but said he was unaware of any request for American assistance.

He said Spanish authorities "are very good at" anti-terrorism investigations having had to deal for many years with ETA, an organization he noted is on the U-S list of foreign terrorist organizations. (Signed)

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