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Dark Rumblings Of A Coup D’État In Spain
Wolf Richter www.testosteronepit.com www.amazon.com/author/wolfrichter
Spain is on edge. Unemployment is nearly 26%, youth unemployment over 55%. The government is mired in a corruption scandal. The economy is grinding to a halt. On January 23, the Catalan assembly declared that the region constituted a “sovereign political and legal entity.” A step closer to secession. And then a general gave a speech.
It’s just now percolating to the surface, but it happened on February 6, according to people who attended a conference on the Armed Forces and the Constitution at the Gran Peña, a club in Madrid that is a favorite hangout for retired military officers. The discussion was moderated by José Antonio Fernández Rodera, editor of the military’s magazine, Revista Jurídica Militar. Among the speakers were Ángel Calderón, Chief Justice of the Military Chamber; Pedro González-Trevijano, Chancellor of the King Juan Carlos University; and General Juan Antonio Chicharro, until 2010 commander of the Marine Corps and now in the reserves. About 100 people were in the audience.
There was nothing unusual until General Chicharro spoke. From the outset, he made clear that this wasn’t an impromptu speech. According to various attendees, he apologized; he would have declined the invitation to speak, he said, but the current “separatist-secessionist offensive” in Catalonia obligated him to come forward.
In the armed forces, “there is a general feeling of preoccupation, fear, uncertainty, and confusion” on this topic, he said. He lamented the dismissal of General José Mena in 2006 after he’d publicly suggested that military intervention might be needed to counter Catalonia’s demands for increased autonomy.
He criticized Catalan separatists for their distorted interpretation of the Constitution with regards to secession and offered his own interpretation of two articles: Article 8.1, which charged the Armed Forces with defending Spain and its territorial integrity; and Article 97, which spelled out the subordination of the military to the civilian government. The first was at the hard core of the Constitution, he said. The second was further removed, with less force.
And so, while using conditionals and turning statements into questions, he spun a theory on when the military would be justified in overthrowing the government. The problem would occur, he said, “if those responsible for the defense of the Constitution didn’t behave as their role required.”
He asked his listeners to imagine what would happen if the Popular Party (PP) were to lose its absolute majority in the next general elections, and the Catalan nationalists were to demand, in exchange for their support, a change of the Constitution to undo the doctrine of the “indissoluble unity” of Spain.
“So what do the Armed Forces do?” he wondered, but gave no answer. “The rules are one thing, practice is another,” he said enigmatically. “If the defense mechanism of the constitutional order doesn’t work, by act or omission, then....” He didn’t complete the sentence. “The country is more important than democracy,” he said. “Patriotism is a feeling, and the Constitution is nothing but a law.”
Rousing applause, a standing ovation, cries of “Bravo! Bravo!” The questions from the audience went even further than the General’s speech—until chancellor González-Trevijano cut them off: “The alternative to the constitution is collective suicide,” he said.
When the story began to leak out, Diego López Garrido, the Socialist spokesman in Parliament on defense issues, pressed the Ministry of Defense to take immediate action against the general; he was still subject to the military disciplinary code which frowned upon suggesting coup d’états—in public. And on Thursday, the Ministry said that it has opened a preliminary inquiry to determine what exactly the general had said and if it ran afoul of any laws.
Perhaps warned by the general, the government is taking the hardest possible line against Catalonia’s ambitions to secede. On Thursday, the State Council issued an opinion indicating that there were sufficient legal grounds to dispute the declaration by the Catalan assembly. On Friday, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced that the government would roll out its biggest legal gun. It would take the declaration to the Constitutional Court on the grounds that it violated the Constitution.
The economic nightmare with too many out-of-work restless young people on the streets, the secession of a region, a constitutional crisis in the wings, and dark rumblings by generals combine into a volatile mix. What had started out as a housing bubble that turned into a debt crisis then a broad economic crisis has morphed beyond the economy. It’s gnawing on democracy.
And not just in Spain. But the Eurozone. “I’m appalled that two clowns have won,” said the man who'd try to knock German Chancellor Merkel off her perch this year. He was referring to former comedian Beppe Grillo and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. One of them is “a professional clown who doesn’t mind being called that,” he explained; the other is “a clown with special testosterone boost.” Read.... The Utter Fragility Of The Eurozone: Even Democracy Is A Threat
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think about Ted Nugent. When tanks show up on his property its over. Glen Beck give me a break. Or Alex Jones or Stewart Rhodes won't be able to help him. They're living in a fantasy.
He'll be a news story so they can sell some seeds and water purifiers.
No way thats only a movie and that was a bunch of bullshit anyway. They don't protect the
American people. They protect the ponzi syndicate.
The generals in this country are tied to their hermorphidic old church lady wives.
They don't have the guts to sever ties. They're pussies in the end after their green suits and
their salad dressing displays of medals are taken away. They're super proud when the odds are
stacked in their favor. Principal means nothing its always about survival. Goes for anybody
against insurmountable odds and overwhelming force in a life and death situation.
The controllers know this big time.
The old parasites will go, and new ones will come in. Perhaps more hungry, mabey less.
The Sons of Caesar never leave!
Once they have tasted power, its like kingly sex, you want it more n more without any impediment; after all, its YOU who wears the Purple!
Miliitary rulers have to be beheaded; to die by their own means; they never leave on their own and they become so mean that even demagogues in comparison pale as they do NOT have total power and have to please the people to get their way; often leading to their own downfall.
A dictator panders to no one except his own hubris, and his own breed. He relies on brute force not rule of law.
But it does please the "law and order" brigade until it turns on them...which inevitably happens to those who THINK they can reason a Dictator and appeal to his HONOUR!
Dead bloody end!
With an exception or 2, like General George Washington.
yep, every rule has its exceptions; look at Sylla he won the civll war of Rome for the Optimates (conservatives) and refused to become Imperator...didn't stop the civil war from continuing until a more unscrupulous SYlla called Julius took over his mantle.
But GW was a general whose conviction was forged under sufferance against his past masters (he fought the 7 years war against the French, from whom he descended)...he served the Brits, before he revolted.
(E)very rule has its exceptions --
Except for that one.
Another statist who insists that his feelings are more important than the written law.
...or that written law is more important than people's desires.
there is no law especially when it comes to principal. you get the justice you can afford.
"The Black cars of the Guardia Civil"
Clash
"Arriba Franco ...más alto que Carrero Blanco!"
Generlissimo Francisco Franco is still dead -- Chevy Chase.
Apparently, not dead enough, though...
and so it begins; the "clowns" of Italy and their inordinate demands on Oligarchy, the "junta" of Spain to avoid "separatism"; immediate knee jerk response to snuff out the candle of people's revolt. We are heading towards 1930 times...
Democracy and people are not compatible with globalised Oligarchy; hidden behind the invisible hand of banksta market manipulations.
Democracy and people are almost completely compatible with globalized Oligarchy.
The real problem is that globalized Oligarchy is not compatible with economic progress.
But Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
:D
Good article, TP.
I am sure glad none of this could happen again in the USA where the Constitution is more than a law and the patriotism in generals is overcome by the pensions of generals.
@ Orly: not for much longer. His Nationalist spirit inflames us all. DEATH TO THE NATION-KILLING SOCIALISTS AND BANKSTERS!!
I hope you you understand that my comment was a reference to a Chevy Chase tag-line from Saturday Night Live back in the 1970s...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESyTVnxxrPc
yes, I know. We need his like in America now...but the higher military are all Stalinist-apparatchiks, carefully cultivated by the Regime. So, as pointed out somewhere else on this thread, we will have to do it ourselves.
A Coup d Etat or a Currency War starts the Next Financial Meltdown. Will be happy to stop at SP500 900, more likely 400.
The revolution is rarely broadcast but these are new times...
Actually when a revolution does happen it appears slowly and then ramps up quickly.
No it won't be different this time. If any of the Motley Crew here want to know what is brewing then they only need to open their History Books and study the Great Depression and the consequential Spanish Civil War and the following World War.
Fascism was the victor. With Spain on the brink of outright Civil War, Italy following not to far behind in the Spanish footsteps, with a reunified relatively strong Germany, with the strong Russian competition, with England sinking, and with France wailing, these are the just Harbingers of a new European conflict that will progress into a Global Conflict.
Let us look at the Pacific Theater. China and Japan are going at each other...again. The rich Southeast Asia countries with ample Natural Resources are prime to be taken. As economies decay their populations become restless and want only to plunder rather than produce.
In the Asian Continent we have Pakistan and Indian vying for supremacy.
The Middle East is a Powder Keg with the Sunni and Shite Muslims ready to kill off one another. The problem is that they sit atop the proven, producing reserves of Oil for the World.
So how fast will the United States be dragged into the new, brewing quagmire?
So please explain just how it will be different this time? Those whom fail to learn the lessons from History are merely doomed to repeat it.
Maybe we will get a Global Thermonuclear War as the result. Maybe that is how it will be different this time. Then 95% of the World's Population is killed off and Agenda 21 can be realized in completion.
Enjoy. It will be the show of your life however short that may be.
One thing most forget. Franco kept Spain out of WW2.
He outwitted Adolf Hitler.
Spain is different in many ways than the larger continent.
"Let us look at the Pacific Theater. China and Japan are going at each other...again."
The illusionist, with one hand points up and says to the people, hey look up there, as he quickly picks your pockets from down there with his other hand.
http://shark-tank.net/2013/03/02/chinese-navy-continues-growing-first-ca...
"lessons from history" what little dumbed-down history is taught in public schools(half is about THE Holocaust and the other half is filling students up w/ white slavery guilt) is quickly forgotten as the little shits run off to buy victoria secret shit for 12 year old girls or jeans for boys at Aber+Fitch that would get your ass kicked for being a faggot when I was in school.
The key difference this time is nuclear deterrence.
Don't count out the sadists and loonies who might opt for mutual destruction.
when the power is shut off where the fuck do you recharge your iShit? a running generator will get you killed. and when the riots get cranked up there is no way some cameraman is going to risk his life to be in the middle of it.
BioLite
Many cameramen are killed in War Zones. Ask Reuters about their's being murdered by a US Military Apache Helicopter Crew. The video was great. Thank you for your sacrifice Pvt. Manning. Thank you Julian Assange for exposing the ugly truth.
I especially liked it when they shot the Infants. They were really such a threat to our brave soldiers that were firing upon denfenseless, unarmed, non-combatant civilians. It just must take a REAL Man to do that.
Yeah most of you ZeroHedge readers support this. You pay US Taxes. Financial Support is SUPPORT.
Probably not one of you protested Manning's detention and trial. Probably not one of you have called your Representative and demanded that the US Military Officers and enlisted involved in this War Crime be brought to justice.
Many of you are screaming for Manning's Execution for EXPOSING THIS MURDER. But you do not demand the Execution of those committing the murder.
Yeah many of you have a warped sense of morality and justice. That is because many here are just psychopaths, only concerned with PROFITTING off of other people's miseries.
Sorry, but Manning violated his Constitutional Oath.
There are Many Ways to skin a cat, not that one.
Manning is off to prison for EXPOSING VIOLATIONS OF LAW - as his oath requires him to do. Notice that none of those COMMITTING THE ACTUAL CRIMES have even been prosecuted.
Sibel Edmonds still has a gag order on her and I wonder what happened to Captain Ian Fishback - the 101st Airborne officer that went to McCain over torture..... bet his career is dead - if he's even IN the military still.
It's all about COVERING UP CRIMES - Obama's 'moving forward' and ignoring Bush Administration crimes is compounded by the crimes committed under HIS Presidency.
The Republic is dead and the Empire - fronted by hand picked 'elecrted' officials is headed for collapse at fast forward speeds.
screw these communist thread-hijackers. ARRIBA ESPANA! VIVA FRANCO!!
the Avatar splits apart!
Compassionate and Fascist are like GWB's actions and his "compassion" as practiced in Iraq with the "enemy without" and then at Gitmo with those captured and brought home....under Patriot Act. Patriotism got a new handle too, along with compassion under GWB admin. to his eternal shame.
"Read my lips" said the father; "believe my compassion" said the son.
And now the Holy Ghost here at ZH sings : Viva Franco.
The Holy Trintiy is truly complete!
Ave MAria, may the new Crusade begin! On the streets of Barcelona!
(MDB sarcasm apart, insincerity and trolling are such Internet pastimes its becoming tedious; when it impinges on stark, tragic reality).
But I'm prepared to be charitable and hope that the comment was ironic in substance.
Tall Tom posed a good question to which I feel obliged to respond. I support your plea Tom, for Manning and Assange; they do serve humanity when they expose the scam of totalitarian power garbed in "democracy and war on terror".
Let all the facts come out...if there is to be trial of a supposed traitor.
Political self-determination is absolutely the scariest thing imaginable to the existing power structure. Such would mean their loss of priviledge, loss of power, loss of wealth. Add to that, the fact it is obvious that the only thing they respect is violence. Finally, note their ever-increasing willingness ot use violence against their opponents, any opponents, anywhere.
Draw your own conclusions.