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Dirty Wars, Clean Hands: ETA, the GAL, and Spanish Democracy

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The Irish journalist Paddy Woodworth has written one of the most analytical, serious and well-documented books on State terrorism and its dreadful socio-political implications for a young and fragile Democracy as that of Spain. Implications which are still continuing to haunt the Spanish State since then. "Dirty War, Clean Hands: ETA, the GAL and Spanish Democracy" is an original and fascinating piece of journalism, providing profound and outstanding insights into one of the most complex issues confronted by a democratic State in Western Europe. With the precision and ability of a master surgeon, Woodworth analyses the implications and effects of the use of terrorist dead-squads (i.e., the so-called GAL, 'Anti-terrorist Liberation Groups') in the name of protecting Democracy by the Spanish State in its fight against ETA ('Basque Country and Freedom'). It is widely argued that these horrendous events resemble the worst years of Franco's dictatorship. Moreover, Woodworth assembles the pieces of an extremely complicated puzzle revealing a picture hidden in the 'shadow history' of Spain. A picture which reflects the following aspects of such episodes in history: 1. The disturbing, dramatic and terrifying events of the State death-squads execution of 27 innocents victims, while providing colourful insights into the social and political world of the Basque radical nationalist movement; 2. The investigation of those crimes by journalists and isolated judges in pursuit of truth, and 3. The detailed criminal trials of those involved with State terrorism and their intellectual instigators. These trials were surrounded by a net of thrilling conspiracies, newspapers intrigues and manipulations, cover-up manoeuvres and a highly polarised battle for power between the PSOE (i.e., 'Spanish Socialist Party') and the right-wing rival the PP ('Popular Party').
In the collective memory of Spain and the Basque Country, the 1980's State's terrorist events are still much alive. These events shook the basic institutions of the Spanish Democracy,
reinforced ETA's appalling violence and strengthened its political alliances. Nevertheless, has Democracy and its 'State of Law' been re-established under the governing Popular Party?; Is the war over?. These questions still remain unanswered.
P. J. Oiarzabal Historian, BA, MA, MPhil, Reno, NV September 2001

I have always thought that being a socialist meant that one placed the State above all else, which the people described in this true account do. But I've also always believed that being a socialist meant that one abhorred militarism, had little or no regard for luxuries that are connected to capitalism, and protected human rights at all costs. STUPID ME!!
Mr. Woodworth has very successfully shown that not only can a democratically elected government order people to commit horrible atrocities like what the GAL (Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberacion)did from 1983-87, but that they don't have to be right-wing, as most people associate state terrorism with right-wing governments.
As I read this book, I had to constantly remind myself that the social and political terrorists of Felipe Gonzalez's administration were supposedly leftist, anti-militaristic, equality minded advocates of human rights. These people (Felipe Gonzalez, Rafael Vera, and Jose Amedo in particular) made a mockery of everything that democracy stands for. They ruthlessly ordered the murders of Spanish and French citizens. Yes, some of those that the GAL killed were ETA members or sympathizers. But the number of innocent people that the GAL killed is higher than the number of actual ETA members and sympathizers that were targeted and/or killed. This book is scary to me because it shows that even in a supposed democracy, people can do horrible things to their fellow human beings.
Lastly, I'd like to make a point and pose a couple of questions. The fact that many of the members of the GAL were mercenaries (people who kill other people for money), other criminals, and POLICE OFFICERS shows how "socialist" the Spanish socialists really were. I'd like to ask why in the world Jose Amedo, who said he had wanted to kill every member of ETA, and Rafael Vera, were treated as well as they were during their trials? And what insane political excuse could prevent Felipe Gonzalez from being charged with anything? Even the prosecutor was helping the defense because he respected what the GAL did. Overall, this book is amazing and needed to be written.
Mr. Woodworth, I'd like to show my appreciation in all of the ways that apply to this book:
Gracias. Eskerrik asko. Thank you!

Being of Spanish origin, I had of course a special interest in Woodworth's book. His methodology is particularly well settled and easy to understand. Although he has the honesty of laying down right his position on terrorism, the rest, amazingly, seems at no point subjected to unilateral diatribe or personal interest. This book is an intelligent, user-friendly report on the whole story of ETA, Spanish democracy and personal tragedies. In the light of very recent events of ETA violence in Spain, the reader will find in this book all necessary material to further explain and describe the ETA terrorism actions. Very enlightning.

Paddy Woodworth has not only produced a detailed history of Spain's dirty war, but a gripping story which keeps you page turning like a good thriller.

In short the Spanish government provoked by ETA inreasingly murderous campaign set up death squads know as GAL to kill ETA activists. Had this been done by the Franco regime no one would have been suprised, but in fact it happened after Spain had become a democratic state.

It is easy to understand why Spain's government went down this route. Spain's transformation into a democratic state and the granting limited home rule to the Basques did not mean that ETA ended it's campaign of violence but increased it. On average ETA was killing twenty times more people in the years following Franco's death than they did in the years before his end.

Given ETA's murderous actions we might even forgive the response of Madrid. However not only were many of those killed by GAL only loosely linked to the Basque armed group, many had no link at all. They were just in the wrong place or in the wrong file. Many of these murders were carried out in France which it is true, ETA treated as a safe haven. To imagine what it means for one democratic state to carry out killings in the territory of a friendly democratic neighbour, just think what America's response would be if the Canadian Government sent death squads over the border to murder Quebec nationalists who were living in the USA

The whole thing colapsed into maze of trials, newspaper stories, investigators and political manouvouring between Spain's political groups.

As I have said Mr Woodworth's skill is to tell a complex story in a clear fasion and to keep you turning the page. In the end I hope it is a moral story showing why democrats must not fall to the standards of the terrorists they fight. Terrorists we know kill innocent people, but we are entitled to expect higher standards from our elected governments than from a terrorist. In the end it does not work, groups like ETA need a political as well or instead as a military solution.