Spanish Authorities Halt Terror Plot in Barcelona

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Whether or not Spanish authorities knew they were outing a French special agent is not known publicly.  Yet, countless reports seem to suggest the French Secret Service Agency believe Spain’s law enforcement were too quick and jumped the gun in their effort to prevent a terrorist attack similar to others seen in recent years.

Obviously, the safety of this French agent lies at the heart of the controversy and despite suggestions which currently echo around the globe, it is highly unlikely that any nation would jeopardize the safety or security; this includes the identity of an undercover operative.  Although there appears to be no official commenting from either the French or Spanish Secret Service Agencies publicly at least, there is a tremendous amount of gratitude and gracias from those residents of Barcelona Spain and other Catalonia Region residents. 

And, given history is suggested to reveal itself in cyclical fashion, it can be argued, no matter what the cross-border controversy surrounding these potential terrorists and/or a carrying out of a similar bombing on Barcelona commuter rails,  the world breathes a sigh of relief and applauds this sharing of information and rapid response by both nations.  It is regretful that an undercover French Secret Agent has been placed in imminent danger and jeopardy but it seems both countries are missing the big picture.  

Countless innocent lives have been and are safe much thanks due both the French and Spanish agencies.  To fail to act on such a potential threat would have served no one except the single agent in this matter.  in fact, four years ago  a group comprised of primarily North African Islamist militants carried out bomb attacks on commuter trains and passengers in Madrid  people were killed with another 1800 injured in these commuter train bombings. 

The Barcelona residents and several political authorities –none speaking on the record for obvious reasons such as being seen as a potential leak or threat as well- received this information and responded in the only manner fitting to such a situation. They took appropriate and decided steps to make such an attack on the residents and rail transport systems in Spain impossible by dismantling the terrorist cell poised to carry out the action. 

In retrospect, taking its lesson from history in Spain and specifically, Madrid.  These potential attacks absolutely coincided with the 2008 General Elections national vote in Spain. 

While such a similarity it does not seem very wise to risk countless lives to preserve a mere one agent’s undercover operation.  As a matter of qualification and editorial opinion as a reporter for the BarcelonaReporter.com suggested to the media world on its web site, “Residents are thankful for the “Ounce of Prevention” despite the controversy which has ensued”. 

Perhaps the growing controversy over the outing is just as responsible for the outing of the undercover French operative and has served as mere proof only rather than the epi-center of the controversial storm.