ZAPATERO ABANDONED not only the cause of Iraqi freedom, when Spanish troops were abruptly pulled off. He has also abandoned the cause of Western Sahara, Spain's former colony now occupied by one of Zapatero's buddies, Morocco. The right to self determination of Western Sahara (where refugees have built a fairly progressive society, much more socially developed than its neighbours) used to be a cause championed by the left until now.

Activists and organizations who have been defending the Western Sahara plea for years are complaining.