SPAIN: The already tense relations between Spain and the US took on a greater gravity this week after a diplomatic snub by the American ambassador.
Mr George Argyros, a political appointee and close friend of President Bush, boycotted Spain's October 12th National Day military parade and sent a lower ranking diplomat to represent him. Even more insulting in Spanish eyes, he failed to join the other ambassadors afterwards for King Juan Carlos's annual reception in the Royal Palace.
It seems Mr Argyros, a major donor to the Republican Party, has a long memory. He has not forgiven the then leader of the opposition, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero - and now prime minister - for failing to stand to attention when the Stars and Stripes was paraded along with those from other Nato countries last year.
His office says he had intended to attend the royal reception. He had been on a shooting party some 300km outside Madrid and his private plane was unable to land in time. This year, the US was not invited to send any troops, and only those from France and Italy marched with the Spanish armed forces down the Castellana Avenue on Tuesday.
The US-Spanish row stems from the vehement opposition of most Spaniards to join the coalition in the invasion of Iraq.
Mr Zapatero vowed to withdraw the troops if he was elected in the March elections, and within weeks of taking office he kept his word in a decision which infuriated the Americans.
Mr Zapatero was unrepentant and said yesterday: "I do not regret keeping my word. I have no intention of changing my opinions or my convictions that the war in Iraq was wrong."
His defence minister Mr José Bono tried yesterday to mend fences when he met Mr Argyros for talks, but stressed: "We do not bow our knees to anyone."