Word: lisbon
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...call it an American defeat. If the U.S. intervenes through the CIA, we then denounce American imperialism. If, for example, Portugal goes Communist, it becomes an American defeat rather than a European defeat. Obviously, Portugal is closer to Paris than New York. The consequences of a Communist government [in Lisbon] will be felt more in Madrid and Paris than in New York. But we are acting like voyeurs, counting the blows to see who is winning and losing and never asking ourselves what [our] responsibilities...
Basking in the euphoria of the country's first free election in half a century, tens of thousands of Portuguese workers took advantage of the brilliant spring sunshine to celebrate May Day in Lisbon's huge outdoor May 1st Stadium. Loudspeakers blared, military helicopters chuffed overhead dropping red carnations, and election posters were plastered on every available inch of wall space. To a casual observer, it might have seemed as if the election had not yet taken place. Not so. It was just that after 49 years of repression-and months of intense politicking-no one could resist...
...political powers." Otherwise there were few post election recriminations. The Communists sought to minimize their poor showing by calling the vote "a victory for the left." Soares, who was dragged out of bed the night after the election by enthusiastic followers to head a procession through Lisbon streets, would have none of that. The Communists, he said, had suffered "a crushing defeat. Something went wrong, very wrong for them." The impressive vote for his party, Soares added, meant that the voters want "socialism with prudence...
...also a sense of relief. Officials in Bonn and London said they would redouble their efforts within the European Community to mount a multilateral aid program to assist the hard-pressed Portuguese economy. The moderates' victory was interpreted as vindication of Europe's "soft line" to Lisbon's leftward tilt. Said one British official: "I dread to think what would have been the results of the elections if [Secretary of State Henry] Kissinger had been allowed to apply his special brand of Realpolitik-probably 50 Communist deputies." Kissinger refused comment on the grounds that the election...
Whether Spinola planned it or not, I don't know. However, it was he who took command of the operation. And it was he who gave the preliminary orders to the forces that attacked Lisbon. If he were a person with little or no experience in military affairs, I could believe that he was tricked. But Spinola was a soldier of long experience who had taken part in many actions, and it is inconceivable that he would be drawn unwillingly into an action like that...