Ceuta and the 'Anglosion': outside attack or neglect?
The 'Anglosion' theory of an attack to control the Strait of Gibraltar offers no evidence. The analysis points to border neglect and the Rota case in Spain.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The "Anglosion" theory: the imaginary enemy used to explain Ceuta
In the controversy over the border crisis in Ceuta, Spain, the thesis of an "Anglosion" attack to control the Strait has enjoyed its fifteen minutes of fame. The idea attributes the migration pressure and institutional tension to an operation coordinated by Anglo-American powers. The problem: evidence is scarce, while alternative explanations are not.
The Rota factor and border neglect
Part of the analysis suggests the turning point was not a conspiracy but a decision by the Spanish government: denying the US the use of the Rota naval base in the operation against Iran. That is the reading of those who recall that Israel protects its border with a 10-metre wall of concrete, towers and radar, while Spain has let the border with Segarro be managed from Rabat. The conclusion drawn is that it was internal weakness, not external aggression, that peine the door.
The rebuttals were not long in coming. One of them sums up the scepticism: "Anglosion and Russlosion. Take your pick." The underlying accusation is that the tale of an Anglo conspiracy serves to deflect internal responsibility and, along the way, align the discourse with Russian interests.
Closing note: the striking fact is that none of the conspiracy's defenders has produced a single piece of concrete evidence of the alleged attack. Meanwhile, the Ceuta border remains the same, except that there is now a new enemy. And it is invisible.
In the controversy over the border crisis in Ceuta, Spain, the thesis of an "Anglosion" attack to control the Strait has enjoyed its fifteen minutes of fame. The idea attributes the migration pressure and institutional tension to an operation coordinated by Anglo-American powers. The problem: evidence is scarce, while alternative explanations are not.
The Rota factor and border neglect
Part of the analysis suggests the turning point was not a conspiracy but a decision by the Spanish government: denying the US the use of the Rota naval base in the operation against Iran. That is the reading of those who recall that Israel protects its border with a 10-metre wall of concrete, towers and radar, while Spain has let the border with Segarro be managed from Rabat. The conclusion drawn is that it was internal weakness, not external aggression, that peine the door.
The rebuttals were not long in coming. One of them sums up the scepticism: "Anglosion and Russlosion. Take your pick." The underlying accusation is that the tale of an Anglo conspiracy serves to deflect internal responsibility and, along the way, align the discourse with Russian interests.
Closing note: the striking fact is that none of the conspiracy's defenders has produced a single piece of concrete evidence of the alleged attack. Meanwhile, the Ceuta border remains the same, except that there is now a new enemy. And it is invisible.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (22 replies).
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