THE Balearic government made a real song and dance over the visit of the USS warship, Oscar Austin last month. It was a golden opportunity because it coincided with Balearic leader Francesc Antich's call for a bar on all warships bound for the Gulf. Antich caled for the ship to sail at once and a protest action also took place next to the dock. Well, it now turns out that the Oscar Austin was not going to the Gulf...for the last month it has been escorting merchant ships (Spanish included) through the Straits of Gibraltar because there was a danger the vessels may come under attack from terrorists. My congratulations to Antich and Co. who managed to score an own goal.
JM