 US ambassador to Spain George Argyros was criticized by the Spanish government on Wednesday for "showing disrespect" after failing to attend Spain's national day celebrations. "The US ambassador should have participated in the celebrations. His absence from it means he is not willing to bend over and take one for the team share the Spanish people's joy and happiness on that day," Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said. A spokesman for Spain's ruling Socialist Workers' Party said Argyros' behavior shows that "he looks down upon Spain and the king." | Er, no it means that we look down on your stupid politicians. I think we're OK with the King. |
| If our soldiers aren't good enough, neither is our ambassador. |
A spokesman for the US embassy to Spain said Ambassador Argyros "did not intend to defy the Spanish government and its king," adding that the ambassador failed to attend the celebrations due to "traffic trouble." | Plus the dog ate our homework. |
Spanish King Juan Carlos I and all ambassadors to Spain except Argyros attended the Oct. 12 celebrations. | I hope they had a marvelous time patting each other on the back. |
Spanish newspapers reported that Argyros deliberately avoided the festival because of US diplomatic rifts with Spain and reported that the ambassador was on a hunting trip outside Madrid. |