Is It Delivering a Full Report? in Spain

The Spanish government's explanations for the events in Ceuta, nearly a month after the incident, are beginning to emerge — and with them, the first contradictions. When someone makes a mistake, they often turn to the confusion playbook to cover up responsibility. Defense Minister Margarita Robles made it clear on Tuesday that the CNI intelligence agency warned on July 30 of what was coming, while Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska insisted he never received such information, though he was careful to praise the intelligence services' work.

He concluded that everyone had overlooked it. The image of Robles and Marlaska was one of blowing and sipping at the same time. From there, only hermeneutics remain: what does it mean to inform?

Is it delivering a full report? Is it just another note like those sent daily about migrant entries? Is it verbal?

How is the information conveyed? Is it transmitted between intelligence services and security forces, or between mid-level ministry officials? Does the alert reach political leaders?

Do the ministers talk to each other? At the end of her appearance, Robles offered a clue. After noting there are many ways to warn, she specified that on July 29, "officials" from the 25 CNI agents stationed in Ceuta "reported to the government delegation" that the next day there was a "call to enter by swimming, taking advantage of that celebration in the neighboring country, referring to the Throne Day holiday in Morocco.

Moncloa backs Marlaska's version, considering that detecting an increase in irregular entries is one thing, and alerting to an avalanche of tens of thousands of people is another. Some sources argue: if the CNI spotted something like that, why didn't it urgently alert the minister herself? All agree on admitting the increased flow of arrivals by swimming in July." Robles said 150 entered per day, and Marlaska said a thousand in a week.

That, combined with the 2021 precedent, perhaps advised greater attention. Conclusion: someone did not properly assess the available information. For the rest, if a threat must be warned of in the future, whoever it is should pick up the phone until they are heard — or send smoke signals.