Quote Originally Posted by Gilrandir View Post
Then they have no wits. One doesn't have to be Nobel prize winner to figure out how Madrid would have reacted. Did they know it? If yes and still went on with independence and after that backed out they have no guts. If no - they are plain stupid. Either conclusion doesn't reflect a great credit upon current Catalan leaders.
Have to agree there. Having talked over the issue with Madrid quietly -- and I assume at least a few 'deniable' emissaries did so -- and having thereby learned that there was no groundswell of support for secession, they should have known right then that it was a choice of 'lives, fortune, sacred honor' [call out the militia and fight for freedom as needed] or time to shut up and leave things be [inglorious, but their current lives aren't notably horrific].

I have to agree here that the Catalan leaders did not cover themselves with laurels here.