Francisco Franco has managed to stay on top in Spain for 31 years by adroitly balancing generals and bishops, Opus Dei technocrats and Falangists. Nonetheless, the real basis of his power has been the fidelity of the Spanish army. Last week, as the tense country awaited the outcome of the stormy trial of 16 Basque terrorists, the uniformed leaders of Franco's praetorian guard closed ranks around the Caudilloso tightly, in fact, that it was hard to tell whether they had actually pulled a coup.
Spain's ultra-right hard-liners in and out of uniform have never been happy with Franco's steps toward...
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