MADRID, Spain - [font=arial][size=-1]In another dig at the United States,
the Socialist government has dropped plans for U.S. Marines to march in a high-profile parade commemorating Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World. 
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U.S. Marines have taken part since 2001 in the procession marking the Dia de la Hispanidad, which is celebrated each year on Oct. 12.
The Spanish invitation was first issued when fervently pro-U.S. conservatives ruled in Spain and was meant to show solidarity with the United States after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
But the new Socialist government, which withdrew Spain's troops from Iraq right after taking power in April and realigned the country's foreign policy away from its predecessor's focus on ties with Washington, has ended the tradition.
Defense Minister Jose Bono said Tuesday evening there was still friendship and respect between Madrid and Washington.
"What does not continue is subordination and getting down on our knees on orders from a foreign government, whichever it may be," Bono said. 
Instead, French troops have been invited to march in the parade as part of celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Paris from Nazi occupation.
A U.S. Embassy official declined to criticize the Spanish decision, saying simply that the Americans were honored to have taken part in the parade in recent years.
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