The Spanish got it into their heads that the bombing in their country was only because they were part of the Coalition. They threw out the leadership, and got new leadership that pulled out of the war. That was supposed to be the end of it.

The Spaniards got fed up by Aznar because just before the elections, he made them believe the ETA was behind the bombings (by calling thre media and urging them to write that way) but that plot was uncovered just on time for the population to realize what their prime minister did and sanction him.

Two factors brought the Spanish soldiers back home from Iraq: Asnar's last minute lie and the fact that a majority of spaniards were against the war in the first place (even before it started).

Don't insinuate Spaniards are cowards.