How Spain deals with terrorist groups and stubborn foreign leaders/governments

This cable, sent from the US Embassy in Madrid to the Secretary of State in 1986, provides a glimpse into international controversy in the 80s. After the expulsion of a Libyan diplomat accused of bribing Spanish military officers, Libya responded by declaring Spanish cultural and economic counselors in Tripoli persona non grata. The wire says that Spain acted without clear knowledge of where the series of expulsions would lead. Most importantly, it highlights a difference in Spanish tendencies; whereas now the Spanish government addresses terror threats more submissively because of public opposition to violence or provocation of terror groups, the cable indicates that Spain was taking a hard line against terror in 1986 to battle public perception that it was too soft.

Questions:

Did Spain's public mentality on terror really change, or was the expectation of a strong reaction based on the involvement of Spanish military officers?

Is Spain's military still susceptible to bribery? Is it dangerous to the Spanish government?