The Command Post - Op-Ed - The Importance Of Morocco

July 09, 2004

The Importance Of Morocco

Yesterday, King Mohammed VI of Morocco visited the White House for a meeting with US President Bush. The importance the Bush administration gives to Morocco is shown by the recent Free Trade Agreement the US government signed with Morocco, the inclusion of the Moroccan armed forces in the upcoming NATO excercises MEDSHARK-Majestic Eagle '04 off the coast of Cap Draa, and finally but probably most importantly, the diplomatic support the US is lending Morocco in its dispute with Algeria over Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony until 1975, located between Morocco and Mauretania.

The Algerian-backed separation movement called Polisario calls for an independent state, and Algeria supports them, perhaps as 'change' for the resolvement of other standing conflicts with Morocco, perhaps out of fear of a bigger neighbor, even though since a cease fire between Polisario and Morocco in 1991, Western Sahara has been administered by Morocco. Since 1991 several attempts have been made to resolve the dispute, but conferences and decisions have been postponed throughout the nineties, until recently the region has been the focus of diplomacy again.

The reason for this of course is the War on Terror. Western Sahara counts about a quarter of a million inhabitants, mostly nomad farmers. An independent Western Sahara would be an ideal candidate for 'failed state' status, and would almost inmediately attract the attention of terrorist networks like Al Qaeda or their regional affiliate the GSPC. Morocco themselves have a big fight on their hands with the Al Qaeda-linked Moroccan Combatant Islamic Group, responsible for the 2003 Casablanca bombings, and suspected of involvement in the March 11 Madrid attacks, and these groups too could benefit from a new hiding place right under Morocco's nose.

Recently, former Secretary of State James Baker resigned as the United Nation's mediator in the Western Sahara dispute. I believe his stepping aside, perhaps under pressure of the Bush administration -but that's just me thinking out loud, favors the Moroccans in their stance that Western Sahara is part of Morocco. Baker's plans were continuously opposed by Rabat. It may also be possible that with the US' renewed interest in Morocco, Baker felt he had to step aside to avoid a possible future conflict of interest, being a loyal Bush supporter. In any case, he cited health reasons.

In any case, this seems very solvable to me. Times have changed, and both Algeria and Morocco find themselves in hard fights with domestic and international terrorism. Both nations should be explained that like it or not, they're on the same side of the fence, and need to accept the fact that an independent Western Sahara will bring the prospect of terrorist bases on either country's borders. Of course, Morocco will have to accept that the indigenous people need their worries met too, so a federalist state seems the best solution, with local government ensuring own rule, but within the confines of a greater Morocco.

Viewing all this from Spain, one cannot but note the slightly bitter aftertaste all this is causing. Though officially the socialist government seems pleased with Morocco's FTA-status with the US, it was mainly responding to opposition party PP's comments that this was yet another sign that Spain was more and more being isolated by the US. But then again, the socialists seem happy to tag along France and Germany. As to Western Sahara, inmediately after Franco's death in 1975, the new government of Spain pulled out of then-called Spanish Sahara, and left it to Mauretania and Morocco to occupy (does this sound familiar?) Its stance seems neutral as to the future of the territory, and it hasn't shown the same involvement in its ex-colony as say Portugal with Timor. To me, it is more seen as an opportunity though to play the part of mediator, adding to its 'special relationship' with Northern Africa, which is useful within the EU.

One final piece of the puzzle will be the US naval station at Rota, in Southern Spain. As we will see in the coming years of the Zapatero government, indeed, we have seen it already with Spain's refusal to send NATO's newly formed rapid reaction force to Afghanistan, aping France's position, his socialist government may become more and more anti-NATO, even though for now this is on hold because Zapatero feels compelled to support it because it is one of those 'international institutions' he so very much likes to prop up.

My suggestion to the Pentagon would be to make it easy on him, and move the Rota Naval station to Morocco, but in Western Sahara. Not only will this provide security to the local Saharians under Moroccan rule, it will also prove to the world that Western Sahara is part of Morocco. I'd hate to see them leave, but they're a lot closer over there to the front in the War on Terror and states like Sudan, Congo and Ivory Coast. At the same time, Donald Rumsfeld can use the transfer as part of his ongoing efforts to restructure the military, building instead a new base more fit to confront the challenges ahead.

First published on Southern Watch

Posted By V-Man at July 9, 2004 01:52 PM | TrackBack

Comments

intersting article, it weaves two themes: the contention in an all but forgotten corner of a very sad continent (africa) and the changes in Spain under the new government.

Sadly, it seems that once again the problem starts with the poor performance of a colonial power. To me this is the legacy of European colonialism: dsyfunctional governments, civil strife, massive death.

contrast this to our behavior in Iraq. In spite of all the angst from Maureen Dowd we are not building a colonial empire, far far from it.

I remember when the US was asked to leave the Phillippines. It hurt strategically and socially but we did as we were asked/ Funny how we wound up back there as soon as they realized they needed us.

Ah well, if Rota is anything like Subic the first group to suffer once the navy base closes will be the prostitutes. a little gallows humor there, eh?

Posted by: skip at July 9, 2004 04:37 PM

thanks. Very true what you're sayin re: European colonial powers and the mess they left behind. But I believe the Spanish were famous for hardly investing in the countries they colonized, just sucking out as much gold and other resources as possible. Different type of colonialism than from the Brits and Dutch. Catholics versus Protestants, look for it online, you'd be amazed.
Ha, the prostitutes! Forgot about them. Still I think moving is the better option. Don't think there's a need to come back either, the Spanish can guard the Straight of Gibraltar, and the Northern Atlantic Theater is not showing any new movies lately, either.

Posted by: V-Man at July 9, 2004 04:55 PM

It will be interesting to see how the new Spanish government faires as things progress.

Certainly there's a chill in the relationship between the US and Spain right now and it seems that the world is all for chosing sides so it will be interesting.

Posted by: skip at July 9, 2004 05:10 PM

Unfortunately, more Spanish citizens will die as the Islamic killers try to retake Spain. They hated losing out centuries ago.

Spain has an appeaser government in place. The Islamists could possibly succeed, but I really doubt it. Too many Spaniards have no interest in being turned into a backward, 7th century hell hole.

Maybe the Islamists will try to provoke another Civil War. Spain will be bombed again and again and again until ALL of the Islamic radicals are dead.

Posted by: leaddog2 at July 9, 2004 08:32 PM

Wow, I left my city for a week and when I return, the Command Post has a new vigilance system. And the first one who violates the respect rules is an oper!!

First of all, I would like to regard that YOU the Americans are a sequel of the European colonial powers. Right? You are not like Jewish, expulsed from Europe to the new world, you was not a group of Einsteins without fatherland. You are a mess of Polacks, Brits, Dutch, Germans, Spaniards, Irish, Italians, etc kicked out from Europe to the New World, used like cheap manpower for the glory of the European Kings. Your European ancestors killed all the Indians, robed their lands, and sucked as much resources as possible, while the natives keep drunken in an arm chair. Nobody has explained it to you? And yes, the Spanish colonialism was different to the Brit and Dutch one. We robed and killed because of our greed and wickedness. On the other hand, the Brits and Dutch invaded, killed, robed and exterminated people in the name of the freedom and the justice. Yes, I also have seen a lot of Hollywood History movies.

If Spain had not established economic, colonial and migration links with the New World while the Brits were killing the people who lived in the islands around Great Britain, the USA would not exist today. Yes, the World has a good reason to hate Spain and its colonialism.

After this little lesson of History, lets talk about the Western Sahara and the new American-Morocco friendship. This is actually a shame for Spain what we did with the Saharaui people in 1975. This was actually a coward act from us to abandon the Saharauis and throw them to the oppressive hands of Morocco. Nothing to do with the reasonable withdrawn of our troops from the criminal and unjust party which is the war in Iraq. But it is impossible to go back to 1975, so the only thing that we can do is support the independence of the Western Sahara (the PP party ALSO supports the independence of the Western Sahara). Of course, USA is supporting the Morocco government to keep the Sahara under control, because of the terrorism and the stability in the zone and blablablablablablabla. And, of course, to protect one of the largest unexploited petrol reserves in the world (Western Sahara coast), and the agreements that the Morocco government and USA have reached in the shadows. It is quite ironic. Some centuries ago, we the Spaniards sucked out all the gold with the excuse of spreading the word of God, and today, hundreds of years after, USA suck out as much petrol as possible with the excuse of the Democracy (puppet democracy) and the Anti Terrorism war�.nothing has changed.

But, hey! Don�t get in anger please. Not all is a negative vision of your delirious point of view. I am agree with you in two points:

1- Skip, you are right. If the Americans left Rota (I wish), the only ones who are going to protest will be the prostitutes. Well, it would not be the first march of prostitutes that we have in Spain. We will stand with it. I hope this will not provoke a new civil war.

2- V-Man, I am agree that the best solution is moving your naval forces from Rota. The 98% of the Spaniards are agree with you ( the 2% should be prostitutes). Spain is the 8 world power. I know that it is not so much, but we are strong enough to stand with a eventual attack of Morocco, Algeria, Tunez, and Libya together against us. An attack against us carried out by one of the 7 stronger powers, will be contained with our greatest invention: the guerrilla. I sleep like a baby each night dreaming that the Daddy-Navy is moving to Africa.

Will my post pass the censorship?

Posted by: VinoTinto at July 10, 2004 11:42 AM

DO you think for a minute that Morrocan oil will go to the US? Get real. The most likely destination is the refineries of Europe (gasp!!). Once again, European free riders on US military and foreign policy strength. When are you guys going to get it that the principal beneficiaries of destroying the Islamofacists and preserving free access to the Gulf oil reserves are the Europeans? Or perhaps you think the North Sea provides for all your needs? Oh well, perhaps you can rely on Comrade Putin's generosity...

Posted by: Colorado at July 10, 2004 06:32 PM

V-Man, quality post ... keep it up.

Vino ... your post was spiritied, but also respectful and civil. Therefore, it passes. Thanks for your comment.

Posted by: Alan @ TCP at July 11, 2004 09:47 PM

Colorado, the petrol from the Sahara is going to flow to Europe as fast as the money is going to flow to USA. I DO NOT WANT robbed petrol. I want to pay to the Saharaui people a just price for each barrel of THEIR petrol. It doesn�t matter whether I have to pay some cents more expensive the fuel for my car. Remember what I am going to tell you: When the petrol reserves in the Western Sahara are finally exploited, the company in charge of the extraction and distribution will be the Exxon, or any other American company. You can bet your head.

Alan, thanks for your intervention. We need good moderators around here.

Posted by: VinoTinto at July 12, 2004 03:20 PM

Oh! I forgot it. The socialist government has decided to augment the Spanish troops in Afghanistan from 150 to 1,300 (Osama is boiling in anger) and to send 300 to Haiti, which are places where the Spanish people think that our presence is necessary and reasonable to fight against terrorism and to make a safer world. But USA will not get a cent from it.

Posted by: VinoTinto at July 12, 2004 04:01 PM

Well, buenas dias, VinoTinto! Such anger, where do I start? Apologies for the late reply, I was out scavenging for unknown oil reserves (that apparently even Vino knows about, so I'll have to scavenge more stealthy in future).

First, the difference between Protestant and Catholic colonialism can be summed up as follows: Protestants left civil society and laws and did a lot of bad things, Catholics left saints to worship to replace animist idols and did a lot of bad things (big reason why Catholicism is huge in the Third World). But that's a long time ago, and besides the point.

Yes, it is true that the Western Sahara coast holds oil reserves, which I've read are comparable to the Mexican Gulf. I did not make mention of it in my posting, because I feel it tiresome to again and again have to explain how the international oil market works (it is a market after all). All the US is trying to do is become less dependent on Saudi Oil, by seeking new sources, and where possible make them accessible. 'Making accessible' can be done colonial style, but they were never good at that, so they opt for a stable government which can be negotiated with (along with Elf Aquitane, I'm sure!) for a concession at market rate (presumed contents of concession x current market price minus a wholesale discount, something like that). The concession is what the prospective oil company would then pay the government of Morocco, in return for which they may drill for x years (look what you're paying Algeria for your gas). Once the oil reaches the market, it will be sold, at market rate, to whomever -China and India, not the US, being seen as the biggest users for the coming 25 years or so.

So this is not about oil, and it may still be about oil after all, but not in the 'colonial' sense of the word. A stable flow of oil ensures a stable world economy, which benefits all -including the US, oh horror of horros!

Colorado makes a good point, Morocco is benefiting hugely from US assistance, but in ten years (not a drop will be seen before then, and maybe not even then) Morocco is still next to Europe, and France's sticky hands have a long reach. But you see, that's the great thing about the US, that's cool too!

Now, hopefully by then the beaches of Cap Draa will be laden by prostitutes, complaining about those damn yankees while taking their money and all the stupid game shows on their 40" plasmas.

Finally, I'm glad there's no argument in moving Rota. It's a shame to see current (if they've ever been different) opinions sway. Just do promise me one thing, and leave Nato too? You state you are the world's 8th power, but I believe you're confusing wine exports with firepower here. I do recall a case of troops being killed due to an accident with a Yakolev 42? Rented from some foreign country? And why do I see all those troops come home in chartered Air Europa commercial liners? And finally why did NATO have to jump in with that Parsely (Perejil) rock off the coast of Morocco?

Posted by: V-Man at July 12, 2004 04:46 PM

Oh and thanks Alan for the kind words. We'll try and keep 'em coming!

Posted by: V-Man at July 12, 2004 04:50 PM

This is funny
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/ene_oil_imp_net_cap

Posted by: V-Man at July 12, 2004 05:01 PM

oh and armed forces? Spain ranked 30th, Morocco 27th.
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/mil_arm_for_per

yeah but it's the equipment, right? No, expenditure:
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/mil_arm_for_per
Spain ranked 15th in dollars (2002) (1,15% of GDP btw)

and ranked 58th in arms exports (ie you're using imported stuff -I believe I have seen Northrops NF5's flying?)

ok, here's a positive end:
You ARE first for
http://www.nationmaster.com/country/sp/Top-Rankings

Posted by: V-Man at July 12, 2004 05:11 PM

Ouch!! Hey V-Man, it hurts me! Hehehe instead of offend me, your post made me laugh. You seems very excited man. I left my city because of work reasons for a week, sorry�Lets go

The difference between Protestant and Catholic colonialism is that the Protestants practiced the convenient racial cleaning. I mean, the Catholic ex-colonies use to be racially and culturally mixed societies, and therefore, intrinsically unstable. Yeah, the third world use to practise Catholicism. We should exterminate all the natives and to implant a new Spain in all our colonies as the Brits and Dutch did. Actually is it true that in USA the black people obtained the right to vote in elections in the 50´s or 60´s? Did you declare illegal the slave status in the 1860´s? And are you a civil example??? Don�t make me laugh. The Spanish buses never carried the note : ONLY WHITES, like the American ones did.

Probably you could name the catholic equivalent to the Apartheid in South Africa� Well, after all, South Africa is the most advanced country in Africa. What the Dutch did with the natives in the Surinam? Is the Indonesian society what you call an advanced society? Oh, but the Dutch was great businessmen; they bought Manhattan to the Indians for the equivalent to 25 dollars. Nothing by the force.

The difference between catholic colonialism and the protestant one is that we tried to convert the natives to the Catholicism, and we robed they resources. We failed. You killed all them off. You success. Are you racially mixed? The most of the Mexican, Salvadorian, Colombian people etc, is racially mixed. But I think that you are WASP.

All you comment about the Sahara coast petrol is irrelevant. I still thinking the same thing. The conclusion still being the same: USA has not other friend than its own interest. By the way, talking about the Mexican oil reserves. A Mexican friend who works in an oil refinery in Mexico told me that they had discovered (accidentally during a prospecting) that USA was robbing Mexican petrol by illegal extraction of oil through the Mexican Gulf. Is it true?

You also made a grotesque comment about the prostitutes that I didn�t understand.

I see you are very happy that we lost many of our guys in an accident while coming back from Afghanistan. No so many guys as you receive in USA coming back from Iraq in a black bag, but too many anyway. Therefore, you understand the reason because the Spaniards are each day more and more opposed to any kind of collaboration with USA. Air Europa is a 100% Spanish company. They operate Airbus aircrafts. We have not strategic air transports, sorry. Our largest military air transport is the C-130. We are working on the Airbus A-400 to supply this fault. It is in the latest design phases. This means no more American aircrafts in our armies. Somebody in USA is going to be unemployed. What a pitty.

You don�t believe that Spain is the 8th world power�well, you are starting to understand why we kicked out the PP party and Mr. Aznar. They claimed that Spain actually is the 7th power. Are you agree with me now that the PP party is a bunch of liars? I think that Spain is the 8th being optimists. Probably the 9th. The recent NATO qualifications said that Spanish Navy is the 7th in the World (At least it was what the PP government told to the Spaniards). But I don�t trust at all in it. Lets say that Spain is the 80th world power. My previous post still being the same. We still being stronger than Morocco, Tunez, Algeria and Libya together. For the 79 stronger powers, we have the guerrilla. Move your naval forces to Africa. Are you happy now?

Oh! Hehehe, camon man. The military rankings that you provide are based on number of soldiers, % per capita and stuff like that... Is China the first world power and Russia the second one, and USA the third one???? Please�hehehehhe. One of our �Álvaro de Bazán� frigates could shot down all the Morocco air force. Our carrier �Príncipe de Asturias� and its escort fleet is a NATO �control of zone� for the Mediterranean sea. What is all this mess of rankings? USA is not the first one in no one of them�. Is USA the 3th or 4th world power? What are you talking about? XDDDD Northrop F-5??? Yes, as training aircrafts. I would not give to a rookie an F-18 or an Eurofighter Typhoon (European stuff to substituting the American one). What is that? What you pretend to demonstrate with this pantomime? LOL
Oh my God!! What´s the latest link? LOL. Are you crazy man? First ones in mortality because of Pleurar plaque??? Mandarines?? What´s that?? HEHHEHEHEH. You are funniest than the Redneck Texan. I though he was the best, but actually he is the second one. You get the gold medal V-Man.

About the Perejil Island, I would like to regard that USA declared itself �neutral�. Some Spaniards went surprised about that. For me, it was totally a logic reaction from USA. Because as I have said, USA has not other friend than its own interest. We don�t need the NATO to defend our territory against Morocco. Can you understand this? Is it so difficult to understand? By the way, the responsible about Spain joining the NATO was the Socialist Government. What an irony�

I don�t understand this anti-Spanish campaign that some opers are carrying on in the Command Post. If we are so irrelevant, why this rage against us? We was not obedient guys? Is it a bad example for your flunkies around the World? I am proud of my country and my compatriots. We have demonstrated that we are, at the end, an independent country. Despite we are the 80th world power hehehe.

I think we are boring to the Command Post visitors. We should fit our comments to the topics. Don�t you think so?

Posted by: VinoTinto at July 24, 2004 02:54 PM

Oh, talking about military power�Spain is one of the few countries that has nuclear capacity, but we have renounced in theUN to develop nuclear weapons. In case of war, this determination could change. For us, to develop nuclear missiles is a matter of months. Look for this in the web, since you like the weird rankings. My God�

Posted by: VinoTinto at July 24, 2004 05:28 PM