Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05RABAT1162
2005-06-03 17:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:  

US-MOROCCAN MILITARY CONSULTATIONS: THE MOROCCANS

Tags:  AG ETRD IZ KPKO MARR MO PGOV PREL PTER SNAR 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 RABAT 001162 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2009
TAGS: AG ETRD IZ KPKO MARR MO PGOV PREL PTER SNAR
SUBJECT: US-MOROCCAN MILITARY CONSULTATIONS: THE MOROCCANS
WANT MORE

REF: A. RABAT 1071

B. RABAT 1069

Classified By: A/DCM Timothy Lenderking for Reasons 1.4. (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 RABAT 001162

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2009
TAGS: AG ETRD IZ KPKO MARR MO PGOV PREL PTER SNAR
SUBJECT: US-MOROCCAN MILITARY CONSULTATIONS: THE MOROCCANS
WANT MORE

REF: A. RABAT 1071

B. RABAT 1069

Classified By: A/DCM Timothy Lenderking for Reasons 1.4. (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: The third annual US-Morocco Defense
Consultative Committee took place in Rabat on May 18-19,
2005, led on the US side by ASD Peter Rodman and on the
Moroccan side by Minister Delegate to the PM in Charge of the
Administration of National Defense Mr. Abderrahmane Sbai.
During the executive committee and plenary sessions on May
18, attended by all of Morocco's top brass, the Moroccan
message to the US was clear: Morocco values its expanding
military relationship with the US and seeks to strengthen it
further. The Moroccans specifically acknowledged the need
for a five-year strategic bilateral defense plan, and
advocated expansion of military exercises, and an annual plan
to augment Moroccan participation in workshops and training
seminars. The Moroccans praised the Utah State Partnership
Program and indicated support for sending a liaison officer
to CENTCOM. Minister Sbai reaffirmed Moroccan readiness to
provide training to Iraqi security forces, in Morocco, if the
Iraqi government asked, and Rodman encouraged the Moroccans
to work directly with the Iraqi leadership to pursue this.
The Moroccans cited battling illegal immigration as a major
preoccupation of the Moroccan military and sought US
technical assistance in this area. ASD Rodman briefed on the
status of the US-Algerian military dialogue, latest
developments in Iraq, and termed the current situation
concerning Middle East peace a "moment of hope." End Summary.


2. (C) The third annual US-Morocco Defense Consultative
Committee took place in Rabat May 18-19. The US delegation
was led by ASD Rodman, while the Moroccan side was led by
Minister Delegate to the PM in Charge of the Administration
of National Defense Abderrahmane Sbai. All of the senior

Moroccan military leadership attended the meeting. Present
were General Abdelaziz Bennani, Inspector General of the
Royal Armed Forces; General Hosni Benslimane, Commandant of
the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie; General Bouchaib Arroub,
Commander of the Third Bureau; Chief of the DCSD (Fifth
Bureau) Lieutenant General Mohamed Belbachir; Vice Admiral
Mohammed Triki, Chief of the Royal Moroccan Navy; and
Lieutenant General Ahmed Boutaleb, Chief of the Moroccan Air
Force. US members of the Executive Committee included
Ambassador Riley, Major General Scott Gration (EUCOM J-5),
Mr. Paul Hulley (OSD) , Mr. John Moseley (DSCA),and Embassy
Rabat Acting DATT, ODC Chief, and Polcouns.


3. (C) Sbai opened by stressing convergence and solidarity
in the US-Morocco bilateral relationship. He underscored the
GOM's commitment to good neighborliness and regional
stability, and to continuing to prosecute the war on terror.
He noted the GOM sought to exert greater control on a variety
of illegal activities, among them illegal migration through
Morocco to Europe. He described the US-Morocco military
relationship as one of "quality" and hoped for US support for
military upgrades. Sbai reiterated that Morocco's offer to
train Iraqi security forces was still open, if the Iraqis
asked. He described Morocco as a "laboratory" in which an
Arab, Islamic country could make progress promoting democracy
while adhering to the tenets of Islam. May 16, 2003 --the
day of the Casablanca terrorist bombing-- had been a tragic
day for Morocco, in which "the forces of darkness" had
manifested themselves. In response, the GOM recognized the
importance of fighting unemployment through economic
development, as well as combating terrorism. He highlighted
the training of imams and promotion of religious tolerance as
an important reform underway in Morocco. Morocco believed
that Islam was a religion of progress; the fundamentalists
were seizing on only part of Islam. Religious reform was
important because in times of social strife, religious
"illiterates" were vulnerable to extremism.


4. (C) ASD Rodman responded that the US-Morocco relationship
was more important than ever, and expressed appreciation that
the US and Morocco were on the same side in a new era.
Morocco is a leader in many fields and had shown moral
courage in spearheading regional efforts to promote
democracy. He was pleased that Morocco was pursuing a Free
Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US and that Morocco had
qualified for support under the Millennium Challenge Account
(MCA). He hoped the Acquisition and Cross-Services Agreement
(ACSA) would go forward as it would facilitate aspects of the
bilateral military relationship. He thanked Morocco for
facilitating contingency operations and hoped to continue our
bilateral education and training opportunities. He saluted
recent military exercises such as Majestic Eagle and African
Lion. Rodman reaffirmed the US offer to station a Moroccan
liaison officer at CENTCOM and hoped Morocco would take
advantage of it. He appreciated the GOM's green light to a
NATO security agreement. Med Dialogue and NATO were
important security fora, he said, and the US encouraged their
growth, as the Sahel region was assuming greater strategic
importance. He applauded Morocco's contributions to
international peacekeeping and the GOM's open and effective
handling of the issue of sexual abuse by peacekeepers in the
Congo.

Iraq
--------------


5. (C) ASD Rodman said important, historic progress was
being made in Iraq. Rodman stressed that while coalition
forces were making progress in defeating the insurgency, the
US strategy in Iraq was as much political as military. The
January 30 elections were a dramatic event. Iraqi
institutions were forming and filling the political vacuum.
Legitimacy is the most powerful weapon against the
insurgents. The different communities were showing a
commitment to a unified Iraq. The Sunni community is
splitting, with some now joining the political process;
twenty percent of the positions in the new government were
reserved for Sunnis, which tracked with the Sunni percentage
of the population. Iraqi leaders were showing statesmanship
and learning compromise and coexistence. The enemy is
frustrated and losing ground. Violence continued because
killing civilians is easy. The strategic goal of the
extremists is to derail the political process, however they
are failing. The US was confident its strategy was working.


6. (C) Rodman underscored that the primary mission of the US
forces in Iraq now is training Iraqis. Iraqi forces now
numbered around 165,000. The US wanted Iraqis to assume
control of their country -- to turn Iraq back to Iraqis -- as
soon as possible. Morocco's offer to train Iraqi security
personnel goes to the heart of the international strategy.
Rodman encouraged the GOM to deal directly with Iraqi
officials on how to implement this offer and how to
prioritize specialized training for police and security
officials. Sending a liaison officer to CENTCOM would assist
this process. Sbai noted that Morocco stood ready to assist
with training Iraqi security forces "if the Iraqis so
requested."

Middle East
--------------


7. (C) Rodman called the present "a moment of hope" in the
Palestinian conflict. The democratic election for the
Palestinians was an important development. Gaza withdrawal
presented an opportunity for the Palestinians to take their
destiny into their own hands. The US was committed to
getting the process underway.

Comments from the Moroccan Generals
--------------


8. (C) General Bennani highlighted illegal migration as a
priority area for the Moroccan military. This has been a
growing problem over the last five years, with more
immigrants coming from South Asia in addition to sub-Saharan
Africa. Crossing the Straits of Gibraltar to Europe was
still the goal, but migrants were heading in larger numbers
for the Canary Islands. King Mohammed had ordered the
Moroccan military to seal the borders from illegal migrants,
but the classical means of combating illegal migration had
limitations. There was an alert on Morocco's borders
virtually every hour. Groups were using the Sahel more for
transit, and the GOM was concerned about what items these
groups could be infiltrating into Morocco. Morocco sought US
assistance in this area. Rodman agreed this was an important
strategic problem and said the USG could link the GOM with
its border experts.

9. (C) Bennani continued that the GOM sought a five-year
strategic plan with the US that would be defended before the
US Congress. The 1973 plan needed to be reworked, with an
equipment plan incorporated into it. Rodman said he was
pleased with the idea and was eager to see the GOM follow
through on this. He thought a five-year plan would be
received positively by the US Congress.


10. (C) General Benslimane discussed the challenge of
fighting drug trafficking and crime. He said organized crime
networks have developed and are being exploited by
international organizations. These networks, which reach
Dakar and Bamako among other places, needed to be destroyed.
He said 500 such networks have been destroyed since 1997.
There were branches of some organizations operating in the
"southern provinces" (Western Sahara),as adduced by periodic
concentrations of vehicles the GOM spotted. The GOM concern
was ensuring that terrorist organizations were not able to
take advantage of these networks. Morocco could benefit from
assistance from US security organizations.


11. (C) General Arroub ticked off the following items in a
short presentation:

-- He hoped to expand the number of Moroccan students going
to the US for training from the current level of 25-30 per
year. Morocco was pleased to have welcomed 68 American
officers to the staff college over the years.

-- Morocco was ready, willing, and able to expand the number
of military exercises with the US each year, and ACSA would
provide a working framework.

-- He urged the two sides to develop an annual plan for
seminars and workshops and said Morocco was ready to send
more officers.

-- King Mohammed has ordered that English teaching be
institutionalized in all military schools in Morocco, for
cadets and NCOs both. Morocco had been pleased with the
American training resources used in the instruction. Morocco
would welcome an American assessment team to provide
expertise and support on how to implement this program most
effectively in the future.

-- He hailed the Utah State Partnership Program as
"excellent," adding that Morocco was honored that the
Moroccan Armed Forces would be able to participate in an
upcoming exhibition in the Utah State military museum.

-- Morocco was ready to send a liaison officer to CENTCOM.
"This was established," Arroub said. The GOM and US now
needed to discuss modalities on how to make this happen.

-- He noted there would be a June 6-7 signing ceremony on
ACSA in Germany, which General Tamdi (B-4) would attend.

-- He invited the US to participate in a series of exhibits
covering World War II to be held in Morocco on May 14, 2006,
the fiftieth anniversary of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.


12. (C) Vice Admiral Triki, in very brief remarks,
highlighted the need for additional resources to combat
terrorists transiting the Straits of Gibraltar.

US-Algeria Military Dialogue
--------------


13. (C) ASD Rodman briefed the plenary session on the recent
visit to Washington of Algerian Ministry of Defense Director
General Senhadji and the status of the US-Algeria military
dialogue. Rodman stressed that the dialogue was in an early
stage and assured the Moroccans there would be no surprises.
The US-Algeria military relationship would not harm Morocco.
The US objective was stability and harmony in the Maghreb,
and any influence the US gained through the dialogue with
Algeria would be applied toward that end. Rodman explained
that Algeria's support for the global war on terror was
driving the Algerians closer to the US. The military
dialogue would be gradual, proceeding by small steps. The US
was aware of the balance of power in the Maghreb and did not
intend to alter it. Rodman said the US was pleased with the
progress that Morocco and Algeria were making in their
bilateral relations, exemplified by the King's April visit to
Algiers, and that the two sides had participated in a EUCOM
conference in December. He urged further such contact and
progress. Rodman stressed the US would keep in close touch
with Morocco as the military dialogue with Algeria evolved
and that Morocco could have confidence in the US.


14. (U) ASD Rodman has reviewed and cleared this cable.
RILEY