Published: November 06, 2006
Op-Ed Contributor
Crossfire War - Tehran Directs al-Qaeda Against Spain's Ceuta and Melilla
By Willard Payne
Crossfire War - RABAT WATCH - Mediterranean Theatre: Tehran - Rabat/Ceuta - Melilla - Gibraltar - Madrid; Iran has al-Qaeda Target Two Spanish Territories on Moroccan Coast - Codename 'Nadim al-Magrebi' - Call for "Long Term War"
Night Watch: RABAT - The above warning is a follow up to Rabat saying in July 2002 that the boundary between Morocco and Spain was in the wrong place as if one could move the Strait of Gibraltar. The dispute was started, not by Islamic fundamentalists out in the street somewhere burning flags, but by Morocco's Foreign Ministry speaking from the capital Rabat and with the complete approval of the monarch King Muhammad VI. The 10 day crisis really had nothing to do with the two minute Spanish territories, enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla, it was Rabat's way of saying they are onboard the Jihad. Rabat wants the Islamic world to control both sides of the strait once again. Madrid has controlled Ceuta-Melilla for nearly 500 years. [
AKI]
AKI reports that the Spanish daily El Pais quoted an unnamed intelligence source who unearthed a Jihadist document on an Islamic extremist website. It was codenamed 'Nadim al-Magrebi' and calls for "Holy war against the infidel Spanish state, which has occupied the two cities." Ceuta - Melilla. The statement calls for a "strong Jihadist group whose objective is not just one or two operations but a declaration of long-term war." This is Tehran talking and they want the Jihad to accomplish certain strategic objectives, in this case in the Mediterranean theatre. It may be no coincidence that Magrebi is similar to the spelling of Mahgreb which is another name for the countries in North Africa and Tehran intends for them all to support the Islamic world's attempt to defeat the West.
Ceuta, just 20 miles due south of Gibraltar, has a population of 71,500 with 27,000 being Muslim. Melilla is approximately 150 miles due east and has a population of 64,000 with 26,400 being Muslim. Both cities are patrolled by 8,000 soldiers 30% of whom are Muslim. Three of the Muslim soldiers had to be dismissed because they were suspected of attempting to recruit fellow soldiers into Jihad ranks. A few years ago Rabat admitted there were thousands of soldiers in their military who supported Islamic fundamentalists and that they had a lot of influence in Morocco's military. Rabat only arrests those who are a threat to the monarchy and government.
Since the 10 day dispute four years ago, in which Madrid responded with five frigates, Rabat and Madrid watch each other constantly. NATO has had to increase its patrols in the strait since then and there have been a number of terrorist plots directed at Britain's naval-air base at Gibraltar. The threat from Tehran has actually at least temporarily ended the dispute between London - Madrid over Gibraltar's future. During the diplomatic and military standoff four years ago Morocco received support from the Arab league and Senegal, acting under the influence of its Green Mosque in Dakar. Madrid received support from the EU and NATO. If shooting had gotten started it obviously would not have remained between Madrid/Rabat.
A couple of years ago King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain attended a dinner in Marrakesh with their counterparts King Mohammad VI and his Queen. I suspect it was an atmosphere of mutual suspicion in which they both pledged to keep the lines of communication open, cooperate in the war against terrorism and for Rabat to occasionally arrest some extremists.
Night Watch Information Service
http://www.crossfirewar.com
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