Revelations. Morocco, the USA and the Cold War

Hosni Benslimane, Ahmed Ali Yata and Dlimi, not to mention Hassan II, were all closely monitored by the United States in the 1970s … This is what we learn from the new delivery of diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks.

Wikileaks raging again! But this time, the famous site of Julian Assange in the history. On April 8, the operation “Project K” has released nearly 2 million diplomatic documents classified as “secret” covering the years 1973 to 1976. An amount of cables grouped under the name “Kissinger Cable”, the name of Henry Kissinger, famous Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at the time. If the seventies correspond to the so-called “relaxation” of the Cold War period, those years were nonetheless punctuated by political upheavals, coups, secret dealings … Morocco has also not been spared. Socialism, relations with the Soviet Union, weapons and political maneuvers: Uncle Sam watching us closely.

Fear of red

In April 1973 the Americans stationed in Morocco expedient cable cable. The October War broke out and the kingdom sends troops to support the Syrians against Israel. On their route to the East, “a Soviet assistance is not excluded,” worried the Americans, who discovered the presence of 35 members of the Soviet aviation in Meknes. In May, they conclude that “a new phase” in the Moroccan-Soviet relations. A cargo ships and two landing infantry battalion were acquired by Morocco to the Russians. Enough to annoy the United States, even though Moroccans assure them that these are issues “practical, not political.” “It is remarkable, do not fail to note the U.S. diplomats that approximation coincides with increasing political activity of the Communist Ali Yata.” Fear of red does not prevent U.S. envoys to meet the founder of the current PPS (Party of Progress and Socialism) in October 1974. They find a man willing to work with Hassan II and the government whose action, when it moves to Moscow, seems to boil down to defend the Moroccan Sahara on the line. In 1975, during a conference, Uncle Sam understands that the communist movement can not be a threat line Ali Yata seems “relatively moderate” and “very weak” party. The legalization of PPS has only serve the interests of the regime by the Americans, her “little cost” and cutting him a picture of “liberal” power. During the cold, just as the Soviet War diplomacy, the actions of communist and leftist movements, some of which would be “turned to direct action and attracted some form of Maoism,” deserve the attention of teams diplomatic. Recent dissect leaflets Ilal Amam or overt revolutionary armed branch of the UNFP (led by Fqih Basri) that appear in small newspapers Lebanese left.

Behind the walls of the Palace

Throughout these stormy and prone to twists years, Americans sift through public discourse, beyond those of the radical left. They never fail to summarize a speech by Hassan II in 1974 on the “real socialism”, or editorials istiqlalienne the press about “U.S. imperialism.” Numerous meetings were held with people like the union Mahjoub Ben Seddik. Similarly, a report describes a meeting point by point with Abderrahim Bouabid dated October 1974. The leader of the left appears “less militant, more conservative and willing to accommodate the Palace.” He is concerned about the radicalization of young people in response to repression, which makes them “unmanageable, even for the left,” and argues that the army “will be an obvious source of change.”

Particular attention is also paid to the relationship between the political class and the Palace. In August 1974, a report is written when the leader of the UNFP, Abdullah Ibrahim, declined the offer of the king to be his emissary about the Sahara.The life of the royal entourage is, of course, decrypted. Some indiscretions of the royal family will even filter. Thus, Americans attribute the decline in Moroccan-Tunisian relations “an indiscreet remark” Prince Moulay Abdallah. Also in 1974, changes in the medical team of the Palace are properly identified and a U.S. diplomat is to worry about the health of the monarch, before he would deduct that from hemorrhoids …

Contacts with laced

A cable in 1976 focuses on the promotion to the rank of Colonel-Major Ahmed Dlimi, after a period of freezing promotions following the coup attempts. “It is notable that the king did not appoint new General,” we read. “The painful memory of Oufkir is still there.” Another cable reports a meeting between members of the diplomatic corps and Colonel Hosni Benslimane. Americans believe that the Tu-114 aircraft Soviet line refuel in Morocco to reach Cuba to conduct prospective surveillance flights near the U.S. coast. They put the current Benslimane, which would have assured them that “everything about the United States and the Soviet military activities for us too. As you know, Morocco is the side of the West … “

As in any friendship, everyone can come knocking at the door of the other. On 23 September 1976 is Benslimane that would have required an urgent meeting: an unidentified flying object, described as bright and metallic, perfectly silent circle, crossed the Moroccan sky at an altitude of 1000 meters and approached the Palace Skhirat. Immediately, the caller promises to inquire quickly to Washington to see more clearly. Americans, happy that contact with the colonel, whose close relationship with the monarch does not go unnoticed, decided to go forward. “I decided to approach Benslimane subtle way,” wrote a U.S. diplomat. In 1976, during a hearing with the U.S. diplomatic corps, Hassan II would have recalled, as if proof were needed, that Morocco categorically put away the side of the United States. If Morocco supported the independence of Angola, acquired in 1975, King is now concerned about Soviet actions in this country, especially as the USSR is now supported in Africa Vietnam and Cuba, including nationals may be present on the side of Tindouf. And the monarch added that Moscow could choose Mauritania weak link as “target”. Do not fail to note that his country is “surrounded by pro-Soviet regimes”, then ask for help in Washington to better monitor the comings and goings of the Red fleet on the Atlantic coast and support his approach to monitoring region.

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