Morocco casts the first stone in battle over rock By MICHAEL SLACKMAN Los Angeles Times CAIRO, Egypt -- It may end up as a mere footnote in the annals of military history, but Morocco's decision to send 11 armed men, a few tents and a flag out to a small spit of land just off its coast is being called the first invasion of Western European territory since World War II. Spain is so angry, in fact, it has sent gunboats to the region. The tiny island in dispute is really just a big rock with some lizards, bugs and wild parsley. Spain says it owns the rock, which it calls Isla del Perejil, or Parsley Island. Morocco says no, it owns the rock, which it calls Leila. Until recently, no one really cared much who owned the rock, because no one lives there. Then, on Thursday, a band of Moroccan civil guard police ferried their way out to the islet, set up camp and raised the Moroccan flag. Morocco says it has set up an observation post to help ward off illegal immigrants to aid in the war on terrorism. But Spain -- and, apparently, much of Europe -- believes it has invaded sovereign territory. "In a secret operation carried out by sea, Moroccan soldiers took the Spanish-owned Isla del Perejil late on Thursday, hoisted their country's red and green flag from its highest point, set up camp and waited for the Spaniards to try to take the land back," said an article in London's Guardian newspaper. Suddenly, there is a new clash of the West and the Arab world. The Arab League has lined up behind Morocco. "The position of the League is to support Morocco in its dispute with Spain over this island," the group's general secretary, Amr Moussa, said. The European Union is backing Spain. "This clearly is a regrettable incident," European Commission spokesman Gunar Wiegand said at a news briefing last week. "It constitutes a violation of Spanish territory." Spain and Morocco have had strained relations since Spain's colonial days, when it controlled much of the North African coastline. Spain continues to control two small enclaves off the coast, named Ceuta and Melilla, both of which Morocco claims as its own. Isla del Perejil -- or Leila -- is about 4 miles from Ceuta. But the animosity has taken on even broader significance in wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, as moderate leaders in the West and the Arab world have tried to neutralize extremists who have declared that there is a clash of civilizations, a fundamental battle between the Islamic world and the Judeo-Christian West. Historically, Morocco has had close ties with the United States and has helped in the fight against terrorism. But the tense atmosphere -- and the memory of Argentina's decision to seize the Falkland Islands in 1982, sparking war with Britain -- has raised concerns that this could become a crisis. Don't these people have anything better to do?
Well, If it does come down to a war of fundementalists versus western civilization, I am glad I am on the side with the most power. Fundamentalist nations are going to have a hard time competing. DaDakota
Morocco can hardly be deemed a fundementalist govt. There govt. is somewhat oppressive, but not fundemenntalists. Their religious laws such as having different lines for men and women in public places is strict by most western standards, but not the same fundementalist govts. like Iran.
