200. Memorandum From the National Intelligence Officer for Near East and South Asia (Waterman) to Director of Central Intelligence Casey and the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (McMahon)1
DDI–2113–82
Washington, March 15, 1982
SUBJECT
- Intensification of Military Relationship with Morocco
- 1.
- An interagency meeting was held 5 March2 under DOD/ISA auspices to prepare for an upcoming Joint Military Commission (JMC) meeting scheduled for late April/early May. It is intended to intensify the bilateral relationship at that time, specifically in order to provide redundancy for those intermediate facilities required for projection of US forces into the Middle East proper. The JMC will deal with facilities, usage, training, joint exercises, and FMS credits.
- 2.
- DOD plans to program $3 million from the Secretary’s Contingency Fund for immediate use. This, combined with an anticipated reprogramming of $20 million from Air Force funds for FY83, will serve to improve fuel storage tankage and related facilities at Sidi Slimane Airbase. The JCS is developing plans for an overall [$] 100 million program over several years, which will focus on air facilities development at Sidi Slimane, Qunaitra, and Muhammad V airfield.
- 3.
- A Special Forces (SF) pre-deployment team has completed a report regarding training in this field. Its recommendations will be discussed at the JMC, and may result in a SF Military Training Team (MTT) arrangement in Morocco. An airforce training program is currently underway, and will probably entail the stationing of one US pilot in Morocco for a year, charged with developing their tactical capabilities.
- 4.
- Intelligence will not be discussed at the JMC. I affirmed that this aspect of the relationship is well in hand.
- 5.
- The upshot of the above from our parochial point of view is that the relationship between ourselves and the Moroccans will soon be both more intense and more visible because of its military aspect.
Charles E.
Waterman