Excerpt from document
(S/NF) Summary: On May 26, CODEL Burr discussed the
threat from violent Islamic extremists with Morocco,s
external intelligence chief Mohamed Yassine Mansouri, the
Director General of Studies and Documentation (DGED). The
discussion focused on Al Qaeda,s declining influence in
Iraq; growing danger in Yemen, Somalia, Lebanon, Afghanistan
and Pakistan; Al Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb,s
(AQIM,s) current posture; and Iran.

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P 091538Z JUN 09
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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000479

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR H, S/CT, NEA/RA AND NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2029
TAGS: OREP, PTER, PINS, PHUM, AG, IR, MR, MO, WI
SUBJECT: CODEL BURR HEARS ABOUT COUNTERTERRORISM, DEMOCRACY
PROMOTION, IRAN AND WESTERN SAHARA

RABAT 00000479 001.2 OF 002

Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b, c and d).

1. (S/NF) Summary: On May 26, CODEL Burr discussed the
threat from violent Islamic extremists with Morocco,s
external intelligence chief Mohamed Yassine Mansouri, the
Director General of Studies and Documentation (DGED). The
discussion focused on Al Qaeda,s declining influence in
Iraq; growing danger in Yemen, Somalia, Lebanon, Afghanistan
and Pakistan; Al Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb,s
(AQIM,s) current posture; and Iran. Mansouri opined that
Mauritania,s stability was more important than democracy,
and he urged the USG to be more flexible. Mansouri again
called for the return of the two Moroccans who remain at
Guantanamo. The CODEL next called on Mustapha Mansouri (no
relation), President of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower
house of Parliament. He also pressed the Senators on Western
Sahara, mentioning the recent congressional letter to the
President and raising the specter of a vast, anarchic
ungoverned space extending across the Sahara. Only Western
Sahara, under Morocco,s control, was an exception. Senator
Burr seconded the importance of the U.S.-Moroccan
relationship and assured Mansouri that he would be welcome on
Capitol Hill. End Summary.

2. (S/NF) On May 26, Senators Richard Burr, Saxby Chambliss,
Lindsey Graham and John Thune; Representative John Kline;
staffers James Smythers and Jennifer Wagner; Charge and RAO
Director met for two hours with Director General of Studies
and Documentation (DGED) (external intelligence chief) and de
facto national security advisor Mohammed Yassine Mansouri and
his senior advisors. Senator Burr began by highlighting USG
appreciation for the GOM,s exemplary cooperation and the
number of terrorist and foreign fighter cells dismantled.

-----------
AQ and AQIM
-----------

3. (S/NF) Mansouri began his briefing by asserting that Al
Qaeda (AQ) is losing influence in Iraq; yet Yemen, Somalia,
Lebanon, Afghanistan and Pakistan represent growing dangers.
Mansouri then turned to AQIM, saying that it is active in
Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and
Nigeria. He said the DGED estimates AQIM,s total strength
at 1,000 to 1,200 mostly Algerian fighters, with the number
of foreign members growing. He estimated there are 35 to 40
Libyans. Mansouri opined that AQIM is involved in arms
trafficking, narcotics smuggling and kidnapping.

--------------------------
Algeria and Western Sahara
--------------------------

4. (S/NF) Asked about Moroccan-Algerian cooperation to
combat AQIM, Mansouri said, &We have a grave problem with
Algeria.8 Morocco appreciated Secretaries Rice and
Clinton,s efforts to improve relations, but the key would be
resolving the Western Sahara issue. Mansouri wished
Ambassador Christopher Ross, the UN Personal Envoy for
Western Sahara, the best of luck.

----------
Mauritania
----------

5. (S/NF) Mansouri said that Morocco continued to be
concerned about Mauritania,s stability. He estimated that
AQIM had approximately 60 operatives in Mauritania.
Underscoring that respect for institutions is important, he
said Morocco attached greater importance to Mauritania,s
stability than to democracy there and urged the USG to show
greater flexibility. We noted that we believed it was
possible to have both democracy and stability in Mauritania.

----
Iran
----

6. (S/NF) Asked about Morocco,s decision to sever ties with
Iran, Mansouri explained that Morocco was uncomfortable with
Iran,s support for Hezbollah and Hamas. However, it was
Iran,s proselytizing and interference in Morocco,s internal
affairs that had resulted in the break. He predicted that
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would be re-elected. He warned
that Iran could have a nuclear bomb within three to four
years and that it was becoming more influential in Yemen,
Somalia and elsewhere in Africa. He urged the U.S. to be
very cautious.

RABAT 00000479 002.2 OF 002

----------
Guantanamo
----------

7. (C) Mansouri took the opportunity to request again the
return of the two Moroccans who remain in detention at
Guantanamo.

----------------
On to Parliament
----------------

8. (C) From the DGED, the CODEL went to Parliament to meet
with President of the Chamber of Deputies Mustapha Mansouri
for an hour. Mansouri, accompanied only by staff,
underscored familiar points about the strong bilateral
relationship. He focused on the Western Sahara, thanking the
CODEL for the recent letter from 229 Members of Congress to
the President, urging U.S. support for Morocco,s autonomy
proposal. Mansouri said the conflict was really a legacy of
the Cold War and of Algeria,s continued attachment to
Eastern, socialist models. He feared that loss of the
Western Sahara would open a vast, anarchic ungoverned space,
with no real borders extending thousands of miles east from
the Atlantic. Only Western Sahara, under Morocco,s control,
was an exception. Mansouri said self-determination could
mean autonomy or integration but not independence.

9. (SBU) The discussion moved from Western Sahara to more
give and take. In response to Mansouri,s request for
greater cooperation between the Moroccan Parliament and the
U.S. Congress, Senator Burr invited President Mansouri to
Washington. Senator Burr also expressed support for
Ambassador Ross. Senator Graham and Senator Chambliss
expressed their appreciation for Morocco,s cooperation on
counterterrorism. Senator Thune congratulated Mansouri on
strengthening the Moroccan Parliament, and he urged continued
efforts to develop checks and balances. Senator Graham
applauded the growing role of women in Moroccan politics.
Representative Kline too highlighted the role of women and
the 2004 Family Code. Mansouri responded that democracy
requires an educated population.

10. (C) Comment: CODEL Burr learned a lot about
Moroccan-U.S. cooperation in a short time, especially
concerning counterterrorism and democracy promotion. They
learned more about Western Sahara, and they clearly heard
Director General Mansouri,s concerns about Iran and
Mauritania. Three of the five Members of Congress had not
visited Morocco previously, and Senator Burr had not been
here in over 10 years. This time the Chamber President did
not invite other legislators, which we will urge for future
meetings. CODEL Burr did not have an opportunity to clear
this cable. End Comment.

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Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco
*****************************************

Jackson