Morocco invades Spain!

[Ecthy]

Well, sort of. Apparently, 12 Moroccan soldiers landed on some Spanish island (Spic territory since 1668) and erected (not what you think) 2 tents, planted the Moroccan flag on it as well. The isle is üretty close to the African continant, on short distance to Ceuta. Spanish outrage, no Moroccan comment so far. Apparently, Morocco just had her ambassador to Spain withdrawn earlier this year (or last year), so it's a crisis.

1. Morocco doesn't stand a chance if this is a European Falkland thing.

2. Poor 12 guys. You can't tell me their government would do anything to save them if Spain attacks the isle.

3. WTF?

[DinoDoc]

Link?

[Ecthy]

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,204897,00.html

Actually there is a Moroccan statement. They need the isle for their fight against terrorism.

Discuss.

[DinoDoc]

Would you care to translate?

[Ecthy]

Read the first post, it pretty much sums it all up.

[DinoDoc]

Nevermind

Morocco refuses to leave disputed islet

Morocco has rejected Spanish demands to withdraw a group of soldiers from a tiny disputed island just off its Mediterranean coast.

The government in Rabat was responding to an angry complaint from Spain after the troops landed on the island of Perejil, which is the size of a football pitch, and raised two flags there.

Offiicials said the soldiers were setting up an observation post on what it calls the Isle of Leila to help combat terrorism and illegal immigration, and had "every right" to be there.

This is the latest in a series of spats between the two countries in recent months, which have raised tensions and led to Morocco withdrawing its ambassador from Madrid.

The islet, which is just 200 metres from the Moroccan mainland and lies within its territorial waters, remains disputed between the two sides.

'Worrying'

The Spanish statement said Morocco's move was "a modification of the status-quo and did not correspond to the wish to maintain friendly relations between the two countries."

While calling for calm, the Spanish foreign described it as "a serious and worrying incident".

The European Union condemned the presence of the Moroccan troops on the islet, but refused to get directly involved in what it saw as a bilateral dispute.

"This is clearly a regrettable incident. It constitutes a violation of Spanish territory," European Commission spokesman Gunar Wiegand said.

A senior Moroccan official also told the Spanish news agency, EFE, that since the 1970s Moroccan troops had sometimes entered the area for security reasons, and that there had not been a Spanish presence there since 1956.

Rocky relations

Relations between Morocco and Spain have deteriorated badly in the last year with Morocco withdrawing its ambassador last October.

Other issues of major dispute between the two countries include clandestine immigration to Spain from Morocco's coastline, the non-renewal of a European Union fishing accord with Morocco, differences over Western Sahara and more recently the prospecting for oil off the Spanish Canary Islands in the north Atlantic.

Last week, the Moroccan foreign minister also protested to Spain about the deployment of five Spanish naval warships around another Spanish-owned island off the Moroccan coast.

[Ecthy]

where from? FOX?

[Serb]

Morocco invades Spain!

WTF?
Did I missed the begining of WW3 while drinking with my buddies?

[Ecthy]

No, it's just a minor matter. Not even the size of the Falkland thing, but it might do for one laugh or another during the next days.

[Roland]

3 football fields of rock.

What a bunch of morons.

[Ecthy]

Exactly. Roland, what is the English term for Himmelfahrtskomando?

[Stefu]

We must stop Moroccan aggression! Why, if we allow them to take this tiny island, they might next send 20 soldiers to take over the next tiny island, or 32 to take control of the tiny island next to that! And before too long, Morocco will send 40 soldiers and take over France! And with 40 soldiers, they won't even be able to brutally oppress the Frenchmen!

[Ecthy]

I think the EU should finally take a position against colonialism and imperialism and let Morocco go. If Spain revolts, it gets partitioned between Andorra and Portugal. And Morocco.

[Faeelin]

Christ. The English invade Spain, then the Morrocans.

What's next? The armed forces of monte carlo invade using their apc?

[Juggler]

The SanMarinians (Mariners, Marines??) are still at war with Sweden?
Haven't you heard that?