Washington, DC -- The publication of “stolen” classified Moroccan Government diplomatic and military documents by a hacker calling himself chris_coleman24 shows that Morocco has “very few secrets.”
Most of the revelations made through this hacking are “known facts” and prove that the Kingdom is using all methods to get its message across to the world. However, the problem is the effectiveness of these activities. If the documents are authentic, the Moroccan government has yet to comment; then Rabat spent a lot of money with little results to show for it.
Coleman and his allies, more likely the Algerian government, regard these confidential cables as harmful to Morocco and hope to hurt its interest by publishing them. The truth, though, is different. Coleman publications will not cause damage and are basically inconsequential leaks. If he hoped to infuriate Rabat by exposing secret programs, he must be disappointed.
Governments around the world, including the United States, spend money to advance their agendas. Morocco is not the only country that pays for writers to visit and write flattering pieces. The Kingdom has to fight a ferocious media war against the Algeria propaganda machine that uses the Polisario as a front and cover for its attacks.
The fact that Moroccan officials paid money to French or American journalists should not come as a secret. These allegations have been around for years and have a little impact on the country’s image. Morocco is in a media war against Algerian and “all means” are good.
The “revelation” that Morocco is trying to build a military industry is good news. The country has been in war since 1975 and need domestic producers to keep the high military expenditures in check. Algeria has been trying to do the same for years and Egypt is the biggest armament manufacturer in the Arab world.
You don’t need to be a spy to gauge Morocco’s diplomatic “trouble” at the United Nations. The alleged cables published by chris_coleman24 don’t reveal anything new. In fact, Morocco World News has better analysis than some of the documents published on Twitter.
The details of the ongoing Moroccan-Israeli relations are an open secret. King Mohammed VI is an active supporter of the Palestinian cause and at the same time believes in open dialogue with the Israelis to achieve peace in the Middle East. The Moroccan Jewish Community around the world, like the rest of Moroccan living aboard, has been actively supporting its native land’s causes, including the Moroccan Sahara.
The Jewish support for Morocco in Washington is a source of political comfort for many Moroccans, as Algeria refuses to put an end the Western Sahara conflict.
Rabat should be more concerned about government computer vulnerability, and must take precautions to stop eavesdroppers. It should do a better job defending against further cyber-attacks and make it more difficult for the next chris_coleman.
© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed.