NFAC REPORTING ON MOROCCO/WESTERN SAHARA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP98S00099R000501020021-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 23, 2012
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: November 5, 1979
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP98S00099R000501020021-9
TOCR'I'
40
Memorandum for DD/NF A
NiO/NESA
D/OPA
D/OSR
5 November 1979
Subj ect NFAC Peport-ink; on Morocco/Western Sahara
1. The Senior Review Panel wonders whether there is a
subtle reporting bias on Morocco's performance in the war in
the Western Sahara. The NID and other current intelligence
publications have fairly consistent)
milir..ary performance in pessimistic terms. There has been
contued ports of poor morale, Inadequate leadership,
inefficient tactics, etc.
the past, more recent reportingeinhthei11newsamediia eSpec in
since the recent use of French airpower and the US armsci ally
decision, has been more optimistic. Thus, while the NID
article of 10 October 1979 (Attachment: A) treated the Polisari
attacks on Zaag and Semara as guerrilla victories, The Christian
Science Monitor on 18 October 1979 (Attachment B) descri e o
tie TSe:~ara battle as u,,e of airpower.- Th.eauselofaairroweY because of the effective
10 October 1979 NID. Furthermore, whiles an 29 Octobere1979 the
Washi ton Post (Attachment C) article speaks of the "recent
military impi?ove;rent" "recent
in Morocco's conduct of the war, improved air and ground coordination in a series of major
battles since A~~,-~u including
battles ss he al-gst"'~r,a 16 October 1979 NIE (Attachment D)
The NID article does mention o'Mor.occo'senewMairpowe Oaslmpro
military morale end the Army's, plans P r siimproving
opera,-ions with. US Ilan,., for more aggressve
are unlike) to new US equipmont. But in state's-'
tates that these
y significantly improve the armed forces
capabilities against
the guerrillas or Morocco's
for regaining the military advantage.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP98S00099R000501020021-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP98S00099R000501020021-9 -
40
110
.,object NFAC Rc.port_irig on ?~orcr ,r /,,7e:,tern `,