Spanish colonel: armada's occupation of Tourah islet was disproportionate, inconsiderate

After the failure of the intelligence services, Spanish Premier, Jose Maria Aznar, and his defense minister, Frederico Trillo, have not responded adequately to the stationing by Morocco of some soldiers, Spanish Colonel Amadeo Martinez Ingles said.

In his book "Spanish Army: De Facto Power to Humanitarian Ngo," published lately, the Spanish top military officer deemed the Spanish invasion of the islet (in summer 2002) a "disproportionate and inconsiderate reaction," for Morocco did not have the intention to leave its troops there endlessly.

"If Morocco wanted to stay on the islet, it would have settled tens of soldiers equipped with stronger heavy anti-air weapons, backed by artillery and missiles on the shore, Martinez Ingles writes.