Miniter, who visited the camps in 2010, said that the populations "have good reason to run. (..) The camps are essentially a one-party dictatorship. The Polisario claims to represent the Sahrawi people, but its elections are East German-style single-candidate rubber stamps," adding that thousands have fled the rebel refugee camps for a better life in Morocco.

    Highlighting the prosperous southern reaches of Morocco, the writer noted that Morocco spent billions since 1975 to build roads, hospitals, airports and apartments in the southern provinces.

    Miniter warned against the desperation of the young people who are deprived of their rights and job opportunities in the camps, noting that they run into the arms of al Qaeda's North African offshoot.

   "The group specializes in taking European tourists hostage and carrying out attacks on army and police forces across North Africa," he recalled, warning that AQIM could pose a real threat to American interests in the region.