WP: Morocco, A new strategic partner?

NEWS

07/26/12

   Jennifer Rubin

At a time when the United States is struggling to devise an “Arab Spring” policy and is running low on strategic allies (as Egypt evolves as a wild card rather than a reliable ally), Morocco’s deputy foreign minister, Youssef Amrani, was at the Brookings Institute to talk about the Middle East, the U.S-Morocco relationship and more.

The soft-spoken diplomat has a degree from Boston University and more than 30 years in Morocco’s foreign ministry. In a 30-minute interview I asked him why he is in the United States. He answered: “I’m here to strengthen this relationship between Morocco and the United States.” Indeed, he doesn’t conceal his aims. “We’re ambitious and want to move toward a larger partnership, more strategic.”

Relations between the United States and Morocco are solid, but what Amrani’s kingdom is after is a more comprehensive relationship rather than simply a discrete list of agreements. His country is looking for “political dialogue, joint dialogue,” he explains, on a whole range of issues concerning Africa and the Middle East.

There is good reason for both sides to work cooperatively. Amrani is quick to remind me, “We bring some vision from Africa and from the Arab world.”

Morocco is attempting a peaceful transition to a constitutional democracy while also devolving power to local authorities and modernizing its schools and judiciary. Along with a family code that provides for greater rights for women, Morocco is trying to accomplish in a decade what took centuries in Western Europe.He recalls that for 10 years Morocco has been working for reform under the auspices of a reformist king, Mohammed VI. “The king had the leadership to promote reform,” he explains. This meant that both economic and political reforms were required. “It was his top priority....

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Comments (5)  

 

0 #1 The scam — Sahrane 2012-07-26 23:03

Well by now everybody knows when moroccan’s government representatives cosy up to the western world in the democracy name and on behalf of the king ,who is costing the country half billion dollars a year ,they’re doing so to cover their a** and saying what the enablers want to hear and make believe that the king is doing his subject a favor by giving them lip service and hands a bag containing (1kg sugar,1 liter oil)once a year,to the luckiest from the dirt poor .
The bottom line,morocco under the king ,is trailing in every human and development measures ,ask Moroccans if they experienced democracy in any shape or form and the answer will be an Astounding NO,so stop propagating the falsehood,remem ber the same praises were pitched right and Left about the king father ,ben ali,Mubarak…..

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0 #2 RE: WP: Morocco, A new strategic partner? — morceli 2012-07-27 09:04

The US focuses on Saudia Arabia for its oil and on Egypt for its shared border with Israel. Morocco hummm not so much. Truth be told Morocco has nothing to offer to the US but they do use Morocco to question and torture their so called terrorists and use our desert sand to train to attack Arab countries.

Morocco has been the puppet of the US for decades now and we have yet to rip any fruits from the American masters. We have done everything we are asked to do and they have never said that the Sahara should go to Morocco. The reason? Algeria's oil.
Morocco is having everyone dig for oil in our shores, hopefully one day we too can discover oil and then Algeria can shove its oil up its rear and Morocco and the US will be a one happy family.
For now Morocco has no choice but to be the puppet of the puppeteer.

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+1 #3 RE: WP: Morocco, A new strategic partner? — Morcelli 2012-07-27 18:06

The king is not costing the country 1/2 billion but if you mean the king AND his cronies,then that is very possible.

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0 #4 Partner? More Like Chouach — Moroccan Patriot 2012-07-29 00:45

Morocco is NOT a partner. Partners are usually treated with respect. Partners act in their own self interest and Partners get a piece of the pie.

Morocco gets none of these things. Morocco is a Chouach, a goffer - do this - do that and you can have the crumbs that fall from the table - the Cowards lot in life is the position of Chaouch - then again, the alternative is being sodomized by CIA agents in Libya or hung by CIA agents in Iraq - either way, the Zionist entity gets you - but at least in the case of Sadaam - we all know he died like a man - cursing the people who were about to murder him.

The point? Right now, we have the same Mercenaries from Langly who formented a coup d'etat in Libya trying to do the same thing in Syria - and Morocco, the Chouach, in the same way they cut diplomatic relations with Iran - a country thousands of miles away, and helped provide troops, translators and monkeys for the coalition of the willing in Iraq, and the same way it has provided mercenaries and troops to murder innocent people in Mali, is now sending troops to support the Syrian effort.

All of this is on the down low, but this is what is happening.

I challenge our government to put a ban on all Moroccans travelling to Syria or serving as mercenaries in Mali or Afghanistan... this is how they get Muslims to kill Muslims - and you wonder why so Many rich Moroccans drink and drug themselves to fall asleep at night?

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0 #5 KING — Riz1 2012-09-30 23:51

The king is the biggest crony. He controls all sectors of the economy. He has a direct interest via companies, even controlling 30% of moroccan food output. Don't talk rubbish that he has is NOT costing the economy. He has a foot in everything, and this is an abuse of power. Wake up idiots. How many countries have Kings now, just a few dictators that you call kings.

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