Étiquette : USA

  • USA and Morocco impose their position on the Sahara to Spain

    USA and Morocco impose their position on the Sahara to Spain

    Tags : USA, Spain, Western Sahara, Morocco, PSOE, Pedro Sanchez,

    Odón Elorza

    The changes in the global scenario, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and the geopolitical interests of the United States and the European Union , have led Pedro Sánchez and Minister José Manuel Albares to position themselves in favor of a Moroccan proposal for the Sahara. Western that is neither credible nor respects international law.

    This shift, which affects the relationship with Algeria , has been consummated without prior debate or due transparency and against the position adopted by the PSOE in its electoral program and in the Resolutions of its 40th Congress. I did express it in 2022 before the Socialist Group of Congress and in various articles. The collective “Socialists for the Sahara” has also published a successful manifesto.

    The pronouncements of Donald Trump (December 2020) and then Joe Biden in favor of the Moroccan thesis, the support of the monarchies of the Persian Gulf, the maneuvers and blackmail of the Moroccan king -with his Spanish lobby-, the pressure towards Europe from the mafias with illegal emigration trafficking, the influence of China and Russia in Africa and the advance of jihadist terrorism in the Sahel region have forced and narrowed, even more, the discourse and turn of Spain. In this way, the UN resolutions on decolonization and the right to self-determination of the Saharawi People, which have been turned into dead paper for years, are sacrificed.

    A summit accompanied by another contempt from Mohamed VI to Spain, which has not served to guarantee the security and territorial integrity of Ceuta and Melilla or respect for the continental shelf of the Canary Islands



    This definitive change in Spain, after years of lukewarmness, has been evidenced in the last Spanish-Moroccan summit in Rabat, which has included in a joint declaration, full of rhetoric , the weakness of the Spanish position and the concessions of political and economic support to the Moroccan regime. A summit, accompanied by another contempt from Mohamed VI to Spain, which has not served to guarantee the security and territorial integrity of Ceuta and Melilla or respect for the continental shelf of the Canary Islands.

    Morocco’s non-credible offer in favor of a status of real autonomy and freedom for the occupied territories in the former Spanish colony-province of the Sahara, presented at the UN in 2007, has not even materialized. The Polisario Front also presented its plan in April 2007.

    Morocco’s non-credible offer in favor of a status of real autonomy and freedom for the occupied territories has not even materialized



    But let’s go back to the Sahara conflict. Nearly 47 years have passed since the illegal invasion of the territory of Western Sahara by Morocco and the flight of the army of Franco and Juan Carlos I. In that time, there has been no progress in a political solution. On the contrary, they have all been setbacks.

    The humanitarian situation of hardship in the Saharawi refugee camps in Tindouf and the Moroccan repression in the former Sahara worsened, political support and international solidarity for the cause decreased and different events have reinforced the strategic role of Morocco and its role as gendarme from the gate to Europe. The EU pays the bill to Morocco and Spain bows its head.

    In any case, the most recent UN resolution on the problem must be respected , number 2602 of October 29, 2021 , which sets the lines of action. The UN « commits itself to helping to reach a just, lasting and acceptable political solution for both parties, based on compromise, and that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara within the framework of provisions in accordance with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations”. The UN stresses the importance of the parties committing to open a dialogue process on the respective proposals through the initiation of talks sponsored by the United Nations.

    The EU pays the bill to Morocco and Spain bows its head

    Spain cannot fail to defend the interests of the Saharawi People. She has that legal and moral obligation . And it must facilitate the resumption of a political process of contacts between Morocco and the Polisario, in preparation for the negotiation phase. The objective is to reach a peace accepted by both parties on the basis of a well-defined proposal and with real guarantees of compliance. But in a planet of serious crises and uncertainties, the Saharawi cause is very small and for many a chimera.

    The proposal for an autonomous status for the territory of the Sahara, like the option of independence, must be discussed and agreed between the parties to, in the end, proceed to a democratic referendum. As the beginning of the dialogue, respect for democratic freedoms and the safeguarding of human rights in the Sahara must be guaranteed.

    For all these reasons, it is of vital importance that Spain exercise its diplomatic responsibility as the former administrator of the territory, grant Spanish nationality to the Sahrawis , increase humanitarian aid to the camps and guarantee the permanence of a MINURSO contingent.

    *Odón Elorza is a former PSOE deputy for Guipúzcoa, former mayor of San Sebastían and a law graduate.

    Source

    #Western_Sahara #USA #Morocco #Spain #PSOE #Pedro_Sanchez

  • The U.S.-China rift is only growing wider

    Tags : USA, China, Russia, Ukraine,

    Analysis by Ishaan Tharoor

    Last month, the Chinese Foreign Ministry published a 4,000-word tract titled “U.S. Hegemony and Its Perils.” The document, which was sent out by the Chinese Embassy to journalists in Washington, including Today’s WorldView, purported to present the “relevant facts” of a near-century of American interference and meddling on the world stage. It’s a catalogue of grievances that casts the United States as a hypocritical superpower, advancing its own self-interests on the pretext of high-minded values, while leaving a trail of abuse and harm in its wake.

    Whatever the validity of these historical claims, the real Chinese animus is about the present. “Clinging to the Cold War mentality, the United States has ramped up bloc politics and stoked conflict and confrontation,” the document warned, echoing the near-constant refrain from Chinese officials about current U.S. policy.

    Just weeks prior, there had been glimmers of rapprochement between the two countries. The United States and China were readying for talks that would, in the White House’s words, help set “guardrails” on a rocky yet vital relationship. Chinese President Xi Jinping, it appeared, wanted to embark on his third term in power with a spirit of pragmatism, and had set about softening his country’s conspicuously aggressive “wolf warrior” foreign policy.

    Then a Chinese spy balloon came along and floated over the United States before getting shot down over the Atlantic Ocean. The incident seemed to close the window for a diplomatic opening and led to Secretary of State Antony Blinken scrapping a major trip to China. The days since have only seen a hardening of lines between Washington and Beijing.

    The pall over U.S.-China ties grew darker this week with official comments from Xi and Foreign Minister Qin Gang. On Monday, the Chinese president called out the United States as a rival power seeking to stymie China’s growth. The remarks, made to China’s top political advisory body during an annual legislative session, represented an unusually explicit public riposte of the United States by the Chinese leader.

    “Western countries — led by the U.S. — have implemented all-round containment, encirclement and suppression against us, bringing unprecedentedly severe challenges to our country’s development,” Xi said.

    The next day, Qin picked up the baton, pointing a finger at Washington’s supposed collision course with Beijing. “If the United States does not pump the brakes and continues to go down the wrong road, no number of guardrails will be able to stop [the relationship] from running off-road and flipping over, and it is inevitable that we will fall into conflict and confrontation,” he said at a news conference on the sidelines of China’s rubber-stamp parliament.

    White House national security spokesman John Kirby appeared to brush off Beijing’s rhetoric at a briefing Tuesday, indicating that there had been no real change in the status quo. “We seek a strategic competition with China. We do not seek conflict,” he told reporters. “We aim to compete and we aim to win that competition with China, but we absolutely want to keep it at that level.”

    Yet elsewhere in Washington, China may see a more hostile view. Last week, the new House select committee on China convened, trotting out a panel of experts who are mostly hawks on China while entertaining talk of effectively “decoupling” the world’s two largest economies. Matthew Pottinger, a former Trump administration official, told the lawmakers that they should acknowledge that China has been waging a form of a Cold War against the United States and that they themselves should not shy away from viewing the challenge posed by Beijing in such terms.

    The Chinese Communist Party “should be thought of as a hungry shark that will keep eating until its nose bumps into a metal barrier. Sharks aren’t responsive to mood music,” Pottinger said in his written testimony. “But nor do they take it personally when they see divers building a shark cage. For them it’s just business. It’s what they do. The more resolutely and unapologetically we take steps to defend our national security, the more that boundaries will be respected and the more stable the balance of power is likely to be.”

    More striking, perhaps, than this strident language is the bipartisan backing for this sort of approach toward China. In a capital marred by bitter polarization, there’s genuine consensus on the perceived threat posed by China. But a lack of rigorous high-level foreign policy debate may prove to be a problem, some analysts argue.

    “This isn’t an evidence-driven exercise to identify America’s long-term interests and how China relates to them,” a former U.S. official told Washington Post columnist Max Boot, referring to the House committee. “It is a propaganda exercise that Beijing would find easily recognizable.”

    For now, flash points abound. The United States and China see themselves at odds over the war in Ukraine, where the latter may yet choose to supply the flagging Russian war machine with lethal aid. Such a move will trigger an angry reaction from the United States and its allies, but Qin and other Chinese officials pointed to a supposed double standard, noting the United States’ long record of weapons sales to Taiwan. Tensions over the island democracy have spiked over the course of the war in Ukraine, while China’s relations with Europe have also soured as it continues to help prop up Russia’s sanctioned economy.

    Critics of Beijing’s widely derided peace plan for Ukraine see in some of its proposals — such as an end to Western military assistance to Kyiv — a template for the future conditions China may need to launch a successful invasion of Taiwan. “If Taiwan, like Ukraine, can draw on extended external military equipment, training, and real-time intelligence support, all bets are off,” wrote Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, referring to the prospects of a Chinese amphibious invasion. “And so, Beijing remains focused on degrading the ability of international actors to inject strategic risk into Chinese decision-making, as well as on exploiting cleavages among U.S. allies.”

    Other experts argue Washington needs to lower the temperature with China for its and Taiwan’s own sake. “Efforts to reduce Beijing’s sense of urgency over Taiwan could help limit the degree of China-Russia alignment, strengthening the overall U.S. strategic position,” wrote Jessica Chen Weiss, a China scholar at Cornell University. “And Taiwan needs more time to muster the resources and political will to develop an asymmetric, whole-of-society defense.”

    Ultimately, Xi and Qin’s remarks this week were as much political as they were geopolitical. Faced with a slumping economy battered by the pandemic, Xi and his cadres are attempting a sweeping overhaul of China’s financial system and government bureaucracy.

    “Xi Jinping’s comment about containment may heighten tensions with the United States, but he is mainly speaking to a domestic audience,” Andrew Collier, managing director of Hong Kong-based Orient Capital Research, told the New York Times. “He’s trying to foster the country’s high-tech firms both for economic growth and to handle decoupling at a time when China is facing severe economic headwinds. Beating the nationalist drum is a politically savvy way to achieve these goals.”

    Source

    #USA #China #Russia #Ukraine

  • L’Algérie confirme son non-alignement

    L’Algérie confirme son non-alignement

    Tags : Algérie, Europe, USA, Chine, Russie, Afrique, Ligue Arabe,

    Dans le dernier entretien qu’il a accordé à la presse nationale, le président de la République a mis en exergue le retour en force de l’Algérie sur la scène internationale. Arabe d’abord en lançant avec succès le processus de réconciliation inter-palestinienne, toute en remettant la cause palestinienne au centre des préoccupations du monde arabe, Afrique ensuite, en portant la voix de l’Afrique en joignant l’acte à la parole à travers la décision d’investir un milliard de dollars pour le développement de l’Afrique, internationale enfin en obtenant un quitus enthousiaste de la part de la Chine et de la Russie à sa demande d’adhésion aux Brics. Cela signifie qu’en trois ans, l’Algérie a rattrapé un retard d’une décennie et su tirer grand profit de la situation géopolitique du moment en confirmant son non-alignement par des actions de partenariat assumé avec l’Europe, les USA, la Chine et la Russie.

    Le président Tebboune ne croit pas si bien dire, puisque son action sur le terrain de la diplomatie a été suivie et appréciée par les Algériens qui affichent leur pleine adhésion sur les réseaux sociaux et dans la vie de tous les jours. Ce retour d’un sentiment de fierté de voir son pays marquer des points sur des question qui tiennent à cœur aux Algériens, comme la lutte contre le sionisme internationale, est couplé par des actions à l’interne qui amène l’opinion nationale a joindre l’acte à la parole et soutenir ouvertement les actions de l’Etat à l’internationale.

    Ce retour en force de l’Algérie sur la scène mondiale se traduit aussi par des expressions de respect émanant des cinq pays du Conseil de sécurité de l’Onu qui, à l’occasion se jettent des piques par pays interposés, à l’image de ce qui arrive depuis une année en Ukraine, sont tous d’accord sur le fait que l’Etat et le peuple algériens sont mûrs et qu’il n’est pas besoin de leur faire la leçon sur quelque sujet que ce soit. Les grands de ce monde attestent donc à l’unisson du poids géostratégique de l’Algérie et de l’inutilité d’en faire un pion dans le vaste jeu d’échecs qui se joue sous nos yeux en cette troisième décade du troisième millénaire.

    Cette attitude empreinte de grand respect en ces temps d’ingérences pour un oui ou pour un non, n’est, en aucune manière un cadeau des grandes puissances ou un accident de l’histoire. De par son parcours lors de la guerre de libération nationale et après l’indépendance, la société algérienne a démontré une unité à toute épreuve. La République n’est pas née du néant, c’est le résultat d’un sacrifice sans commune mesure dans l’histoire du 20e siècle. La victoire du peuple sur le colonialisme et le terrorisme ne peut avoir d’autres réactions que celui du profond respect. C’est dire que nous n’avons pas volé le respect que notre pays suscite auprès des plus grands de ce monde.

    Par Nabil G.

    Source

    #Algérie

  • Le conflit ukrainien et les dégâts collatéraux

    Tags : Russie, Ukraine, USA, Etats-Unis, OTAN,

    Les contours d’une « paix juste » dans le conflit ukrainien.

    Bientôt à une année de « l’opération spéciale russe », menée en Ukraine, tout le monde considère que ce conflit est une confrontation entre les USA et la Russie par l’Ukraine interposée ce qui a entraîné des dégâts collatéraux planétaires, sur les relations internationales et l’économie mondiale. Commençons par affirmer que ce conflit date véritablement depuis plus de neuf ans, avec la non application des accords de Minsk I et II, garantis par l’Allemagne et la France notamment et l’avancée sournoise de l’Otan aux frontières de la Russie, contraire aux promesses, non écrites, des USA et de ses alliés occidentaux.

    Dans ce dossier, les USA ont pratiquement tout gagné. Au niveau géostratégique et géopolitique, les USA tuent dans l’œuf toute idée d’une défense européenne et obligent l’UE à serrer les rangs au sein de l’Otan qu’ils contrôlent militairement, au niveau du commandement, contraignant ses alliés à mettre « la main à la poche » pour augmenter son budget et en invitant les non-membres à rejoindre l’alliance (Suède, Finlande). Toute idée de construction d’une Europe de « l’Atlantique à l’Oural » chère au général De Gaulle et de la « maison européenne », chère à Gorbatchev, est définitivement enterrée. Enfin, dans son « bras de fer » (et notamment sur le dossier de Taïwan) avec la Chine et après l’affaire dite « du ballon chinois », les USA entraînent derrière eux, l’UE dans une confrontation perceptible dans l’océan pacifique.

    Les USA ont renforcé leur complexe militaro-industriel, qui a rempli son carnet de commandes pour les dix prochaines années, en approvisionnant son propre arsenal, celui des pays membres de l’UE, de ses alliés asiatiques (Japon, Taïwan notamment) et le reste des pays du monde notamment les pays du Golfe et le Maroc. Au niveau énergétique, les USA vont livrer leur gaz en remplacement de celui russe (quelque 150 milliards de m3 et notamment en gaz de schiste) et du pétrole, à des prix supérieurs au niveau actuel du marché, ce qui va booster les entreprises américaines. Enfin, les céréales américaines (blé, maïs, orge et avoine…) vont pouvoir se placer, en force, sur le marché mondial, pour remplacer les céréales russes et ukrainiennes.

    Finalement, les USA ont réussi à tirer un maximum de profit dans ce conflit et reste maître du jeu pour mettre en œuvre la « paix juste » que vient de déclarer J. Biden, ce qui a ébranlé V. Zelenski, lors de sa visite à Washington. Quant à l’UE, elle a tout perdu et s’est fragilisée dans tous ses compartiments (politique, diplomatique, stratégique, défense, économique, financier).

    La Russie, quant à elle, poursuit et consolide sa position sur le terrain, en récupérant les territoires qu’elle considère lui appartenir historiquement et pour protéger les populations russophones bombardées depuis plus de neuf ans. La situation militaire donne des résultats positifs aux armées russes, ce qui obligent les USA et ses alliés occidentaux à livrer des armements de plus en plus sophistiqués (Chars, artillerie, missiles, avions éventuellement) à l’armée ukrainienne, de peur qu’elle ne s’effondre dès le printemps prochain mais sans dépasser les « lignes rouges » (missiles à longue portée).

    Dans ce conflit, les bases de la « paix juste » vont porter sur les acquis sur le terrain. Si la Crimée n’est pas négociable, pour la Russie, les territoires du Donbass et de Lougansk peuvent faire l’objet de tractations diplomatiques, comme un statut d’autonomie ou de territoires sous contrôle onusien… L’intégration de la nouvelle Ukraine « amputée », à l’UE n’étant pas envisageable sur les vingt prochaines années, son appartenance à l’Otan est exclue pour la Russie. La « stabilisation » dans la région, (une espèce de finlandisation bis), sera âprement négociée entre les USA et la Russie, l’Ukraine bénéficiera, en contrepartie, d’un « nouveau plan Marshall » pour sa reconstruction. L’histoire retiendra de ce conflit essentiellement l’inutilité de ce combat de coqs !

    Source

    #Russie #Ukraine #OTAN #Etats_Unis

  • Ukraine. Are the Europeans in war with Russia?

    Tags : European Union, USA,

    (B2) One year after the start of Russia’s massive military intervention in Ukraine (February 24, 2022) and the equally massive European support for Ukraine, we can legitimately ask the question today. Elements of reflection .

    To see clearly… let’s take the definition of Clausewitz, the modern war theorist: “ war is 1. an act of violence whose 2. objective is to compel the adversary to carry out our will (…) To achieve this end with certainty 3. we must disarm the enemy ”. War leads to climbing “ to extremes ”, it is a question of having an “ unlimited use of force ”, but also of having a “ calculation of the efforts ” necessary and a “ measured escalation ”.

    Are these elements (objective, means, tempo) met? To get to the bottom of it, let’s examine the means implemented by the Europeans (and more generally by the Allies).

    1. Political will . The designation of the adversary is very clear. Russia, its government, are explicitly designated as the initiator of the conflict:  » an unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine « , an  » invasion  » according to the established terminology. She is considered responsible for most war crimes, on orders, and even for genocide. And its leaders must be judged for their deeds. Hence the idea of ​​an international tribunal or a special tribunal to judge its leaders.

    The objective of compelling the adversary to carry out the will is also clear. The Europeans regularly affirm their desire to “ increase the collective pressure on Russia so that it ends its war and withdraws its troops ”. They say just as regularly alongside Ukraine: “ the EU will support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people against [this] war […] as long as it takes ”.

    And the goal of this pressure is also clear: the liberation of all the territory within “ its internationally recognized borders ”. In other words: all of Donbass, even Crimea. The Europeans recalling their “ unwavering attachment to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within [these] borders ”. NB: the quotes, taken from the joint declaration at the EU-Ukraine summit on February 3, will be repeated this Thursday (February 9) at the European summit in Brussels in the presence of Ukrainian President V. Zelensky.

    A position of the Atlantic Alliance. If the Allies (Europeans and Americans) have designated Russia as an adversary, they have avoided doing so in a too conspicuous way. But this is a political trick. It is indeed the Atlantic Alliance as a political being, linking the various European countries that are members of NATO and related countries (Finland, Sweden, etc.) which is committed today alongside the Ukrainians just as much as the European Union and its Member States. With one singular exception: Turkey.

    2. Economic pressure . She is very clear, strong and assumed. With almost ten sanctions packages (the last of which should be presented if not approved by February 24), the objective is not just to send a political signal. It is a question of laying down part of the Russian economic and technological resources. It is about undermining Russia’s military capacity to act in Ukraine, or at least slowing down its efforts, by cutting off all European financial and economic flows. In short, to  » disarm  » it in the classic sense of the term, but by « peaceful » means, soft power: the economy, by cutting off its supplies.

    3. The massive military support assumed . This support involves a wide range of equipment: from ammunition to fighter aircraft parts, including portable missiles, tanks, artillery support, air defense, or gasoline, … the Allies have gradually increased, and above all assumed, this military assistance.

    The amount today is negligible. We have reached almost €12 billion on the European side alone. That is one billion € per month on average. This is roughly half of the equipment budget of the French army. €3.6 billion of which is jointly financed via the European Peace Facility (EFF).

    The recent decision by Berlin and Washington to deliver Leopard and Abrams tanks (read: The Allies will equip a Ukrainian armored brigade. The Leopard tank club gets underway ), and London the Challengers is not in itself revolutionary. It is part of a continuum that began from the start with the delivery of Soviet-made heavy tanks (type T-72, more than 400 delivered).

    The novelty lies elsewhere: it lies rather in the media coverage and in the asserted desire to act in coalition. Where before, each country had a varying policy of media coverage — from Latin discretion to Polish-British excess. And where everyone was careful to specify that these were national decisions.

    4. Strong support in the training of the Ukrainian army . This support is not anecdotal. Europeans and other allies (United Kingdom and USA) want to train several Ukrainian brigades to prepare them in an express time (two months maximum per rotation) for combat.

    A massive effort unmatched in modern times! On the European side, the target of 15,000 (by May) at the start has been raised to 30,000 trained men by the fall of 2023. Ditto on the British and American sides. The objective is indeed to provide the Ukrainian forces with the manpower necessary to face a Russian offensive as well as to replenish its troops lost in combat (about 100,000 men dead or wounded out of action).

    5 . Intelligence support . Discretion is required in this area. But it is proven. European (French, German, British) and American satellite resources are used to provide valuable information to the Ukrainian forces.

    It is part of the Allied intelligence power placed at the service of the Ukrainians which allows them to have a complete perception of the combat zone, with its own field « sensors » (human intelligence in particular), quite effective (of the Ukrainian baba with his mobile phone which informs local sources to analysts). Ukrainian intelligence benefits from European analysts on the spot.

    Officially, there is no ground troop commitment . And the Europeans are careful not to deceive them on this point. If there are Europeans engaged alongside the Ukrainians in the troops, these are individual acts. And the presence of special forces, particularly in the context of intelligence or “training” support, remains underground (this is the very principle of these forces: neither seen nor known). But there are indeed “liaison officers” with the Ukrainian forces, in order to facilitate not only the delivery of materials and equipment, but also to try to coordinate the strategy.

    6. Place Ukraine beyond the reach of Russian influence.This political, military and economic pressure on Russia is coupled with a political and economic will to “snatch” Ukraine from Russian domination and influence. A desire that began gently in 2014 with the signing of an association agreement which today is coupled with a promise of membership of the European Union. An accelerated process! With the declaration of the recognition of candidate country in a few months. All accompanied by net financial support (approximately €1.5 billion per month in budgetary support, €18 billion for 2023), via the association of Ukraine at accelerated speed with European instruments. We are thus witnessing an urgent reorientation of the Ukrainian networks (train, electricity, road, etc.) to the European networks, until the insertion of Ukraine into the space ofEuropean telephone roaming .

    The war. .. or peace

    If we go back to the classic definition of war given by Clausewitz, we see that certain elements are there: the goal of  » compelling the adversary to carry out our will « , the  » seeking to overthrow the adversary « , to  » disarm « , the  » calculation of the necessary efforts « , etc. But there remains a notable absence all the same: it cannot be said that there is an act of “ violence ” on the part of the Europeans towards Russia nor of a desire to “ unlimited use of force ”.

    Without being belligerent — the notion of co-belligerent is very vague: one is belligerent or not — the Europeans are therefore halfway to belligerency, clearly alongside a party at war (Ukraine), using all the instruments at their disposal (except military force) against its adversary (Russia). Without any ambiguity. But they cautiously stay below the war line, confining themselves to self-defense.

    The final objective sought by the Europeans is not the overthrow of the regime in Russia (see box), but its withdrawal from Ukraine. It is thus a singular difference compared to the definition of the traditional war. It would rather be hybrid warfare: use all means, staying below the limit of open warfare. In fact, to the open war launched by the Russians, the Europeans and Allies reacted by hybrid means.

    It should be noted, however, that in the history of modern Europe, to my knowledge, never have Europeans committed themselves so clearly and so massively in favor of one country against another. Even during the Yugoslav wars, even if there was support, it remained more or less discreet (especially for military support). The military intervention in Kosovo under cover of NATO is an exception. But it was short and limited in space, and was not marked by confrontation with a member of the UN Security Council endowed with nuclear power.

    (Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

    Source

  • Morocco / United States Strategic Partnership

    Morocco / United States Strategic Partnership

    Topics : Morocco, Unites States, USA, strategic partnership, cooperation,

    Political dialogue

    High-level political dialogue:

    -Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to meet once a year in Washington or in Rabat.

    Share assessment and analysis on :

    -regional issues such as African Affairs, Middle East Peace Process, Maghreb, Sahel-Saharan region

    -multilateral issues such as Peace Keeping, Terrorism, Environment and Human Rights.

    -Coordinate actions at the UN and other international forums

    Human rights dialogue:

    -Strengthening of the existing Human rights dialogue and extending it to thematic meetings on Press freedom, civil society, freedom of speech, etc.

    -Extension of the dialogue to cooperation, capacity building and exchange of best practices.

    Regional cooperation

    -Morocco/US cooperation in the MENA region:

    -Morocco provides experts and advisors on developing civil society and political cooperation (regional training center for Governments officials, NGOs, community leaders, youth, etc.)

    -Triangular aid on the advancement of the role of women

    -Establishment of a Gender institute in Morocco

    Morocco/US cooperation in the Maghreb :

    -Implementation of the US/North Africa Entrepreneurship initiative:
    Next summit to be held in Morocco in October 2011$

    Morocco could host a Regional Enterprise Fund, similar to the SEED banks set up by the US in Eastern Europe (capacity building of small and medium sized enterprises, equity capital investments, extension of financial services, etc.). One of the first actions taken could be to invigorate the Morocco-US FTA to develop enterprise activities in target countries to accelerate economic growth and job development

    -Regional scientific cooperation. Morocco to host the US Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation (Cairo initiative), to be held in June 2011.

    -Morocco/US cooperation in Africa

    -Triangular cooperation towards African countries:

    -Cooperation between the development agencies of both countries (USAID and AMCI)

    -Cooperation in the fields of agriculture, water, health and environment.

    -Dialogue on crisis management / resolution in Africa.

    Security cooperation

    -Establishment of a bilateral security committee addressing a wide range of issues, such as drug trafficking, terrorism and human trafficking (3 reports of the State Department)

    -Morocco to join the Global Counter Terrorism Forum to be officially launched in September 2011

    -Economic and trade cooperation

    -Establishment of a US/Morocco Business Council:

    -Composed of private sector representatives from both countries
    That issues recommendation for an enhanced cooperation in the field and a better implementation of the FTA

    -Strengthened cooperation on agriculture and renewable energies.

    -Scientific and Cultural cooperation

    -Establishment of “Excellence centers” in the field of public health, on the basis of the existing health centers and in cooperation with counterparts in the US

    -Joint initiatives aiming at the promotion of tolerance, religious dialogue and the fight against racism and anti-Semitism.

    -Strengthening of exchange programs for scholars, students, artists

    -Increasing the number of beneficiaries of Fullbright scholarships

    -Intensifying the learning of English language

    #Morocco #USA #Strategic_partnership

  • What the Moroccans wanted from Hillary Clinton

    What the Moroccans wanted from Hillary Clinton

    Topics : Morocco, Western Sahara, USA, Hillary Clinton,

    Background

    Hillary Clinton’s scheduled February 26 visit to Morocco will very likely be her last trip to Morocco as US Secretary of State. She has made clear that she will not remain in her current position should President Obama win re-election in November. Consequently, her visit later this month will likely represent our best opportunity to secure a commitment from her to make significant progress on several important objectives that we have hoped to achieve during her tenure at the State Department. The visit will offer a good opportunity to consolidate progress made during Foreign Minister Fassi Fihri’s meeting with Secretary Clinton in Washington in March of last year, as well as a new opportunity to take an important step forward in consolidating US support for Morocco’s initiative to resolve the issue in Western Sahara.

    Objectives for the Visit

    -Secure a public statement of support from the Secretary for Morocco’s reforms and the importance that the US attaches to working with Morocco as a partner in promoting progress in the Middle East and North Africa. In this regard, seek assurance of the Secretary to formally inaugurate the Strategic Dialogue announced one year ago.

    -Gain Clinton’s support for committing US development resources to improving the lives of those living in the Southern Provinces as authorized in the December 2011 Omnibus Appropriations Bill that gives the Obama Administration a green light to use US funds in the Sahara provinces.

    -Receive a commitment from the Secretary that the Department will respond to the Leahy language in a strong positively worded answer, in order to put this issue to rest, once and for all.

    -Encourage the Secretary to reiterate US support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as “serious, credible and realistic” and to state publicly that events in the region make a resolution of the Western Sahara issue through a political compromise a necessity in order to promote regional cooperation and integration, as well as combat the growing influence and activities of regional terrorist and criminal elements that seek to profit from the uncertainties of Arab Spring developments in the region.

    Suggested Points on Western Sahara

    -Describe steps Morocco has taken in an effort to improve relations with Algeria and foster a better climate for regional cooperation and resolution of the Sahara. Explain Moroccan perception of the results of these efforts.

    -Give Secretary Clinton a full understanding of Morocco’s commitment to resolving this issue as quickly as possible and explain the dangers of continued stalemate, especially as AQIM and other criminal groups seek to destabilize the region.

    -Express Morocco’s appreciation for Congress’ authorization for the Obama Administration to use US development assistance funds to help improve the lives of those living in the Southern Provinces. Explain how such actions could help create a better climate for resolving the larger problem in the Sahara. Express willingness to work closely with the State Department and US development agencies to identify programs that could be implemented and suggest that a working level meeting in the near future should be arranged to address this opportunity to enhance US/Morocco efforts on this issue. This will be the one and only signal during her tenure that moves the WS issue incrementally forward. She should see it accomplished before she leaves office. This is one of the two most impactful items Clinton can do with Morocco before leaving office.

    -The other issue that would leave an indelible Clinton signature is the US-Moroccan Strategic Dialogue. She should make sure that this Dialogue is established as an on-going process, and that the first meeting is held prior to her leaving office.

    -Encourage Secretary Clinton to make a strong public statement of support for the need to resolve the Sahara problem and reiterate the need for compromise as she again expresses the US view of Morocco’s initiative as “serious, credible and realistic.” Anything less will be perceived as the State Department “walking back” previous commitments.

    -In this regard reiterate Morocco’s commitment that the refugees in the Algerian camps are welcome to come home and will be assisted in building a new life for themselves and their families.

    -Explain the consequences of the Leahy language to the bilateral relations and the perception by the Moroccan population. Specifically explain the importance of an unequivocal and strong positive response from the State Department in this regard in order to lay this issue to rest, once and for all.

    #Morocco #Western_Sahara #Hillary_Clinton

  • The 2012 Elections for the US House and Senate: What’s At Stake For Morocco?

    The 2012 Elections for the US House and Senate: What’s At Stake For Morocco?

    Topics : Morocco, United States, USA, Congress, Senate, lobbying,


    1801 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008 p: 202. 299.9599 | www.moffettgroupdc.com

    To: His Excellency Rachad Bouhlal
    Moroccan Ambassador to the United States
    From: Toby Moffett
    Chairman, The Moffett Group
    Date: August 28, 2012

    Re: The 2012 Elections for the US House and Senate: What’s At Stake For Morocco?

    Mr. Ambassador,
    The goal of this analysis is to provide you and Moroccan officials in Rabat with various scenarios related to the upcoming United States elections and how the results might affect the U.S.-Moroccan relationship. In other words, who are the likely winners among those with jurisdiction over issues of interest to Morocco?

    As you know, this is not an exact science. We have no way of knowing who will win in certain races where the races are close and the campaign is hard-fought. As we have seen in recent days, a number of unforeseeable events and circumstances can shift the fortunes of individual candidates and even of an entire party, i.e. the selection of Rep. Paul Ryan as Governor Romney’s running mate, the damaging remarks by Rep. Todd Akin in the Missouri Senate race, and the economic data that indicates the economy is not improving.

    Please note that this analysis is based on what we are observing at the moment and the reality on the ground. Nonetheless, our assumptions are that the House of Representatives will remain under Republican control (the Republicans currently hold a 49-seat advantage (242-193). We believe a new Republican House majority in the 113th Congress will have a margin of only a handful of votes.

    With regard to the U.S. Senate, we believe that either party could control the Senate, with no more than a one or two vote margin. Currently, the Democrats currently hold a 6-seat advantage (53-47). Given the races that are considered “toss-ups,” we view a Democrat majority in the Senate as slightly more likely than a Republican one.

    COMMITTEES MOST IMPORTANT TO MOROCCO AND POSSIBLE LEADERSHIP CHANGES

    Both the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House and the Foreign Relations committee in the Senate are vitally important to Morocco, especially with regard to matters relating to the Western Sahara dispute and any un-related issues.

    At the same time, the Appropriations committees – particularly the Subcommittees on State-Foreign Operations – are extremely relevant as all foreign assistance money, both military and civilian, are approved by these committees in the House and Senate. 1801 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008 p: 202. 299.9599 | www.moffettgroupdc.com

    Aditionally, given the increasing importance of security-related matters, especially relating to the Western Sahara but also in Mali and other parts of North Africa, the Select Committees on Intelligence in both chambers are becoming more and more important to Morocco.

    MOST LIKELY CHANGES IN COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP

    Two key committees in the House and Senate may both have new leadership when the 113th Congress convenes in January 2013. Both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee could have new chairmen/women.

    In the House, the current chairwoman, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL) faces a party-imposed term limit, so there certainly will be a new chairman. Please see below for our analysis of the prospects for new leadership.

    In the Senate, with the departure of Secretary Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State following the November election, there is a distinct possibility that Senator John Kerry (MA), currently the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, would become Secretary of State should President Obama be re-elected. This would automatically leave the senate chairmanship vacant.

    SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

    DEMOCRATS

    If the Democrats retain control of the Senate, and Senator Kerry is not chosen as the new Secretary of State, he would remain the leader of the committee. But if Kerry departs, there are several veteran Democrats who might become chair of the committee.

    Currently second in seniority on the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Barbara Boxer (CA) also serves as chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee. It is in our view unlikely, but not impossible, that she would relinquish that position to take over Foreign Relations.

    Another possible chairman is Senator Bob Menendez (NJ). He is currently in a harder-than-expected re-election race in New Jersey, but is almost certain to retain his seat. If so, and if Senator Kerry departs for the State Department, Senator Menendez would almost surely choose the Foreign Relations chair. He is passionately supportive of Morocco. His chief focus, as a Cuban-American, is on matters impacting Cuba, but he would be very positive towards Morocco. 1801 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008 p: 202. 299.9599 | www.moffettgroupdc.com


    Behind Menendez in seniority is Senator Ben Cardin (MD). He is another long-time supporter of Morocco and its position on the Western Sahara. He is a Jewish-American and has been positively influenced by various U.S. Jewish groups who support Morocco and appreciate its relationship with Israel and the Moroccan diaspora in Israel.

    REPUBLICANS

    The primary defeat of Richard Lugar (IN), the committee’s top Republican since 1985, has ignited speculation as to which Republican senator would assume their party’s top position on this committee.

    If Republicans win control of the Senate, the most likely new chair of the committee would be Senator Bob Corker (TN). While by no means as skilled and focused on foreign relations as the past two chairman – now-Vice President Joe Biden or Senator Kerry – Corker has increasingly shown more interest and greater knowledge of the world. We have every reason to believe the Senator Corker, as committee chairman, would be supportive of Morocco, specifically on the Moroccan framework for resolving the Western Sahara dispute.

    Corker, however, may choose to forego that chairmanship for another. It is quite possible that should the Republicans control the Senate, Corker would select the chairmanship of the Banking Committee where he occupies a senior position.

    In that case, two other Senators may inherit the Foreign Relations chair, and neither have a great deal of experience in foreign affairs. Both are relatively junior members: Senator Jim Risch (ID) and the other is Senator Marco Rubio (FL).

    With regard to the Subcommittee Near Eastern and South and Central Asian (which has jurisdiction over Morocco), if current Ranking Member Sen. Risch does not assume the chairmanship of the full committee, it is expected that he would become chair of that subcommittee. Another possible chair of the subcommittee is Senator Mike Lee (UT). From all indications, both of these Senators would be supportive of Morocco’s approach on the Sahara.

    HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

    The House Foreign Affairs Committee faces significant change next year because of Republican term limits for its chairwoman and an uphill re-election battle for its ranking Democrat. There are also a slew of senior members retiring from both parties. So, regardless of who controls the chamber, the committee is poised to feature an almost entirely new lineup in its upper ranks in the 113th Congress. 1801 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008 p: 202. 299.9599 | www.moffettgroupdc.com


    REPUBLICANS

    Despite only getting one Congress as chairwoman of the committee, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL) is coming up against House Republican term limits for committee leaders at the end of the 112th Congress. Republican leaders count time served as ranking member toward their three-term cap on committee chairmanships, and Ros-Lehtinen served as the senior most Republican on the panel in the 110th (2007-2008) and 111th (2009-2010) Congresses. Unless the party leadership grants her a waiver – which is a very rare occurrence – she will be forced to give up the gavel.

    There is a chance that Rep. Ros-Lehtinen could make a legitimate pitch for a term-limit waiver based on the fact that she is the only female and only Hispanic member chairing a House committee. Both GOP members who sought waivers from their party last Congress, however, were rejected and that is not expected to change in the 113th Congress.

    Rep. Chris Smith (NJ) is next in seniority and actually has more seniority in Congress than Ros-Lehtinen. He was passed over, however, for ranking member when Rep. Ros-Lehtinen took the top Republican spot in 2007. He was also stripped of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs chairmanship at the start of the 109th Congress, after a standoff with GOP leadership over veterans’ health care funding.

    Rep. Smith has a tendency to go his own direction on the issues he is passionate about – most notably abortion and human rights – regardless of the political or diplomatic implications, which is a significant obstacle to any chairmanship aspirations. There is a chance, however, that Republican leadership would bow to his decades of experience on the committee. He is currently the chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights (AGHHR).

    It is important to note that Rep. Smith has joined virtually every call for religious freedom in Morocco made by U.S. officials, particularly his congressional colleagues. He was very outspoken against the Moroccan government when it ordered Christian proselytizers to leave the country.

    A more likely possibility is that Rep. Ed Royce (CA) will leapfrog Rep. Smith and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (CA) – seen by Republican leaders as too unpredictable – for the top position. The other senior Republicans on the committee, Rep. Dan Burton (IN), Rep. Elton Gallegly (CA) and Rep. Donald Manzullo (IL) are all retiring this year.

    Rep. Royce is currently the chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, has been a quiet, but steady, voice on foreign affairs from the committee. He also 1801 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008 p: 202. 299.9599 | www.moffettgroupdc.com

    has been a team player on party politics, kicking in more than $200,000 from his campaign account to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) this cycle. There is a chance, however that Rep. Royce could get the chairmanship of House Committee on Financial Services next year because current chairman Rep. Spencer Bachus (AL) is also term-limited and Royce is third in line in terms of seniority.

    If Royce takes the chairmanship of the Financial Services Committee, Rep. Steve Chabot (OH) could become chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Rep. Chabot, currently the chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, served in the House from 1995 to 2008 before losing re-election, only to win back his seat in 2010.

    With regard to the chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Africa, if Rep. Smith is passed over again for the chairmanship of the full committee, he will most likely retain the gavel of this subcommittee. If, however, he assumes the chair of the full committee, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (NE) is next in line on the subcommittee. The other three Republican members of that panel Rep. Tom Marino (PA), Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (NY) and Rep. Bob Turner (NY), are all freshman members and therefore most likely not in a position to become subcommittee chair.

    DEMOCRATS

    Ranking Member Rep. Howard Berman (CA) is currently in a tough race for reelection against fellow Democrat and Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Brad Sherman (CA), thanks to redistricting in California. Berman finished second to Sherman in California’s new “jungle” primary system in June. Since the two incumbents were the top two finishers, they will face off again in the general election in November. Rep. Sherman has benefited from the newly redrawn district because it encompasses far more of his old district than Rep. Berman’s. As of now, Rep. Berman is the underdog.

    If Rep. Berman somehow manages to come out on top in November, he will retain his position as top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee. If Rep. Sherman defeats Rep. Berman (as is expected), he would also be well positioned to take over the top Democratic spot on the committee.

    The two members ahead of Rep. Sherman on the Foreign Affairs Committee are Rep. Gary Ackerman (NY) and Del. Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (American Samoa). Ackerman is retiring at the end of the 112th Congress. Del. Faleomavaega has indicated interest in the post should Berman lose his race, but there is little precedent for a non-voting member to serve as chairman of a full committee.

    If Democrats manage to win back the majority of the House the chairmanship would likely go to whichever member survives the Berman-Sherman primary. Democrats tend to stick 1801 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008 p: 202. 299.9599 | www.moffettgroupdc.com

    more closely to seniority for committee assignments than Republicans. The next two Democrats on the committee after Rep. Sherman are Rep. Eliot Engel (NY) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (NY).

    With regard to the key Africa subcommittee(which in the House has jurisdiction over Morocco-related matters) freshman Rep. Karen Bass (CA) has held the top spot since the unfortunate passing of Rep. Donald Payne (NJ) in March. Rep. Bass is likely to retain this post, though the Democratic makeup of this Subcommittee is likely to change drastically.
    Please note that all of the Democrats mentioned here as possible chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committee have been very supportive of Morocco and, specifically, of the Moroccan framework for resolving the Sahara dispute.

    SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

    DEMOCRATS

    If the Democrats retain control of the Senate in November, Senator Daniel Inouye (HI) is likely to remain as Chairman of the Committee, despite his advanced age (he is currently the second-oldest Senator at 87 years of age).

    The general Democratic makeup over the Committee is likely to remain largely the same: only three of the Committee’s sixteen Democrats are in close races for re-election. Senator Ben Nelson (NE) is retiring, Senator Sherrod Brown (OH) is in a very close race in one of the country’s most hotly contested states, and though he is favored to win at this point, this race could easily change, and Brown could lose. Finally, Senator Jon Tester (MT) is in one of the closest Senate races this fall, and his race will almost certainly be a tossup until Election Day.

    The makeup of the Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations is likely to remain largely intact. Senator Pat Leahy (VT) is likely to remain Chairman of the Subcommittee if the Democrats retain control of the Senate, and only Senator Brown is among the subcommittee members who may lose re-election.

    Please recall that Senator Leahy has not been among Morocco’s staunchest allies in the past, and that this attitude is likely to continue.

    REPUBLICANS

    If Republicans win control of the Senate in November, Senator Thad Cochran (MS) will become the next chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. If the GOP falls short of the 51 seats they need, however, there will be a new top Republican on the committee, as 1801 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008 p: 202. 299.9599 | www.moffettgroupdc.com

    Cochran would have to give up the ranking member slot due to Republican term limits for committee leaders.

    At this point, it is very unclear who would take over the top spot for the Republicans should the GOP remain in the minority. The next three Senators in line – Mitch McConnell (KY), Richard Shelby (AL) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) – all have reasons as to why they would not assume to the top position on the committee. McConnell is currently the Republican Senate leader (a position he’s expected to retain), Shelby is currently the top Republican on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee (a position he’s expected to retain), and Hutchison is retiring at the end of this Congress.

    With regard to the Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, Senator Lindsey Graham (SC) is expected to keep the top position for Republicans regardless of which party holds in majority after November.

    HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

    REPUBLICANS

    On the House side, the leadership picture is much clearer with regard to appropriations. Current full committee chairman Rep. Hal Rogers (KY) and subcommittee chairwoman Rep. Kay Granger (TX) will keep their leadership positions no matter what happens in November.
    They have both been strong supporters of Morocco especially on the issue of the Western Sahara and aid.

    DEMOCRATS

    The Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Norm Dicks (WA), has announced that he will retire at the end of this term. The identity of the new Ranking Member (or Chairman, should the Democrats win back the House) remains somewhat unclear.

    Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH) is the second-most senior Democrat on the committee, but has clashed with Democratic leadership in the past. Some Democrats view her support of abortion rights as wavering, and this issue may play heavily in the campaign for the committee’s top spot for Democrats. Rep. Nita Lowey (NY), the former chairwoman of the State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee, and a strong supporter of Morocco, is expected to challenge Kaptur for the post. Rep. Jim Moran (VA) may also make an attempt to win the position. 1801 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008 p: 202. 299.9599 | www.moffettgroupdc.com

    The makeup of the State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee will be substantially different in the next Congress, regardless of whether or not the Democrats take back control of the House. Rep. Nita Lowey (NY) is likely to win re-election. If she does not take over as ranking member of the full Committee (see above), she is likely to return as ranking member of the subcommittee. Rep. Lowey has been a consistent support of Morocco, especially on the issue of aid.

    Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL) has recently undergone treatment for health problems, the precise details of which have not been revealed. He would be next in line to take over as ranking member of the subcommittee, but there is at least a small chance that he will not return to serve a full term next year. In that case, the Ranking Member post would pass to Rep. Adam Schiff (CA).

    Finally, Rep. Rothman (NJ) was defeated in a primary election by fellow Democratic Rep. Pascrell (NJ) and will not return to Congress in 2013. Rep. Rothman has been a strong supporter of Morocco on the Subcommittee.

    If the Democrats should unexpectedly win control of the House, there will be a strong contest for the chairmanships both of the full committee and the Foreign Operations Subcommittee involving the members mentioned above.

    SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE & HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE

    With regard to the leadership of the intelligence committees in both chambers, little is expected to change for the 113th Congress.

    Current Senate Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is expected to retain the gavel should the Democrats maintain control of the Senate. Vice Chairman Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) will remain as the top Republican regardless of the outcome of the November election.

    In the House, current Chairman Mike Rogers (R-MI) will remain as chairman if the Republicans keep control of the House. Ranking Member C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-MD) will stay on as the top Democrat. 1801 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008 p: 202. 299.9599 | www.moffettgroupdc.com

    The biggest change in the House Intelligence Committee will come on the subcommittee level. Currently, the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, HUMINT, Analysis, and Counterintelligence, Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC), will be retiring at the end of year. The next person to fill her spot at the top of the subcommittee, if Republicans hold the House, would be Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX). Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) will most likely retain the top position for the Democrats regardless of which party holds the majority in the 113th Congress.

    Again, in the unlikely event that Democrats capture control of the House, Rep Thompson would be a favorite to win the chairmanship.

    It is important to note that each Senator and Representatives mentioned are supportive of Morocco and, the stabilizing role they play in the North Africa region. Morocco is well positioned with regard to both intelligence committees in the next Congress.

    #Morocco #USA

  • Thione Niang mission report

    Thione Niang mission report

    Tags : Morocco, United States, USA, Western Sahara, Young Democrats of America, lobbying,

    Executive Summary

    Upon my return to Tindouf I set up some meetings in DC to talk to key people to inform them about the situation in the Camps and my recommendations from a young American leader.

    Conference Call with YDA National Executive board
    The week of our return in DC Chris Anderson and I held a conference call briefing of the Trip and steps to take toward resolution with YDA (Young Democrats of America) national executive board.

    Outcome: This again continues to bring awareness to the young leaders across the country whom knew nothing about the Sahara issue prior to our involvement.

    Letters to the State Department
    Upon my return to Tindouf I send a meeting request letter to inform the US State Department and the White House about my trip in both Tindouf and Morocco and share my thoughts with them. My main concern with them will be the need for the US to act for our security. I had was with Tashea Brodgins who is helping me set up the meeting in Washington with the young Moroccans and the Young people from the Camps.

    Meeting with Congressman Payne

    Background on Conyers:

    Congressman Conyers is the chair of the Black Caucus. He wrote the letter to President Obama to pressure Morocco to investigate the recent issues in Layoone. He is an important person on this issue in DC.

    In this meeting I gave a report of our trips in Tindouf and Morocco, what we have seen on both sides and the need for the United States to act quickly.

    I also stressed the need for the Black Caucus to investigate all information it receives from all parties very carefully. Because when I arrived to the meeting there was impressions that the other side has gotten to them by their grassroots work on the recent events in Layoone. In result to that Payne’s office delivered a letter to the President to pressure Morocco to investigate the death of a young boy.

    I have informed them that in my very recent trip in Morocco last week that those photos was not real and stressed the need to take time to investigate.

    I have also indicated that it will be for the best interest our country and our reputation take a look at both sides to have a better picture of the situation like I just did which they promised to so.

    Actions-Reoprt-1Download the original file

    Issue: In this matter I have learnt that the grassroots of the other side has been very strong in DC and was successfully able to put Morocco against the defense mode.

    There is not enough pressure from Morocco on the grassroots side to do the same or at lest balance things.. In result to that the image of morocco here needs to be protected and I will just be honest.

    Outcome of this meeting:

    The Congressman, his office and many many people including my self receive so many emails every week from the other sides on every little thing that happens in Layoone or Dakhla and for that they get sensitive to the issue. I personally forwarded all of the emails I have been receiving since the Layoone from the other side.

    So I shared with the Congressman what I have heard from Morocco that those pictures the Spanish newspapers are just using them to make Morocco look bad but there more untold stories there. He asked me to share those info Algene and follow up with a meeting with her.

    Another Meeting with Algene Sajery

    Background on Algene: She is the author of the letter that the Congressman wrote and is the point person dealing with this issue at the Africa Subcommittee. As of last week she became the new staff director of the committee. She is also important because her position tends to influence the Payne’s.

    Algene and I met again few days after the initial meeting to talk about the event I am working on to bring the young Moroccans and young people from Tindouf on the table here. But most importantly follow up with her on Payne’s request. In this meeting I have stressed the need for her to go to Tindouf so she can see the difference.

    She is very sensitive about the people on the camps I believe because of the pictures they have been showing them and there is no one up until now that is telling them the opposite and I guess that is what I am doing at this point with her and the rest of the members that I have been meeting.

    Issue:

    She informed me that they were working on another letter for Congress and the White House they are working on and this time for Human Rights issues in Layoone. She also had been received a lot of emails and info from the other side. They are daily sending info where there is nothing from Morocco in return.

    Outcome of this meeting:

    I was able to convince her to take her time to look at both sides because there is obviously some propaganda here when it comes to the info she receives from the other side and I care more than anything about the credibility of our Nation. I showed her the videos that I received from Manelle and pictures, which helped to have her think about things a little different, but there is still a lot of work to be done with her and I am willing to continue to do so.

    Needs:

    To continue to work with the Congressman Payne’s office and keep putting pressure on them to let them know that it is not Ok to take blunt decisions without consequences. The way to do that is to monitor the actions and always follow up with whatever comes up. We cannot wait till things happen to respond, there should be a permanent operation going on non‐stop in DC which I will highlight on my recommendations.

    Meeting with Congressman Conyers and his stuff

    Background on Conyers: He is the founder of the Black Caucus and been serving in Congress since 1965. He is the Chairman of the US Congress Judicial Committee. He is the second longest serving member in the US Congress now.

    In our first trip to Morocco he arranged for the CIA to give us a report on the issue and set up a meeting for our delegation to be received by his friend US Ambassador Kaplan in Rabat.

    Meeting:

    In the meeting I gave him a full report of the rip to Morocco and Tindouf. I have shared with him what I have seen in Layoone, the progress, the development, my meeting with families who came back from the camps, the Cheikhs, the Human Rights Organizations who assured me that all was going well in that matter, etc… I have also shared with him the situation at the camps and how difficult it is for people there, and that our government should do something immediately. Because he is in charge of the security of our nation, CIA, FBI and Homeland security, we discussed the security aspect where I warned him of the potential threat if we don’t move fast because of the vulnerability of the youth in the camps who can be picked up by Al‐aeda if we do nothing.

    I have shared with him pictures of both sides. He asked his staff member Isaac Robinson present in the meeting to note the security part and he will call a meeting to hear from the State Department to see what has been done and we go from there. He has been informed now and he is going to take steps and I will continue to follow up with him cause I am also helping him for a Bill he dearly cares about which is the Water for the World Act that I testified in Congress last Wednesday. I also organized a conference call for him with the National Board of the young Democrats of America. So it is a huge step to work on having him on our side because he is very listened to in Washington DC. I also urged him on the propaganda from the other side in case he receives anything from them or Payne’s office.

    Outcome of this meeting

    In this meeting I gave the Congressman a full report of both of my trips. He instructed his stuff/ advisor Isaac Robinson (Vice President of the Young Democrats of America whom I brought to Morocco with me) and work with me on following up with the State Department and see what have been done and he will take the steps forward. I am willing to follow up with that as well

    Meeting with Congressman Bobby Rush’s staff (Angelle Kwemo)

    Background on Bobby Rush: He is a senior member and also the Chair of the Commerce and trade committee. He is also one of the seniors of the Black Caucus. He is very close to the President. The Congressman signed the first letter sent to the President to pressure Morocco.

    Angelle Kwemo: She is the Legal Counsel for the Congressman and advice the Congressman on this particular issue.

    Once I received the letter that went to the White House, I immediately called a meeting with Angelle Kwemo who is a good friend of mine and we both serve in the Congressional African Staff Association( this association is for all African born staffers or former staffers of US Congress) which she is the President and I am the communication Director. I was able to clarify things with Angelle, to show her the videos that I received from Manele. She was shocked to learn about it from Morocco’s point of view. Few days later she talked to the Congressman and decided the will NOT SIGNED ANOTHER letter and they from now on as I urged them to investigate all of the info that they receive from either side.

    Article

    Upon my return I have written an article sent to the Washington Post and the New York Times, which was not published as of now.

    Concerns:

    I am aware that you stressed importance of this article in your last email but I think that if this article was published Ok it will be good for Morocco for a day or two but the long‐term I will be very limited to what I can do to help bring end to this issue. Many articles have been published about the issue both in New York Times and the Post and/or support letters sometimes by members but situations still did not change if it is not worsen. Therefore I believe we have got to take a different approach. And that approach has to be the grassroots and also for me to be able to navigate around DC having in mind that the end goal is to show that the autonomy plan is the ideal to resolve this issue. I can’t reach that by jumping to conclusion openly this soon. There is a lot of work to be done and it can’t be minimized.

    Morocco is way behind when it comes to the grassroots in the US. Everyone has info from the other side but no office that I went had anything from Morocco on the

    recent events in Layoone. If I openly step forward, the other side will scream to the rest of the people in DC whom can listen to me that I am bought by Morocco so I am not credible to speak. I have to try at least to bring solutions. This is how I have to be seen. And to be honest that’s how I feel because I want to see an end to this.

    So the grassroots work I have been doing is way more important than a published letter or article because I am able to know who is thinking what and I am working on changing the perception toward the situation and specially toward Morocco.

    Note: I am not excluding the support letter but I just want it to be more timely and more effective. Write a letter to just write it will not help.

    Example: The other side agreed to let their youth come meet their counterparts from Morocco and if I do the letter now they will shut all of their doors immediately and we will not have no progress. We will start from zero again. But if I try those steps, I will be able to have the ear of my government afterward when I send a letter or go to Congress and testify which I plan to do. It will be important in Congress when I testify to show that I have taken the steps necessary and I believe after all that Morocco’s Autonomy Plan is the solution. For now it is premature and will not help Morocco at all.

    Recommendations

    What is clearly missing in DC for Morocco is the grassroots aspect I repeat. The other side is way ahead of you guys on this very important issue to you. In result to that Morocco is always on a defense side, which is not very good.

    We ought to create strategic outreach plan to build a grassroots portfolio in DC to target the concerning parties and have a very constant operation. We can help with that, specially with the huge databases that we possess. I am open to discuss that after we clear this item. If needed, we will prepare a proposal for you. This will be with my team, as it will take more teamwork to get the job done.

    Thione NIANG

    Chair, International Affairs Committee
    Young Democrats of America

    #Morocco #Western_Sahara #Thione_Niang #Young_democrats_of-America

  • Why USA is engaged in Western Sahara conflict

    Morocco, Algeria, Polisario – Why USA is engaged in Western Sahara conflict

    Algeria-Morocco Crisis: The first American war in a long time which is not for oil but for food

    The United States of America has waged many devastating wars for oil. Of course, the military-industrial complex of America, or what is also known as the ‘deep state’, wages wars across the world to mint money for the United States, but that is a story to be told some other day. Today, with the Biden administration at the helm of affairs in Washington DC, the main drivers of war seem to be shifting. Now, the United States expects to not import any oil by 2035, owing to its own fracking revolution.

    But it does need food until human civilisation prevails on the face of the earth. There is no alternative to breakfasts, lunches and dinners. And the United States depends, like all other countries, on one particular region of the world for food. And that region is called the Western Sahara. Coincidence, right? We have been talking so much about the Western Sahara, the Morocco-Algeria conflict and how Joe Biden is trying to stoke tensions in North Africa. Today, we tell you the one reason behind the American deep state’s thirst for war in Western Sahara.

    Phosphate – the rock crucial for human existence:
    World agriculture depends on phosphates. Phosphate, along with nitrogen, is one of the two most necessary components of synthetic fertilizers. Phosphate, unlike nitrogen, is a finite and exhaustible resource – much like oil. Western Sahara – a disputed region between Morocco and Algeria, has perhaps the second-largest phosphate reserves in the world, after Morocco itself. Together, Morocco and Western Sahara hold more than 72% of all phosphate-rock reserves in the world. And Western Sahara is currently under the control of Morocco.

    According to the Atlantic, in the 1960s, the widespread use of synthetic fertilizer, part of the Green Revolution, allowed millions of people who would have otherwise starved, to be fed by dramatically expanding the land suitable for agriculture around the world. So, phosphate is crucial, and this resource is currently under Moroccan monopoly. Does the Biden administration like such vast reserves of phosphate being under Moroccan control? No, which is why it is strong-arming the North African country by signalling to it that it could end up on Algeria’s team soon.

    World food security depends on Phosphate controlled by Morocco:
    There are no moral reasons behind the sudden uptick in tensions in the Western Sahara. The fact is, the Biden administration is strongarming Morocco to hand over phosphate control to Washington. Biden seems to be hoping for a deal in which the United States is made a crucial member of Morocco’s phosphate monopoly. The U.S. does not abhor monopolies. It simply abhors those which it is not a part of. And then, recent inflation in the U.S., apart from stores running out of essential supplies including edible items, seems to have given the chills to Biden.

    Morocco alone, as a sovereign entity, controls phosphate supplies around the world. This is a nightmare for Democrats, who like to have control over all walks of life around the world. Food – which is essential for all, is what seems to have caught the attention of the Biden administration now. And while America has waged many wars for oil, it is soon about to trigger one for the sake of food.

    TFI Global, 25/11/2021