THE SANDPIPER by Ahdaf Soueif

Sandpiper by Ahdaf Soueif

20 SEP 2017

In Sandpiper by Ahdaf Soueif we have the theme of loneliness, separation, paralysis, identity, isolation, control, connection, helplessness and loss. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed woman the reader realises after reading the story that Soueif may be exploring the theme of loneliness. There is a sense that the narrator is lonely. She participates in none of the activities that her husband and daughter are engaged with and if anything seems eager to leave Egypt. A place that is no longer satisfying to the narrator. At first she had loved her husband and Egypt though as time passed her fondness for both has lessened. Everything around the narrator is different to how life was for her before she got married and moved to Egypt. Now that she has a child there is a sense that she is separated from those around her. With Lucy following the traditions of her father and cousins rather than the traditions of the narrator. It is also possible that the narrator longs for the connection she had with Lucy when she was pregnant. As Lucy has grown she has become independent of the narrator. Overall life is difficult for the narrator in Egypt. She mixes with no one which would further highlight the theme of loneliness. With the reader suspecting that the narrator lives a life that is paralysed. She is not going anywhere nor is she doing anything different. Each day is the same with the narrator’s life being mapped out by her husband and his family.

Any attempts that the narrator has made to integrate with those around her have also failed with Um Sabir taking on many of the domestic duties that the narrator herself is accustomed to doing. If anything the narrator might feel ostracized from those around her which in turn would suggest or possibly lead the reader to believe that the narrator is isolated from others. The narrator is still a young woman and the reader can feel the difficulties she is incurring while attempting to live in another culture. Everything is different for her. Her role as a wife or at least what she expected her role to be is non-existent. Her role as a mother is also outside of the narrator’s control with Lucy as mentioned being more influenced by her father than by the narrator. All of this makes it easier to understand as to why the narrator longs to return to her home in England. In England she knew who she was and had a defined role that sat comfortable with her. This is not the case in Egypt.

There is also a sense that the narrator feels helpless. She is living and spending her time with her husband’s family. She has not mastered the language or the traditions of her husband’s family. She appears to be most comfortable when she is in bed which would play on the theme of paralysis. If anything the narrator is reassessing her life however as readers we do not know as to whether she will take the required action and leave Egypt with Lucy. There is no longer any love between the narrator and her husband so she has very little to keep her in Egypt. It is also unlikely after spending so long in Egypt that things will change for the narrator. She is not in control of her life. Control rests with others (her husband and his family).  It is also noticeable that the narrator’s present is far different to her past in Egypt. When she was very much in love with her husband.

It might also be a case that Soueif is exploring the theme of loss. The narrator has lost everything that she has known. From living in England which is now just a memory for her to the loss of having any influence in Lucy’s life. Where once there was happiness there is now sadness and a sense of confinement. This sense of confinement is also noticeable from the setting of the story. Apart from walking to the market or to the beach the narrator for the duration of the story spends her time in her bedroom. It is as though she has nowhere to go. She is not in control of either her environment or her life nor is she included in the activities of those around her. The narrator is alone. It may also be important that the narrator at the beginning of the story walks slowly without leaving any sand on the stones as she walks to the beach. If anything the narrator is seeking perfection in her hopes of leaving each stone unmarked by sand. This sense of perfection is also noticeable in the narrator’s life. Her move to Egypt was supposed to be trouble free she was after all in love. It is as though the narrator thought her life with her husband would be perfect. Unfortunately things did not turn out as the narrator expected. She has attempted to adapt to her husband’s traditions and found that her own traditions and way of life would not leave her.

http://sittingbee.com/sandpiper-ahdaf-soueif/

1. Criticize, comment and expand on the featrues mentioned in this review of the Sandpiper.

a) THEME

b) NARRATIVE POINT OF VIEW

c) PLOT

d) CHARACTERIZATION

e) SYMBOLOGY

2. Compare these items (a to e) with The Third and Final Continent by  Jhumpa Lahiri. Compare the message of both stories.  

ON HER KNEES by Tim Burton

*How is the title relevant to the story? Develop your answer. Is this evident in a certain extract of the story? Find quotes to justify your answer.



*Who is the main character? What narrative point of view is used in the story? What is the author's goal? Find quotes to justify your answer.

*How is the mother portrayed? DESCRIBE HER PERSONALITY. Find quotes to justify your answer.

*How is the son portrayed? DESCRIBE HER PERSONALITY. Find quotes to justify your answer.

*How is the house's owner portrayed? DESCRIBE HER PERSONALITY. Find quotes to justify your answer.

*What is the main theme of the story? Find quotes to justify your answer.

*Is there a twist in the story? Which one? Find quotes to justify your answer.


REFLECTION:

Is there a message conveyed by the story? Which one?
What do you wonder about after reading this story? Ponder about the theme.


In your groups, answer these questions briefly in a poster. You can create a web diagram. You can include the quotes using post-its to make your presentation clearer.

REFUGEES

STIMULUS RESPONSE

Write an argumentative text based on the following statement using between 150 and 250 words.

"Being a refugee is not a choice. Countries should accept refugees."

You may do some research or consult the following sites:

DOCUMENTARY "EUROPE OR DIE"

CANADA'S RESPONSE TO THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS

NEWS FLASH ON SYRIAN REFUGEES

TED TALK BY A FORMER REFUGEE

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ARTICLE ON THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS

Questions on the extract 08/09/2018

JUSTIFY  ALL YOUR ANSWERS USING EVIDENCE FROM THE TEXT (INCLUDE A QUOTE AND EXPLAIN IT). WORK IN PAIRS. YOU WILL HAVE TO PRESENT YOUR ANSWERS ON MONDAY (you can create a ppt, prezi if you feel it will help you).

A) What is the narrative point of view? Justify using evidence from the text. What is the effect of this narrative point of view on the reader?

B) Who is the main character? What is happening to him?

C) Who may Allie be? What may have happened to him? INFER using evidence from the text.

D) What is the protagonist's personality like? Justify using evidence from the text.

E) What is paradoxical about the protagonist's reactions?

F) Which one is the CLIMAX of the novel? Which one is the turning point?

G) Who is Phoebe? What is the relationship with the protagonist like?

H) Explore the symbol of the carrousel. What does it represent? Think about the protagonist's relation with this symbol and Phoebe's relation with it.

I) Analyze the ending of the novel. What is the resolution like? Where is the protagonist? What has happened to him?

J) What is ironic about Holden's relationship with society (eg, school) and his family? What is his main fear OR what does he hate most?

Discuss the TWO following phrases in connection with the extract:

THE GOOD LIE (AUGUST 2018)

The Good Lie is a movie about a group of Sudanese refugees given the chance to resettle in America arrive in Kansas City, Missouri, where their encounter with an employment agency counselor forever changes all of their lives. Nearly 70,000 refugees were resettled across the United States in 2014, many arriving with little more than they could carry. Often, America is thought of solely as a land of opportunity. We overlook hardships that new arrivals to the U.S. may have experienced, focusing instead on the assumed potential before them. America is and has been a safe haven for many people, but in arriving on these shores, they leave behind a life and a home.

Before watching

Reading

Read the following article about Denmark and discuss the incident related to the questions below. Write a short answer and share it here

Danes revive heroic WWII-era practice of smuggling refugees to safety

• Phil Wilmot
 
• October 18, 2016

 
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Line Søgaard (right) sits at a press conference with the four MedMenneskeSmuglerne members who faced criminal charges for assisting refugees. (WNV/Phil Wilmot)

About 100 Danes, young and old, stood outside Copenhagen City Court in the chilly seaside winds last Tuesday to show their solidarity with four activists alleged to have illegally assisted refugees in their trek across the waters from Denmark to Sweden.

While only two of the accused are Danish citizens, all are members of MedMenneskeSmuglerne, or “Those who smuggle thy neighbor” — an outgrowth of the more broad-based initiative Welcome to Denmark, which welcomes migrants and refugees into the country.

Last year, over one million migrants and refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea and other unstable nations endured the risks of exodus to Denmark and other parts of Europe. Many died during the journey or ended up in refugee camps for prolonged periods. This migration wave correlates directly to the growing xenophobia and shift to the right in many European countries, including Denmark.

“Pretty much all leftist organizations in Europe neglected to consider the refugee influx on their agendas,” said Mimoza Murati, one of the non-Danish activists facing criminal charges that day. “We should have been prepared because we know the political landscape.”

While Danish prosecutors may not have agreed, their case was ultimately dismissed for lack of substantial evidence. The four members of MedMenneskeSmuglerne were met with victorious applause by their Welcome to Denmark cohorts outside the court building.

Providing hospitality for asylum seekers

When Trine Simmel, a young Danish activist from Aarhus, saw the masses of migrants on television pouring across the German border into Denmark’s Jylland peninsula around September 2015, she connected with her friends to figure out what they could do to provide basic needs to the newcomers.

The migrants were being escorted by policemen into Jylland, so the youth initially planned to wait at an overpass, where they could drop care packages full of warm clothes, hygiene products and other essentials. The migrants, however, had become suspicious of being escorted by state authorities and dispersed themselves into the forests, which made tracking them much more difficult.

“The young people residing in Jylland called their parents to convene four or five cars, so shoes and related items could be distributed,” Simmel explained. “When drivers would come across migrants, they would offer the care package and ask them where they wanted to go within Denmark.”

A good number of the refugees decided to go to Copenhagen, just across the sea from Sweden, where some already had family members.

Danish activists stage a scene depicting a dead boat of refugees next to The Little Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen. (Twitter/@FlygtningeInfo)

“Many apolitical people stepped up to help drive those walking on the railways,” Simmel said. “Many of these people had family backgrounds as immigrants and felt empathetic, but were not usually active in political issues.” An informal hospitality network known as Venligboerne, which includes over 150,000 members across Denmark, helped facilitate the volunteer effort.

Activists like Simmel felt this crisis presented an opportunity to get away from the typical activist duties of meetings and demonstration, and provide a direct service. The influx of refugees tugged at their consciences.

“Just like my grandfather, I had to decide which side of history I wanted to be on,” Simmel said. “Politicians demonized us for posting pictures on Facebook of immigrants being helped, but even [Danes] during World War II were demonized and in violation of the law [for helping Jews].”

Reviving a tradition of refugee smuggling

Denmark was the only country in Europe to reduce the size of its armed forces at the beginning of WWII, yet it was undoubtedly among the most effective in resisting German occupation.

Shortly after an overnight invasion of Denmark on April 9, 1940, 17-year-old Slagelse schoolboy Arne Sejr became frustrated at Danish passivity toward foreign rule. He returned home from school and used his typewriter to print 25 copies of his“Ten Commandments for Danes.” The last of these commandments read, “You shall protect anyone chased by the Germans.”

Danish youth discretely produced fliers of this kind over the course of the German occupation. Groups like the Danish Youth Association under the guidance of theology professor Hal Koch and the Churchill Club in Alborg sabotaged German authorities on a regular basis, sometimes destroying vehicles carrying weapons and munitions.

Christian communities circulated messages against the German occupation through their homilies. This led to the murder of Kaj Munk, who was among the most outspoken clerics advocating for Danish self-rule.

Jewish refugees were ferried out of Denmark aboard Danish fishing boats bound for Sweden. (US Holocaust Museum Memorial/Frihedsmuseet)

Among all of the tactics employed, the WWII-era Danes are perhaps most remembered for their effective smuggling of refugee Jews across the border into Sweden. During the course of a few months in 1943, 7,220 Jews — almost the entire Jewish population in Denmark — managed to escape to Sweden with the help of their Danish comrades. Only 472 were captured in early October during raids by the Nazis.

“Early on, we used this history of direct service to refugees as our inspiration,” said Welcome to Denmark organizer Søren Warburg.

Providing a warm bed, an underground route to Sweden, warm clothes and a key to one’s house: These are tactics literally cut from WWII memory and pasted upon today’s context of migration in Europe. Even while Denmark’s present government has intentionally made itself unattractive to asylum seekers, Danes themselves — strengthened by a history of unions and community organizing — are providing the services their elected representatives in the welfare state are refusing to provide.

Reflecting on the history of Danish aid to Jewish refugees, Welcome to Denmark spokesperson Line Søgaard said, “We had a sense that something historical was happening again.” According to her, 500 Danes initially responded to the call to action and formed working groups, focusing both on a political campaign and direct services.

Sailing in solidarity

Since Copenhagen is situated about 20 miles across the Öresund Strait from Malmö, Sweden, members of the sailing community who wanted to help refugees find family members or friends in Sweden decided to take action. In October of 2015, they gathered a list of nearly 20 names of allied boat owners and organized the transport of migrants as a public act of defiance.

“At the beginning, we did not think anyone was going to get prosecuted,” Søgaard said. “There are real human traffickers they could go after, but instead leaders are saying that we are the ones betraying the nation.”

Getting in a boat again is no easy task for refugees who have survived the crossing of the Mediterranean Sea. “Many of the migrants we helped to reach Sweden would send us audio messages once they were relieved to have reached their family members,” Søgaard said. “There was this sense that we were continuing the [WWII] legacy of assisting refugees, which some of our family members had started. We had stuck to our sense of morals and ethics even when the [anti-smuggling] law is wrong.”

Crossing by sea, however, wasn’t the only way to reach Sweden. Calle Vangstrup, one of the other four activists who faced criminal charges, worked with his movement members to provide around-the-clock assistance at Rødby, Padborg and Central stations — three major meeting points where migrants who are usually not conversant in Danish or able to understand the transportation system could depart for Sweden by train.

“There were groups of people who were willing to help within the law and those willing to break the law [prohibiting transportation assistance across the border],” Vangstrup said. “Thankfully, the Swedes are more receptive these days, unlike during WWII when they would often send the smuggled Jews back and put them at risk again.”

Vangstrup believes members of Danish Nazi groups and the populist Danish Peoples’ Party were the ones who saw MedMenneskeSmuglerne on the news and reported them to the police.

“As a socialist and as a human being, I feel I should not enjoy so many rights when the refugees have none,” Vangstrup said.

Welcome to Denmark activists march in Aarhus on October 7. (Facebook / Alex Luka)

Although the police carried out investigations leading to the charges against Vangstrup and his fellow activists last spring, police have not always perpetuated the xenophobia that characterizes the growing right-wing political ideology of Denmark.

During WWII, thousands of police officers were arrested by German authorities. Danish cops had developed a reputation for being unreliable, often deliberately overlooking the acts of sabotage committed by Danish youth against the occupiers.

This kind of humanity among the police resurfaced during the recent migrant influx in Denmark. “Many people were asking police what they could do to help the refugees,” Søgaard said. “The police did not even know how to advise people, so some looked the other way as the transporters continued their work.”

After the four activists accused of human trafficking were relieved of their charges, they spoke at a press conference, encouraging those directly aiding migrants and refugees to continue their work.

“We are not even a radical group,” Søgaard said. “We are just saying the same things that groups like the United Nations are saying [about the migration crisis]. Yet, there is still resistance to our efforts.” At the end of the day, these so-called human traffickers were just helping others in need with a lift to wherever they were going.

“We all have a right to security and a safe place for us and our children,” she continued. “We can’t just close up our borders and live comfortable lives.”

• Is it ever okay to break the law to do the right thing? If so, how do you determine when that might be okay?
• What laws or policies do you think are hindering the doing of good in our world today?
• Is it ever, and if so, at what point is it, appropriate to break those laws?
• How might you work to overturn those laws?

Research

1. Read the text below and find out what the situation is in South Sudan today. Discuss it with your partner and share your findings here:

“Following the war portrayed in The Good Lie, South Sudan achieved independence in 2011, a major milestone promising peace to a new generation. However, in December of 2013, a power struggle within the ruling party turned into a brutal armed conflict that continues today – and civilians are paying the highest price as the ones often targeted by violence. Despite agreements from the heads of the warring parties to “end the conflict,” the leaders continue to exploit ethnic differences to fight the civil war. Nearly 1.7 million men, women, and children have been forced to flee their homes as South Sudan continues its slide towards what could be one of the worst man-made famines the world has seen in decades.”

After watching the movie

Discussion

In pairs answer these topics and share your answers here on a Google slides doc or ppt

GO TO THE PPT I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU. (LOOK FOR IT IN YOUR FIGARO EMAIL ACCOUNT

1. Theo’s Sacrifice Forefathers –
2. Brotherhood
3. It Was My Fault
4. Jeremiah’s Integrity
5. The Ultimate Good Lie

Write Blogpost

1.  Discuss the challenges of living in a foreign culture. Include points from your discussions. Write a blog entry exploring the challenges of adapting to an Anglophone culture. 

MEXICO-US relationship

The U.S.-Mexico Relationship Has Survived and Thrived Under Trump

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the neighbors are finding ways to make it work.

BY JOSÉ R. CÁRDENAS

 | MARCH 22, 2018, 5:51 PM

U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto during the G-20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7, 2017. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images) 

President Donald Trump has incurred criticism for what many have charged is his systematic undermining of the U.S. relationship with Mexico, one of the most important the United States has with any country. During the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign and through his first year in office, Trump repeatedly singled out Mexico for taking unfair advantage of the United States under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and failing to adequately police its side of the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent drugs and criminals from entering the United States and pledged that Mexico will pay for the construction of his proposed border wall.

More recently, tentative plans for Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to make his first trip to Washington to meet with Trump were canceled following what the Washington Postreferred to as a “testy” telephone conversation between the two, in which Trump refused Peña Nieto’s request to recognize that Mexico will not pay for the construction of the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

There is no bilateral relations have been a roller coaster. The irony, however, is that even as gloom and doom dominates the headlines, the bilateral relationship has not only endured but thrived. Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray best captured that sentiment last month when he said the relationship was “closer than it was with previous administrations.… That’s a fact of life.”

Equally, during his recent trip to California to examine prototypes of the border wall, Trump had kind words for Peña Nieto, saying that they had a “great relationship” and that he was a very good negotiator on behalf of the Mexican people. Trump added, “Cooperation with Mexico is another crucial element of border security.… We must absolutely build on that cooperation.”

Nor is there any denying the unprecedented senior-level interaction between the Trump and Peña Nieto administrations over the past year. Jared Kushner, Trump’s senior advisor and son-in-law, was just in Mexico City, the latest in a long line of top U.S. officials, including cabinet secretaries, who have engaged with their Mexico counterparts. Similarly, Videgaray has made numerous trips to Washington to confer at the highest levels. These meetings have resulted in deepening bilateral cooperation across the board, including:

NAFTA negotiations. By now, many expected Trump would have withdrawn from NAFTA, a perennial target of his ire on the campaign trail. Instead, the United States, Canada, and Mexico just completed the seventh round of negotiations to modernize the 24-year-old treaty. At a recent White House ceremony where Mexico and Canada were exempted from steel tariffs, the president said, “I have a feeling we’re going to make a deal on NAFTA.”

Negotiators will continue informal talks over the next few weeks before an eighth round, likely in April. The road to NAFTA 2.0 remains challenging, as some of the most contentious issues have yet to be addressed, while negotiators have to work around both countries’ electoral calendars (the Mexican presidential elections in July, the U.S. mid-terms in November). The process may not be very sentimental or for the genteel, but the bottom line is negotiations are continuing.

Security cooperation. No other country in the world directly impacts U.S. homeland security more than Mexico, and U.S. officials say security cooperation with their Mexican counterparts has never been better. Following the most recent round of the U.S.-Mexico Strategic Dialogue on Disrupting Transnational Criminal Organizations, John Sullivan, the U.S. deputy secretary of state, said, “Today, our two countries have one of the most extensive bilateral law enforcement relationships in the world.… We share more information related to migration and border security, enabling us to better identify criminal threats, analyze migration trends, and reduce human smuggling on both sides of the border.”

Videgaray added that U.S.-Mexico security cooperation is not contingent on any other aspect of the bilateral relationship: “Let me be absolutely clear on the matter. Mexico cooperates with the United States when it comes to security because that is in Mexico’s best interest.”

Venezuela and regional cooperation. A key objective of U.S. policy toward Venezuela since President George W. Bush’s administration has been to encourage other Latin American governments to step up in supporting democracy and human rights. Over the past year, Mexico has responded, in doing so jettisoning what is known as the Estrada Doctrine — a pillar of Mexican foreign policy for decades that advocates nonintervention in other country’s affairs. Mexico has not only joined the United States in sanctioning members of the authoritarian government of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela but has led the diplomatic charge at the Organization of American States and the Lima Group to hold Maduro accountable for his anti-democratic behavior.

Mexico has also continued its support of broader U.S. efforts on stability in Latin America. In June 2017, Mexico co-hosted with the United States a security conference in Miami promoting prosperity and security in Central America.

US-MOROCCO Relationship

The special Morocco-US relationship

By Khurram Jowiya

The United States (US) over the last century has developed diplomatic relationships with many nations spanning from the Middle East to Europe. Some relationships are even deemed as ‘special’ in the cases of the Anglo-US or Israeli-US relation. However, it is overlooked by many that Morocco and the United States have had diplomatic relations since 1777.Morocco was the first nation to seek diplomatic ties with the United States when they recognised them as an independent sovereign nation on 20th December 1777.1 Formal relations however, begun when Morocco signed a Treaty of Peace and Friendship with the US in 1786. With this treaty the King of Morocco Mohammed III opened Moroccan ports to the US. This treaty is still in place today making it the longest running relationship in Moroccan and US history. Additionally in Tangier, Morocco remains home to the oldest US diplomatic building (the American Legation). From this it can be seen that Morocco in its own way has created a ‘special’ relationship with the US. Though this does raise the question why have Morocco overall had good diplomatic ties with the US for so many years?

Morocco-USA relations since World War One

During the First and Second World Wars Morocco grew closer to the United States. Morocco was aligned with the allies in both wars, and provided support to British and American troops. Additionally, Casablanca hosted many meetings, including the pivotal one in which President Roosevelt offered support for Morocco’s fight for independence against the French.2 Following Moroccan independence in 1956, the United States and Morocco worked together to improve cooperation between the two nations. This was reflected by a somewhat strong US presence in Morocco, especially after the Suez Canal Crisis.3 As Britain retracted to a policy ‘East of Suez’ Communism began to spread within the region. Morocco was a staunch ally against the fight against Communism in the region and this led to stronger relations between Morocco and the US as they both shared similar ideological objectives. The two nations cultivated their relationship in a Cold War World that had grown hotter in Africa. This was achieved through a series of visits of high level government officials from both nations.

After the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the Morocco-US partnership lost some of its strategic importance, for the US if not for Morocco. In the year and a half that followed, military and economic support remained low. However, it is argued by Professor Yahia Zoubir that the relationship between the two nations grew stronger in the early 1990s. This can be seen as Morocco supported the Gulf War in 1991. The situation was further exacerbated as Algeria became increasingly unstable. Professor Yahia Zoubir observed that this put Morocco “once again in the role of bulwark against extremist, anti-Western forces.”4 In addition to this, Morocco played a role in the US led peace initiatives during the Palestinian Israel conflict. This was during a time in which Morocco attempted to enforce many free market reforms and this too coincided with American economic ideological goals. Furthermore in the aftermath of 9/11 Morocco renewed its obligation as a strong United States ally. Thus the United States initiated dialogues with Morocco via embassies and other governmental officials in regards to Morocco’s role in the war on terror. Since then security cooperation has also greatly increased.

Current relations

The Morocco-US relationship today remains extremely strong, as Morocco collaborate with the United States in a number of areas. This is seen by the Moroccan commitment to encourage free trade, economic development, support for both human rights and democratic reforms, and combating terrorism. The US State Department has stated Morocco is ‘As a stable, comparatively moderate Arab Muslim nation, Morocco is important to U.S. interests in the Middle East as well.’5 Furthermore, United State policy towards Morocco seeks sustainable relations with the US. The two fundamental factors that do sustain this bond are the war on terrorism stance and free trade. King Mohammad VI has also attempted to strengthen this partnership as he has accelerated democratic and economic reforms working closely with American President’s Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barrack Obama. This has led the United States to see Morocco as a model of modernity for the rest of the Middle East to follow.

The United States has recently attempted to combat terrorism by attempting to deny potential safe haven nations. The United States does this by working with allied nations to strengthen national security. Morocco has once again been a model for other nations in the region to follow as they cooperated greatly with the United States on this initiative. Moreover, Morocco has taken a range of methods to fight against terrorism. These methods include the creation of specially trained counterterrorism military units, clamping down on illegal immigration, blocking terrorist access to financial resources, promoting ethnic and religious tolerance and accelerating economic growth through rehabilitating the agricultural sector. Due to Morocco’s attempts to remain a stable nation many such as Matthew Chebatoris of the Jamestown Foundation has described Morocco ‘as a beacon of hope in the often tumultuous North African political environment.’6 Thus it can be seen that through mutual interest and common ideological goals the United States and Morocco have been strong allies.

Moroccan Defence and NATO

The CIA and FBI respectively maintain strong ties to Morocco. Directors of both establishments have visited Morocco in the past years for consultation purposes. In addition to this Morocco is heavily involved with the NATO Mediterranean Dialogue initiative. It has played host as well as participated in NATO military exercises. Morocco has also assisted NATO’s Operation ‘Active endeavour’ in which the Mediterranean Sea is monitored for terrorists. Through the ‘Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Initiative’ which began in 2005 by the USA. Morocco provides the USA with support to partner countries to prevent terrorism. This is done by strengthening aviation and border security, building support against extremism and encouraging democratic governance.

Due to Morocco’s non-NATO ally status it is eligible for many benefits. For instance Morocco has contributed to research and development programs, and is recipient of the US government loan which guarantees ‘programs for the purchase of military material.’7 The Morocco-US relationship has further developed as Morocco has purchased three billion dollars’ worth of military equipment from the US. This in turn has benefited US companies and promoted US jobs. Purchases have included 24 F-16 aircrafts, 90 AGM-D Maverick air-to-ground missiles and 200 Abrams M1A1 tanks. The Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency has also suggested that Morocco has made an immense contribution to the United States foreign policy and national security objectives. This is because Morocco’s has enhanced its capability to support US efforts in the global war on terrorism. This demonstrates that the Morocco-US relationship has developed due to Morocco sharing similar foreign policy objectives with the US. This has in turn had an effect on both military and economic relations between the two nations.

Morocco-US economic relationship

Through development assistance and free trade agreements, the United Sates aims to promote economic growth by liberalizing trade policies. This aim was to an extent reached with Morocco as the two nations signed the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2004. The agreement was meant to increase trade between the two nations and provide both nations with new investment opportunities. Professor Gregory White has argued that the FTA is an example of Morocco’s importance to the United States he stated that ‘the crucial thing to stress with a free trade agreement…is that it constitutes a policy choice on the part of the government.’8 The FTA has strengthened Morocco-US economic ties greatly.

The US has increased aid to Morocco in recent years to support counter terrorism programmes. It also aims to further democratize the nation, building trade capacity and fight poverty. Just in the last fiscal year the Obama administration requested $43.3 million for developing assistance for Morocco. It is suggested in the US Congressional Budget Justification that the US objective in providing development assistance to Morocco include ‘promoting political reform and addressing the challenges of the youth in order to maintain government stability.’9 American economic aid has promoted sustained economic growth. It has aimed to invest in people through improvements in the Moroccan education system, and has, to an extent, promoted democracy and good governance. The aid provided by the United States has also brought various sectors of society into public life, such as the Moroccan youth. As of late Morocco also receives development assistance through the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) (this is a democracy promotion programme). MEPI’s main objective is to provide ‘small grants to Moroccan NGOs that work to advance peace, participatory democracy and prosperity for Moroccan citizens’.10 Due to this, Moroccan NGOs on average receive $1 million per year for public awareness campaigns, and performing civic duties. This has also led to democratic developments in Morocco including programs to empower women, improvements in the education system, additional legal and judicial reforms, while also creating jobs.

Overall, it is clear that Morocco has enjoyed a strong and lengthy relationship with the United States. The reason for this is mainly due to similar ideological objectives the nations have shared. This can be seen in the promotion of Free Trade and religious freedom. In earlier years they were both united against a common enemy such as Communism. Lastly, the geographical positioning of Morocco has/will always prove to be strategically valuable. This has all allowed the United States to forge a strong bond with Morocco, and is one that has clearly withstood the test of time.

1 Bookin-Weiner, Jerome B. and El Mansour, Mohammed eds. The Atlantic Connection: 200 Years of Moroccan-American Relations 1786-1986 (Edino 1990), p. 20. 
2 Relations in the Modern Era, World War II and Beyond.” United States Diplomatic Mission to Morocco, http://morocco.usembassy.gov/modern.html. 
3 For a more in depth understanding of the Suez Canal Crisis see Anthony Gorst’s The Suez Crisis. 
4 Zoubir, Yahia H. and Karima Benabdallah Gambier. “The United States and North Africa Imbroglio: Balancing Interests in Algeria, Morocco, and the Western Sahara. Mediterranean Politics 10, no. 2 (2005): 181 202, pp. 188,189. 
5 Areiff, Alexis. “Morocco: Current Issues.”Congressional Research Service, June 20, 2012 
6 Chebatoris, Matthew. “Morocco’s Multi-Pronged Counterterrorism Strategy.” Terrorism Monitor 7, no. 13 (May 2009), http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=35004&tx_ttnews[backPid]=26&cHash=fc74ab4c69 
7 Wolf, Jim. “U.S. plans Lockheed F-16 sale to Morocco.” Reuters, December 19, 2007, http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/12/19/morocco-fighters-usa-idUSN1961843520071219 
8 White, Gregory W. “Free Trade as a Strategic Instrument in the War on Terror?: The 2004 US-Moroccan Free Trade Agreement”. Middle East Journal, 56, no. 4 (Autumn 2005): 597-616, p.598-599, pp. 606-607. 
9 Ibid. 
10 http://mepi.state.gov/mission.html. 

2018

Location: Jerada, Morocco

Event: Media reports that numerous demonstrations and protests continue to occur in Jerada on a regular basis and there have been reports of confrontations between security forces and demonstrators.  These protests are not directed at the U.S. government nor individual Americans. However, even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. As a result of the ongoing demonstrations and resulting security operations in the area, the U.S. Mission has recommended its personnel avoid travel to the region and use extreme caution when traveling along R607 and N17 in the vicinity of Jerada until further notice.

Actions to take

• Avoid the Jerada region
• Avoid public demonstrations and protests
• Keep a low profile
• Be aware of your surroundings

Washington: Morocco Missing an Opportunity in the Trump Administration

By

 Hassan Masiky

 -

 January 18, 2018

Washington D.C. – It looks as if Morocco cannot find its bearing in today’s Washington. While the stories about the Kingdom’s gifts to the Clinton Foundation have left a certain image of a Morocco taking sides in the last presidential election. However, the business nature of the Trump administration leaves the door open to a remake of this diplomatic relationship. For that, a reexamination of Morocco’s government and public relations strategies in Washington is overdue.

In fact, an agile Moroccan diplomacy and a “relevant” lobbying firm can easily overcome this small hiccup in an otherwise solid bilateral relationship between the two allies. Despite Mr. Trump’s rhetoric on African nations and his decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, he remains the President of the most influential nation in the world and his government’s positions on matters that Rabat view as crucial stay relevant and significant.

Since there is no one dominant issue that controls President Trump’s foreign policy, Rabat has several tools at its disposal to refocus the Moroccan-American relations on common issues that are still important to the Trump team.

One of the greatest concerns that is shared between the two nations and fits within the Trump admiration’s “America first” slogan is fighting terrorism. The October 2017 attack in Niger that killed 4 American servicemen and has made big news in the United States is one example of an opening that Moroccan officials could utilize to directly access Trump’s White House by passing the State Department.

Currently the U.S. is in dire need of intelligence sources and competent friendly military units who can accompany U.S. special forces during anti-terrorism operations in the great Sahel region.

With the decline of Algeria’s diplomatic and intelligence presence in Mali, Morocco, with its considerable economic and political influence in Africa can fill this void and give the U.S. a leg up in the fight against the Islamic State in the Sahel. Morocco’s successful policy in Africa could make the Kingdom a key component to future strategies of an American administration looking to score victories against terrorism and that enjoy immediate glorification.

Fighting terrorism is only one of the tools in Morocco’s arsenal of assets to get the attention of the Trump team. Now, it is on the Moroccan diplomats and other officials to rebrand the Kingdom’s presence in Washington and sell their “products”. The rewards could be big.

If Rabat succeeds in winning over the blessing of the current administration, Washington could fully endorse Morocco’s local autonomy plan for the Western Sahara. In fact, President Trump could easily recognize the full integration of the Saharan territory into the Kingdom making it an official American positon that would be hard to reverse later.

Since the Moroccan officials’ inability to appreciate the fact that lobbying is not the only way to advance an agenda persists as the biggest hurdle for their diplomacy in Washington, it is time for a new approach as the Kingdom tries to regain its balance in Washington.

In fact, the unpredictability of the current American administration presents an opportunity for the Moroccan diplomats to advance their interests. It is up to them to grab it and use it while it lasts.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent any institution or entity.