Morocco–United States relations

Morocco – United States relations

Morocco	United States

Morocco – United States relations are bilateral relations between Morocco and the United States.

Relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States date back to the earliest days of U.S. history. On December 20, 1777, Morocco formally recognized the colonies as a unified sovereign nation.^[1] Morocco was the first nation to recognize the United States and so bilateral relations were born.^[2] Morocco remains one of America's oldest and closest allies in the Middle East and North Africa, a status affirmed by Morocco's zero-tolerance policy towards al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood and their affiliated groups. Morocco also assisted the U.S. CIA with questioning al-Qaeda members captured in Afghanistan, Iraq, Indonesia, Somalia and elsewhere during the administration of George W. Bush, 2001-2009.

Formal U.S. relations with Morocco date from 1787 when the United States Congress ratified a Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two nations.^[3] Renegotiated in 1836, the treaty is still in force, constituting the longest unbroken treaty relationship in U.S. history, and Tangier is home to the oldest U.S. diplomatic property in the world. Now a museum, the Tangier American Legation Museum is also the only building on foreign soil that is now a National Historic Landmark.^[4]

The United States government ratified a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Morocco which took effect January 1, 2006. Originally passed in June 2004, the Morocco – United States Free Trade Agreement passed both houses of the U.S. legislative branch overwhelmingly. The House of Representatives passed the bill 323-99, while the U.S. Senate provided unanimous consent. On August 17, 2004 the bill became U.S. Public Law number: 108-302^[5] According to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) the FTA “eliminates duties on more than 95 percent of all goods and services.” ^[6] The agreement also committed Morocco to increase regulatory transparency and protect intellectual property rights. The United States continues to assist Morocco in meeting these commitments by providing targeted technical assistance and support.^[6]

Since passing the Moroccan FTA, Morocco has become the United States’ 67th largest export market, totaling $1.5 billion dollars. Likewise, U.S. imports from Morocco increased 44.1 percent to $879 million. These increases have led U.S. foreign direct investment in Morocco to reach $238 million in 2007 (latest data).^[7]

Since Morocco is a stable, comparatively moderate Arab Muslim nation, Morocco and the United States share important interests in the Middle East. Accordingly, U.S. policy toward Morocco seeks sustained and strong engagement and identifies priorities of economic, social, and political reform; conflict resolution; counterterrorism/security cooperation; and public outreach. In August 2007, the U.S. and Morocco signed a Millennium Challenge Compact totaling $697.5 million to be paid out over five years. The Compact was designed to stimulate economic growth by increasing productivity and improving employment in high-potential sectors, such as artisanal crafts and fishing.^[8]

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its predecessor agencies have managed an active and effective assistance program in Morocco since 1953, exceeding $2 billion over its lifetime. The amount of USAID assistance to Morocco in FY 2009 was $18 million, with an estimated $24.5 million allotted for FY 2010. USAID’s current multi-sectoral strategy (2009–2013) consists of three strategic objectives in creating more opportunities for trade and investment, basic education and workforce training, and government responsiveness to citizen needs.^[8]

The Peace Corps has been active in Morocco for more than 40 years, with the first group of 53 volunteers arriving in the country in 1963. Since that time, nearly 4,000 volunteers have served in Morocco in a variety of capacities including lab technology, urban development, commercial development, education, rural water supply, small business development, beekeeping, and English language training. In 2009, 254 volunteers served in Morocco, working in four sectors: health, youth development, small business, and the environment.^[8] In a statement during a session of the U.S. Senate on March 3, 2010, Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) discussed the value of Peace Corps broadly and specifically of the Moroccan Peace Corps program. He highlighted several programs, and said that a group of Moroccan men he met while in Morocco “...credit the Peace Corps program for empowering them and building their language skills." He further stated, "I credit the Peace Corps for something even greater -- forging international understanding…”^[9] He also explained that U.S. Peace Corps efforts in Morocco have aided in decreasing extremist recruitment in Morocco.^[9]

The U.S. Army National Guard's State Partnership Program—created to further U.S. Army interaction with African nations—selected Morocco as one of seven African nations to partner with U.S. National Guard Units. Morocco is partnered with Utah’s National Guard.^[10]

The U.S. maintains an embassy in Rabat, Morocco. Morocco maintains an embassy in the United States at 1601 - 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009.

President George W. Bush meeting with King Muhammed VI in the White House in April 2002

History

1750 - 1912

After becoming the first country to publicly recognize the American republic, Sultan Sidi Muhammad Ibn Abdullah actively sought to have an American diplomat negotiate a formal treaty. Finally, Thomas Barclay, the American consul in France, arrived in Morocco in 1786. There he quickly negotiated the Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship which was signed later that year in Europe by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and ratified by Congress in July 1787.^[11]

Portrait of Admiral Raphael Semmes who represented the Confederate States of America to Morocco during the Civil War though Morocco never formally recognized the Confederate States.

During the American Civil War, Morocco reaffirmed its diplomatic alliance with the United States. Morocco also became the scene of a colorful foreign relations and political warfare episode involving the Kingdom of Morocco, the United States of America, the Confederate States of America, France, and Great Britain.

In 1862 Confederate diplomats Henry Myers and Tom Tate Tunstall were arrested outside the American Consulate in Tangier after making disparaging remarks about the United States and its flag. American consul, James De Long overheard their jeers and asked Moroccan police to seize the men. When word reached Confederate Admiral Raphael Semmes who was acting as the Confederate diplomat in the area, he sent out dispatches to as many neutral diplomats as he had contact with, including the British Consul to Morocco, John Drummond Hay. Semmes asked Hay to get involved and encourage Morocco to release the prisoners, to which Hay responded that he could only convey the message but not offer any recommendation for actions, as offering a recommendation would violate Britain's terms of neutrality. Semmes tried a similar tactic with the French consul, but without success.

Eventually, European citizens living in Morocco rallied outside the American consulate demanding the prisoners' release. During the heat of the protest, American Lt. Commander Josiah Creesey drew his sword, which caused the mob to throw rocks. After the episode, the Moroccan government sent official word to Semmes that they could not meet with him to discuss the situation, because the two nations did not have formal diplomatic relations. Eventually, the Union officials ordered the two prisoners be sent to Fort Warren prison in Boston by way of Cadiz, Spain. Only after the French intervened while the ship was docked in Cadiz did President Abraham Lincoln issue an official order to release the prisoners.^[12]

As a result of the affair, Lincoln withdrew consul De Long. Having been irritated by Morocco's response, the Confederate States were never able to recover and manage relations with Morocco. In 1863, the King of Morocco released an official order stating in part: "... the Confederate States of America are fighting the government with whom we are in friendship and good relations... if any vessel of the so-called Confederate states enters your port, it shall not be received, but you must order it away on pain of seizure; and you will act on this subject in cooperation with the United States...." ^[13]

At the end of the Civil War, the first international convention ever signed by the United States, the 1865 Spartel Lighthouse Treaty, dealt with a navigational aid erected on the Moroccan side of the Strait of Gibraltar. The Treaty, ratified by Morocco, President Andrew Johnson, and nine European heads of state, granted neutrality to the lighthouse, with the condition that the ten naval powers signing the agreement assumed responsibility for its maintenance.

Around the turn of the 20th Century, as European colonizers gazed hungrily at Morocco’s resources and strategically located harbors, the United States strongly defended the Kingdom’s right to its continued sovereignty at the Conference of Madrid (1880), and again at the Algeciras Conference in 1906. In fact, the European powers were edging towards engaging in a continental war because of Morocco in 1905. President Theodore Roosevelt played an important role in settling the affair during the 1906 Algeciras Conference. President Roosevelt offered a compromise plan which the European powers accepted. The proposal granted Morocco a greater deal of autonomy and allowed for all European nations to trade with Morocco.^[14]

In 1912, after Morocco became a protectorate of Spain and France because of Moroccan leadership mismanagement, American diplomats called upon the European powers to exercise colonial rule that guaranteed racial and religious tolerance: In short, the U.S. Consul in Tanger declared,” fair play is what the United States asks for Morocco and all interested parties.”^{[citation needed]}

World War I - World War II

During World War I, Morocco was aligned with the Allied forces. In 1917 and 1918, Moroccan soldiers fought victoriously alongside U.S. Marines at Chateau Thierry, Mont Blanc and Soissons.

With France occupied by the Nazis during World War II, colonial French Morocco initially sided with the Axis Powers. When the Allies invaded Morocco on November 8, 1942, Moroccan defenders quickly yielded to the American and British invaders. Shortly after Morocco surrendered, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a message to Morocco’s King, H.E. Mohammed V, commending him on the “admirable spirit of cooperation that is animating you and your people in their relationships with the forces of my country. Our victory over the Germans will, I know, inaugurate a period of peace and prosperity, during which the Moroccan and French people of North Africa will flourish and thrive in a manner that befits its glorious past.”^{[citation needed]}

In what was to be the most pivotal meeting of Allied leaders during World War II, President Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Free French commander General Charles De Gaulle met for four days in the Casablanca suburb of Anfa in January 1943 to discuss the war. During the Anfa Conference, the Allies agreed that the only acceptable outcome of the conflict was the “unconditional surrender” of the Axis forces. President Roosevelt also conferred privately with King Mohammed V to assure him that the United States would support Morocco’s quest for independence from France.^[15]

1956 - 2000

Sultan Mohammed V of Morocco visiting Lawrence Livermore Lab, United States, in 1957

Since gaining independence from France on March 2, 1956, Morocco has been committed to nurturing a special relationship with the United States, based on both nations' historical ties and on a succession of personal friendships between Mohammed V, Hassan II, and now Mohammed VI and their American Presidential counterparts.^[16] Morocco has also played a critical role in explaining the larger role of Arab policy to the United States. This was particularly true under the reign of King Hassan II.^[17]

After Morocco gained independence, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent a congratulatory message to King Mohammed V: “My government renews it wishes for the peace and prosperity of Morocco, and expresses its gratification that Morocco has freely chosen, as a sovereign nation, to continue in the path of its traditional friendships.”^{[citation needed]}

In November 1957, King Mohammed V traveled to Washington to pay an official call on President Eisenhower. Two years later, Eisenhower’s vice president, Richard Nixon, traveled to Rabat to meet with the King.

In 1961, King Hassan II, Mohammed V’s successor, made the first of several diplomatic visits to the United States to confer with President John F. Kennedy. King Hassan II would later journey to Washington to meet Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.

During the Cold War, Morocco remained officially non-aligned. However, unlike most other Arab states, Morocco displayed pro-western sympathies.^[18] Indeed, one month after conducting joint military exercises with Morocco off the coast of Western Sahara in 1986, then-Secretary of Defense, Caspar Weinberger, visited Morocco to thank King Hassan II for his efforts in the Arab-Israeli peace process, and for seeking to mediate the United State’s clash with Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi.^[19] In 1987 the Moroccan government agreed to the use of an old abandoned U.S. Strategic Air Command Base at Ben Guérir as a transoceanic abort landing site for NASA's space shuttles during emergencies. On the military side, Morocco signed agreements with the U.S. government allowing U.S. forces access and transit rights to Moroccan Air Force bases.^[20]

President Clinton personally flew to Rabat in July 1999 to attend King Hassan II’s funeral, and to meet the son who succeeded him, King Mohammed VI. Upon taking the throne, King Mohammed VI made it quite clear that he wanted to continue his nation’s centuries-old friendship with the United States. In his first speech as King in 1999, King Mohammed VI reaffirmed his father’s policy of defending the nation’s territorial integrity and strengthening ties with African nations, friends in Europe, and the United States.^[21] One year later, King Mohammed VI made his first official visit to Washington.

The leading Moroccan foreign policy official since the late 1990s has been the minister-delegate for foreign affairs, Taieb Fassi-Fihri who originally served under Hassan II. Serving King Mohammed VI, he overshadows the foreign minister, Mohammed Ben Aissa. Fassi-Fihri takes the lead on certain aspects of Moroccan foreign policy including relations with the United States.^[22]

2001 - present

The Embassy of Morocco, located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

In the 21st century, both countries have become close allies in the global war on terror. Morocco was among the first Arab and Islamic states to denounce the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and declare solidarity with the American people in fighting terrorism.^[8] After the September 11 attacks, Morocco has been instrumental in supporting the United States. For example, King Mohammed VI presided over a mass service in support of the victims of the September 11th attacks. Additionally, security cooperation between the two countries is well developed. King Mohammed VI collaborates with U.S. intelligence and security officials in providing intelligence and preventing terrorist attacks in the Straits of Gibraltar. Morocco also plays a pivotal role in the Trans-Sahara Counter Terrorism initiative to contain Salafist groups in the Saharan and in the Sahel regions of West Africa.^[23] Likewise, when Casablanca was the victim of terrorist bombings on May 16, 2003, the U.S. government offered Morocco the full resources of its military and intelligence community.^[24] Furthermore, the CIA has utilized Morocco as a source for recruiting Arabic speaking spies.^[25]

The Kingdom of Morocco submitted an official statement for a U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Hearing in June 2007 chaired by the late Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA). It read in part, “Morocco is pleased to see that the United States has over the last several years very substantially increased its engagement in the Maghreb. Morocco is a longtime partner of the United States and our experience with your great nation over the last two centuries has persuaded us that there is much that we can accomplish together. The FTA (Free Trade Agreement) between Morocco and USA is a great opportunity for US companies to increase their market shares …” ^[26]

Economically, the United States and Morocco ratified a free trade agreement in 2005 which went into effect on January 1, 2006 and eliminates most tariffs on most products. U.S. direct investment is about 7%, and U.S. aid to Morocco is about 4% of total aid given to Morocco.^[27]

On December 22, 2009 the United States government awarded Lockheed Martin an $841.9 million contract to complete the production of 24 F-16 aircraft for Morocco. The contract added to an initial $233 million awarded to Lockheed Martin in June 2008 to begin production of the aircraft.^[28]

Official U.S. State Department photo of Ambassador Samuel Kaplan who was sworn in on September 18, 2009.

Morocco and the United States coordinated efforts to minimize threats and expand cooperation on nuclear incident response in January 2010. The United States’ National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) partnered with Morocco’s National Center for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technologies for four days of training and demonstrations in Rabat, Morocco. The training sessions were held to address potential radiological emergencies and nuclear incidents. Bilateral cooperation involves technical exchanges, mutual training events, jointly conducted exercises and emergency management assistance. According to NNSA Associate Administrator for Emergency Operations, Joseph Krol, “NNSA’s work with Morocco [is] part of our broader effort under the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism to build and enhance the global capacity to prevent and respond to nuclear and radiological emergencies.”^[29] According to the NNSA, “Enhanced international cooperation with Morocco is an important step in countering [the] threat [of terrorists acquiring a nuclear weapon].”^[29] On March 16, 2010, Moroccan Princess Lalla Hasna, the sister of the Moroccan King, met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. They mainly discussed Earth Day celebration in Morocco which is part of the National Charter for the Environment and Sustainable Development that King Mohammed VI called for in his last State of the Nation Address.^[30]

Also in March 2010, Morocco expelled U.S. citizens (as well as citizens from The Netherlands, South Africa, and New Zealand) who were staffing an orphanage. They were accused of spreading Christianity (which can be practiced but not evangelized in Morocco), and ordered to leave immediately. This resulted in the U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Samuel Kaplan declaring that Morocco’s actions “violate fundamental rules of due process.” He further stated that the United States was in “distress” about the decision.^[31]

American policy on Western Sahara conflict

U.S. Precedents

While President Barack Obama has yet to announce publicly his stance on the conflict over Western Sahara, President Bill Clinton set a precedent which President George W. Bush followed. Both Presidents Clinton and Bush sided with Morocco and maintained the position that, “Genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty [is] the only feasible solution.” ^[32] Additionally, according to a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report issued in December 2008, the official position of the United States government is to support Morocco in the dispute over Western Sahara. The report stated, “The United States supports the U.N. effort and has urged the parties to focus on autonomy—a solution that would not destabilize its ally, Morocco.” ^[33] Militarily, the United States has been the primary source of Morocco’s weaponry in the conflict over Western Sahara. The United States provided the most support for the Royal Moroccan Air Force, which was critical when the Algerian-backed Polisario began using Soviet built weapons such as the Soviet-built SA-6 surface-to-air missiles to counter the growing effectiveness of the Royal Moroccan Air Force.^[34] Thus, the United States has a history of supporting Morocco in its conflict over Western Sahara.

1975-2006

In the 1970s, the United States made an effort to modernize Morocco's military to help with its conflict over Western Sahara. The United States focused particularly on Morocco's Royal Moroccan Air Force. Help from the United States was especially important when the Polisario deployed Soviet-built SA-6 surface-to-air missiles to counter the growing effectiveness of the Royal Moroccan Air Force.^[34] However, The Carter Administration shackled military support and weapons sales to Morocco with pre-conditions, stating the U.S. would only trade military supplies with Morocco for the purpose of modernizing Morocco’s military, but not to assist with the conflict over Western Sahara. On the other hand, the Reagan Administration dropped all conditions in supporting the Moroccans, as the need for staging bases in North Africa for the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force made access to Morocco's airfields strategically important.^[34] Beginning with the George H. W. Bush Administration, the focus of the U.S. security assistance efforts in Morocco shifted to sustaining and maintaining U.S.-origin equipment in the Moroccan Armed Forces.^[34]

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Morocco secured about 1 billion dollars annually from Saudi Arabia to purchase arms and supplies from the United States to fight the Polisario and defend its claim to Western Sahara.^[35] In November 1986, the United States military conducted joint exercises with Morocco off Western Sahara’s Coast. In September 1987, the United States government sold Morocco 100 M-48A5 tanks, used for desert terrain.^[36] During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the United States remained relatively silent on the issue, though it provided tacit support for Morocco as the Algerian-backed Polisario began to lose its diplomatic and political capital internationally.^[37]

2007-2008

In 2007, Morocco offered the Polisario a proposal for autonomy as an immediate and permanent solution between the two sides. Some authors claim it is the first non-maximalist approach either side has offered,^[38] while others describe it as an old attempt (copied from a 2003 proposal) without credibility.^[39][40] In fact in Morocco’s autonomy plan, the only issues which the Moroccan government would control for Western Sahara would be international relations and national and foreign security. Western Sahara would control all other issues, including: governmental administration, taxation, education, budgets, policing, and electing officials (though past movements of Moroccans to the Western Sahara would not be reversed).^[41] To date, Morocco has made the only viable step toward the middle with its offer of autonomy.^[42][43] Morocco’s strongest UN Security Council support for its proposal comes from the United States, France, and Great Britain.^[44]

While the current and previous two U.S. Presidential administrations have not gotten deeply involved in the dispute over Western Sahara, the idea of resolving the conflict in favor of Morocco has a sizeable following in U.S. policy circles, including strong support from the U.S. House of Representatives. In June 2007, former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, 173 members of Congress from both major American political parties, and 15 influential figures involved in national security and foreign policy signed a letter to President George W. Bush encouraging the President to get involved and assist bringing an end to the struggle. The letter cites international stability, the war against terrorism, economic integration and a long-standing allegiance with Morocco as some of the reasons for supporting Morocco and drawing the conflict over Western Sahara to a close. The letter stated, “Morocco’s commitment merits the support of the international community…” ^[45]

Photo of former Assistant Secretary of State, David Welch (2005-2008) who in 2007 expressed strong support for Morocco and its autonomy plan in the conflict over Western Sahara, calling the plan a "serious and credible" solution.^[46]

Likewise, in an official statement for a Congressional hearing held in June 2007, the Kingdom of Morocco asserted, “We recognize that fundamental compromises must be made in order to solve this problem and free our region to move forward together. Morocco’s recent initiative in the United Nations Security Council, supported in the letter signed by 173 members of Congress, is intended to demonstrate our willingness to make such compromises in the interest of all the people of the Maghreb and particularly of the Sahara. In that same spirit, we appreciate the attention of your Committee in helping us move this issue forward to a successful resolution.” ^[47]

Speaking at the same 2007 hearing, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, David Welch articulated that the Department of State sided with Morocco on the issue of Western Sahara. He explained that the conflict is a “…destabilizing element [which] thwarts regional ties, which are necessary for economic expansion, and it has had an effect on government-to-government cooperation within the Maghreb.”^[48] He then affirmed the State Department’s role stating, “We have welcomed, Mr. Chairman, Morocco’s recent initiative to resolve the dispute…. We consider the Moroccan proposal to provide real autonomy for the Western Sahara to be serious and credible.”^[49] Conversely, in regards to the Polisario’s proposal, Welch stated, “The Polisario proposal…does not seem, in our judgment, to contain new ideas…”^[50]

In response to the 2007 letter to President Bush, the 2008 Congressional Research Service report stated, “U.S. officials would prefer a solution to the Western Sahara dispute that would not destabilize Mohammed VI’s rule. They also believe that a settlement would enhance regional stability and economic prosperity.”^[51]

Despite all of this, the United States has neither yet formally recognized Morocco’s legitimate authority over Western Sahara nor Western Sahara’s sovereignty.^[51] However, the 2008 CRS Report noted that in 2007 U.S. Undersecretary of State, Nicholas Burns backed Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan as “serious and credible.”^[51]

As of 2008, the Moroccan forces in Western Sahara number around 100,000, while the Polisario is only supported by about 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers. However, Algeria backs the Polisario with some additional 125,000 soldiers from the Algerian National People’s Army, an estimated half of which are conscripts.^[52]

2009-present

In April 2009, 229 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, a clear majority and more than 50 more than signed the letter in 2007, called on President Barack Obama to support Morocco’s peace plan and to assist in drawing the conflict to a close. The signers included Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Republican Minority Leader John Boehner. In addition to noting that Western Sahara has become a recruiting post for Radical Islamists, the letter affirmed that the conflict is “the single greatest obstacle impending the security and cooperation necessary to combat” terrorism in the Maghreb.^[53] The letter referenced UN Security Council Resolution 1813 (2008), and encouraged President Obama to follow the policy set by President Clinton and followed by President Bush stating, “Genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty [is] the only feasible solution.”^[53] The Congressmen expressed concerns about Western Sahara's viability. They referenced a UN fact-finding mission to Western Sahara which confirmed the State Department’s view that the Polisario proposal, which ultimately stands for independence, would lead to a non-viable state.^[53] In closing, the letter stated, “We remain convinced that the U.S. position, favoring autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty is the only feasible solution. We urge you to both sustain this longstanding policy, and to make clear, in both words and actions, that the United States will work to ensure that the UN process continues to support this framework as the only realistic compromise that can bring this unfortunate and longstanding conflict to an end.” ^[53]

Members of the U.S. Senate, realizing similar “worrisome trends” in the region also drafted a letter of support for Morocco. In March 2010, a bi-partisan majority of U.S. Senators signed a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling for the United States to support Morocco’s autonomy plan. Similar to the House of Representative’s letter to President Obama, the 54 bipartisan Senators (30 Democrats and 24 Republicans) who signed the letter stated concerns about growing instability in the region, including a terrorist threat.^[54] The letter openly called on Secretary Clinton and the Obama Administration to provide: “…more sustained American attention to one of the region's most pressing political issues, the Western Sahara.”^[54] The letter further stated: “As you acknowledged in your remarks in Morocco last November, it has been the policy of the United States to support a resolution of this conflict based on this formula since the Administration of President Clinton. We support this bipartisan U.S. policy and the efforts of the United Nations to bring all parties together to resolve this matter peacefully at the negotiating table.”^[54] Signers included Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and ranking Intelligence Committee member Senator Kit Bond (R-MO). In regards to Morocco’s autonomy plan, Senator Feinstein said, "The way I feel about it, Morocco has been a staunch ally of the United States, this is a big problem, and this is a reasonable way to settle it."^[55]

U.S. Congressmen supporting Morocco during the 111th United States Congress

List compiled based on the letter sent to President Obama in April 2009.^[56]

Order is based on order signed in letter.

Gary Ackerman (NY-5) Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21) Steny Hoyer (MD-5) Eric Cantor (VA-7) Brad Sherman (CA-27) Barney Frank (MA-4) Susan Davis (CA-53) Michael Arcuri (NY-24) Mary Kilroy (OH-15) Chris Carney (PA-10) Ron Klein (FL-22) Alan Grayson (FL-8) Greg Meeks (NY-6) Richard Neal (MA-2) Bob Filner (CA-51) Gary Peters (MI-9) John Lewis (GA-5) Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) Steve Kagen (WI-8) Henry Waxman (CA-30) Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4) Jose Serrano (NY-16) Jerrold Nadler (NY-8) Ed Towns (NY-10) Bill Delahunt (MA-10) Albio Sires (NJ-13) Robert Wexler (FL-19) Rob Brady (PA-1) Eni Faleomavaega (AS) Jack Murtha (PA-12) Brian Higgins (NY-27) Tim Holden (PA-17) Dan Boren (OK-2) Nick Rahall (WV-3) Tim Bishop (NY-1) Shelley Berkeley (NV-1) Steve Rothman (NJ-9) Bruce Braley (IA-1) Debbie Wasserman-Shultz (FL-20) Steve Israel (NY-2) Mel Watt (NC-12) Allyson Schwartz (PA-13) Jay Inslee (WA-1) Andrew Weiner (NY-9) Joe Crowley (NY-7) Maurice Hinchey (NY-22) Hank Johnson (GA-4) Adam Schiff (CA-29) Mike Ross (AR-4) Norm Dicks (WA-6) Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) John Dingell (MI-15) Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) Jim Moran (VA-8) Eliot Engel (NY-17) Peter DeFazio (OR-4) Michael Michaud (ME-2) Michael Honda (CA-15) Neil Abercrombie (HI-1) Leonard Boswell (IA-3) Paul Hodes (NH-2) Jim Costa (CA-20) Eric Massa (NY-29) Yvette Clarke (NY-11) Steve Cohen (TN-9) Peter Welch (VT) Jim Langevin (RI-2) Jim Himes (CT-4) Joe Courtney (CT-2) David Scott (GA-13) Frank Pallone (NJ-6) Anna Eshoo (CA-14) Chris Murphy (CT-5) Andre Carson (IN-7) Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) Keith Ellison (MN-5) Bart Gordon (TN-6) David Wu (OR-1) Bennie Thompson (MS-2) William Lacy Clay (MO-1) Jane Harman (CA-36) Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15) Gene Green (TX-29) Chaka Fattah (PA-2) Carolyn Kilpatrick (MI-13) Elijah Cummings (MD-7) Collin Peterson (MN-7) Solomon Ortiz (TX-27) David Price (NC-4) Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) Chris Van Hollen (MD-8) Russ Carnahan (MO-3) Donna Christian-Christensen (VI) Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30) Tom Perriello (VA-5) John Tanner (TN-8) Dennis Cardoza (CA-18) Linda Sanchez (CA-39) Rush Holt (NJ-12) Brad Miller (NC-13) Joe Sestak (PA-7) Chellie Pingree (ME-1) Larry Kissel (NC-8) John Boehner (OH-8) M. Diaz-Balart (FL-25) C. Miller (MI-10) Ander Crenshaw (FL-4) Pete Hoekstra (MI-2) Robert Latta (OH-5) David Camp (MI-4) Tom Cole (OK-4) John Carter (TX-31) Buck McKeon (CA-25) Sam Johnson (TX-3) Pete Roskam (IL-6) Mac Thornberry (TX 13)

David Dreier (CA-26) Randy Neugebauer (TX-19) Walter Jones (NC-3) Michael McCaul (TX-10) Howard Coble (NC-6) Michael Burgess (TX-26) Ralph Hall (TX-4) Darrell Issa (CA-49) Thomas Rooney (FL-16) John McHugh (NY-23) Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18) Frank Lucas (OK-3) Tim Murphy (PA-18) Ken Calvert (CA-44) Patrick McHenry (NC-10) Jerry Lewis (CA-41) Louie Gohmert (TX-1) Mike Pence (IN-6) Bill Young (FL-10) Brian Bilbray (CA-50) Shelly Moore Capito (WV-2) Rob Bishop (UT-1) John Mica (FL-7) Mary Fallin (OK-5) Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-5) Pete Sessions (TX-32) Doc Hastings (WA-4) Virginia Foxx (NC-5) Joe Wilson (SC-2) Harold Rogers (KY-5) Jerry Moran (KS-1) Henry Brown (SC-1) Connie Mack (FL-14) Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) Greg Walden (OR-2) Dan Lungren (CA-3) Fred Upton (MI-6) Anh “Joseph” Cao (LA-2) Steve Austria (OH-7) Lamar Smith (TX-21) Mark Kirk (IL-10) John Culberson (TX-7) Christopher Smith (NJ-4) Donald Manzullo (IL-16) Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11) John Shimkus (IL-19) Dan Burton (IN-5) Steven LaTourette (OH-14) Kevin McCarthy (CA-22) Adam Putnam (FL-12) Peter King (NY-3) Deny Rehberg (MT) Charles Boustany (LA-7) Rodney Alexander (LA-5) John Sullivan (OK-1) Cliff Sterns (FL-6) Roy Blunt (MO-7) John Fleming (LA-4) Gresham Barrett (SC-3) Trent Franks (AZ-2) Gus Bilirakis (FL-9) Judy Biggert (IL-13) John Campbell (CA-48) Jim Gerlach (PA-6) Bill Posey (FL-15) Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) Tom Latham (IA-4) Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-5) Devin Nunes (CA-21) John Kline (MN-2) Kevin Brady (TX-8) Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2) Bill Shuster (PA-9) John Boozman (AR-3) Nathan Deal (GA-9) Ed Whitfield (KY-1) Aaron Schock (IL-18) Duncan Hunter (CA-52) Todd Tiahrt (KS-4) Adrian Smith (NE-3) Jean Schmidt (OH-2) Ted Poe (TX-2) Vern Ehlers (MI-3) Jeff Miller (FL-1) Phil Gingrey (GA-11) Randy Forbes (VA-4) Jack Kingston (GA-1) Steve King (IA-5) Patrick Tiberi (OH-12) Vern Buchanan (FL-13) Tom Petri (WI-6) Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1) Steve Buyer (IN-4) John Shadegg (AZ-3) John Linder (GA-7) Wally Herger (CA-2) Mike Simpson (ID-2) Kay Granger (TX-12) Tom Price (GA-6) Mark Souder (IN-3) Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6) Erik Paulsen (MN-3) Mike Rogers (MI-8) Michele Bachmann (MN-6) James Clyburn (SC-6) John Larson (CT-1) Artur Davis (AL-7) Charlie Melencon (LA-3) Mike McMahon (NY-13) Sue Myrick (NC-9) Paul Broun (GA-10) Mike McIntyre (NC-7) Alan Mollohan (WV-1) Doug Lamborn (CO-5) Gerald Connolly (VA-11)

Official Congressional photo of the late-Congressman Tom Lantos who vigorously supported Morocco's claim to Western Sahara. Lantos sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict. In 2007, Lantos said, "...peace has been summarily rejected by the rebel Polisario Front in favor of arid refugee camps and guerrilla ambushes." He further stated, "I urge the leadership of the Polisario to realize that they will never again get such a good deal for the population they purport to represent." [57]

U.S. Senators supporting Morocco during the 111th United States Congress

List based on senators signing the letter to Secretary Clinton in March 2010.^[54]

Order is based on order signed in letter.

Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Kit Bond (R-MO) Byron Dorgan (D-ND) Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Evan Bayh (D-IN) Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Ben Cardin (D-MD) Judd Gregg (R-NH) Charles Grassley (R-IA) Richard Burr (R-NC) Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Bob Casey (D-PA) Susan Collins (R-ME) Jon Kyl (R-AZ) Ron Wyden (D-OR) Daniel Inouye (D-HI) Thad Cochran (R-MS) Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Arlen Specter (D-PA) John McCain (R-AZ) Daniel Akaka (D-HI) Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) Olympia Snowe (R-ME) Chris Dodd (D-CT) Ben Nelson (D-NE) Mary Landrieu (D-LA) Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)

Bob Bennett (R-UT) Max Baucus (D-MT) Mark Udall (D-CO) George Voinovich (R-OH) Carl Levin (D-MI) Roger Wicker (R-MS) George LeMieux (R-FL) Bill Nelson (D-FL) John Cornyn (R-TX) Jim Bunning (R-KY) Roland Burris (D-IL) Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Mark Warner (D-VA) Pat Roberts (R-KS) John Thune (R-SD) Johnny Isakson (R-GA) Mike Johanns (R-NE) Michael Enzi (R-WY) Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) John D. Rockefeller, IV (D-WV) Maria Cantwell (D-WA) Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT) Edward Kaufman (D-DE) Thomas Carper (D-DE) Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

Three different maps of Moroccan territory. The left depicting Western Sahara as independent; the center as it is today, disputed; the right as Morocco will be if the Moroccan autonomy plan is accepted.

Principal U.S. Embassy officials

(As of March 29, 2010 (2010 -03-29)^[update])

• Ambassador – Samuel Kaplan
• Deputy Chief of Mission – Robert Jackson
• Director, USAID Mission – John Groarke
• Political Counselor – Gregory Thorne
• Economic Counselor – Michael DeTar
• Agricultural Affairs Officer – Hassan Ahmed
• Foreign Commercial Officer – Jane Kitson
• Public Affairs Officer – Mary Jeffers
• Consul General, Casablanca – Elisabeth Millard

Principal Moroccan Embassy officials

(As of March 29, 2010 (2010 -03-29)^[update])

• Ambassador – Aziz Mekouar
• Deputy Chief of Mission – Aicha Afifi
• Head of the Consular Section – Driss Kassimi
• Cultural Attaché – Faiza Mehdi
• Military Attaché – Col. Jawaharial Layachi

References

1. ^ Bookin-Weiner, Jerome B. "The Origins of Moroccan American Relations" in The Atlantic Connection: 200 Years of Moroccan-American Relations 1786-1986, Bookin-Weiner, Jerome B. and El Mansour, Mohammed eds. Edino Press, 1990, p. 20
2. ^ U.S. POLICY CHALLENGES IN NORTH AFRICA. Pages 24 and 29. Accessed February 27, 2010
3. ^ http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/bar1786t.asp
4. ^ http://www.nps.gov/nhl/designations/listsofNHLs.htm
5. ^ ”H.R. 4842: United States – Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act” Accessed March 27, 2010.
6. ^ ^{a b} USTR ”Morocco Free Trade Agreement” Accessed March 27, 2010.
7. ^ USTR ”Morocco” Accessed March 27, 2010.
8. ^ ^{a b c d} U.S. Department of State. Background Note: Morocco. Accessed March 29, 2010.
9. ^ ^{a b} U.S. Senate: Commemorating the 49th Anniversary of the Peace Corps, March 3, 2010. Accessed April 25, 2010.
10. ^ Scavetta, Rick, USARAF Serving in Africa. US Army Press Release, January 27, 2010. Accessed March 23, 2010.
11. ^ Roberts, Priscilla H. and Richard S. Roberts, Thomas Barclay (1728-1793): Consul in France, Diplomat in Barbary, Lehigh University Press, 2008, pp. 189-223.
12. ^ For a detailed description of the event, see: Abu-Talib, Mohammed, “Morocco and the American Civil War” in The Atlantic Connection: 200 Years of Moroccan-American Relations 1786-1986, Bookin-Weiner and El Mansour eds. Rabat, Morocco: Edino Press, 1990, pp. 57-69
13. ^ Abu-Talib, Mohammed, “Morocco and the American Civil War” in The Atlantic Connection: 200 Years of Moroccan-American Relations 1786-1986, Bookin-Weiner and El Mansour eds. Rabat, Morocco: Edino Press, 1990, p. 65
14. ^ Holmes, James R. Theodore Roosevelt and World Order. Washington DC: Potomac Books Inc, 2006, pp. 191-201
15. ^ Rosenblum, Jennifer & Zartman, William. “The Far West of the Near East” in The Foreign Policies of Arab States, Korany & Dessouki eds. New York: American University in Cairo Press, 2008, p. 339
16. ^ Rosenblum, Jennifer & Zartman, William. “The Far West of the Near East” in The Foreign Policies of Arab States, Korany & Dessouki eds. New York: American University in Cairo Press, 2008, pp. 330-1.
17. ^ Spencer, Claire. The Maghreb in the 1990s, Adelphi Paper 274, February 1993, p. 49.
18. ^ Rosenblum, Jennifer & Zartman, William. “The Far West of the Near East” in The Foreign Policies of Arab States, Korany & Dessouki eds. New York: American University in Cairo Press, 2008, p. 320.
19. ^ White, Gregory et. al. “The Kingdom of Morocco” in The Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa, 4th Edition, eds. Long, David E and Reich, Bernard Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2002, p. 417.
20. ^ GlobalSecurity.org, “Royal Moroccan Air Force”. Accessed: April 17, 2010.
21. ^ Rosenblum, Jennifer & Zartman, William. “The Far West of the Near East” in The Foreign Policies of Arab States, Korany & Dessouki eds. New York: American University in Cairo Press, 2008, p. 323.
22. ^ Rosenblum, Jennifer & Zartman, William. “The Far West of the Near East” in The Foreign Policies of Arab States, Korany & Dessouki eds. New York: American University in Cairo Press, 2008, p. 331-2.
23. ^ Rosenblum, Jennifer & Zartman, William. “The Far West of the Near East” in The Foreign Policies of Arab States, Korany & Dessouki eds. New York: American University in Cairo Press, 2008, p. 340
24. ^ http://www.moroccanamericantrade.com/relations.cfm
25. ^ Whitelaw, Kevin. “Risky Business: U.S. Must Rely on Foreign Spies” National Public Radio, January 5, 2010. Accessed January 11, 2010
26. ^ Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives. “U.S. Policy Challenges in North Africa.” Serial No. 110-76, June 6, 2007, p. 23. Accessed March 21, 2010
27. ^ Rosenblum, Jennifer & Zartman, William. “The Far West of the Near East” in The Foreign Policies of Arab States, Korany & Dessouki eds. New York: American University in Cairo Press, 2008, p. 340
28. ^ GlobalSecurity.org, “Royal Moroccan Air Force.” Accessed: April 17, 2010.
29. ^ ^{a b} U.S. and Morocco Work to Minimize Threats and Expand Cooperation on Nuclear Incident Response. NNSA Press Release, January 15, 2010. Accessed: April 17, 2010.
30. ^ MAP News Agency. Princess Lalla Hasna received by Hillary Clinton. March 16, 2010. Accessed April 25, 2010.
31. ^ Keaten, Jamey. “U.S. Dismayed After Morocco Expels Americans” AP, March 12, 2010. Accessed March 15, 2010
32. ^ House of Representatives letter to President Barack Obama. Accessed February 21, 2010.
33. ^ Migdalovitz, Carol. “Western Sahara: Status of Settlement Efforts” Congressional Research Service, RS20962, December 11, 2008. p. i. Accessed March 20, 2010.
34. ^ ^{a b c d} GlobalSecurity.org, “Royal Moroccan Air Force.” Accessed: April 17, 2010.
35. ^ Spencer, Claire. The Maghreb in the 1990s, Adelphi Paper 274, February 1993, p. 43.
36. ^ White, Gregory et. al. “The Kingdom of Morocco” in The Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa, 4th Edition eds. Long, David E and Reich, Bernard Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 2002, p. 417.
37. ^ White, Gregory et. al. “The Kingdom of Morocco” in The Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa, 4th Edition eds. Long, David E and Reich, Bernard Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 2002, p. 418.
38. ^ Rosenblum, Jennifer & Zartman, William. “The Far West of the Near East” in The Foreign Policies of Arab States, Korany & Dessouki eds. New York: American University in Cairo Press, 2008, p. 335
39. ^ The future of Western Sahara Stephen Zunes, FPIF, July 20, 2007
40. ^ La propuesta Marroquí de Autonomía para el Sáhara Occidental de 2007: Una antigua propuesta sin credibilidad Carlos Ruiz Miguel, REAF, n. 7, October 2008, p. 268-291 (Spanish)
41. ^ Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives. “U.S. Policy Challenges in North Africa.” Serial No. 110-76, June 6, 2007, p. 1 Accessed March 21, 2010
42. ^ Rosenblum, Jennifer & Zartman, William. “The Far West of the Near East” in The Foreign Policies of Arab States, Korany & Dessouki eds. New York: American University in Cairo Press, 2008, p. 340
43. ^ Moroccan American Center for Policy. “Foreign Policy Experts Urge US and International Community Focus on Realistic Solution, Not Ideology, to Break W. Sahara Deadlock”, March 12, 2010. Accessed March 23, 2010
44. ^ Rosenblum, Jennifer & Zartman, William. “The Far West of the Near East” in The Foreign Policies of Arab States, Korany & Dessouki eds. New York: American University in Cairo Press, 2008, p. 335
45. ^ Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives. “U.S. Policy Challenges in North Africa.” Serial No. 110-76, June 6, 2007, pp. 1 and 24. Accessed March 21, 2010
46. ^ Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives. “U.S. Policy Challenges in North Africa.” Serial No. 110-76, June 6, 2007, pp. 5-6. Accessed March 21, 2010
47. ^ Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives. “U.S. Policy Challenges in North Africa.” Serial No. 110-76, June 6, 2007, p. 23. Accessed March 21, 2010
48. ^ Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives. “U.S. Policy Challenges in North Africa.” Serial No. 110-76, June 6, 2007, pp. 5-6. Accessed March 21, 2010
49. ^ Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives. “U.S. Policy Challenges in North Africa.” Serial No. 110-76, June 6, 2007, pp. 5-6. Accessed March 21, 2010
50. ^ Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives. “U.S. Policy Challenges in North Africa.” Serial No. 110-76, June 6, 2007, p. 13. Accessed March 21, 2010
51. ^ ^{a b c} Migdalovitz, Carol. “Western Sahara: Status of Settlement Efforts” Congressional Research Service, RS20962, December 11, 2008, p. 5.] Accessed March 20, 2010.
52. ^ Rosenblum, Jennifer & Zartman, William. “The Far West of the Near East” in The Foreign Policies of Arab States, Korany & Dessouki eds. New York: American University in Cairo Press, 2008 p. 329
53. ^ ^{a b c d} House of Representatives letter to President Barack Obama, http://www.moroccanamericanpolicy.org/CongressionalLetter.pdf. Accessed February 21, 2010.
54. ^ ^{a b c d} Senate Letter to Secretary Clinton, http://www.moroccanamericanpolicy.org/SenateLetter.pdf. Accessed April 3, 2010.
55. ^ Rushing, Taylor J. “Clinton, Feinstein reaffirm U.S. Support for political resolution in North Africa” The Hill, March 26, 2010. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/89333-clinton-feinstein-reaffirm-us-support-for-political-resolution-in-north-africa Accessed April 10, 2010.
56. ^ House of Representatives letter to President Barack Obama, http://www.moroccanamericanpolicy.org/CongressionalLetter.pdf. Accessed February 21, 2010.
57. ^ Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives. “U.S. Policy Challenges in North Africa.” Serial No. 110-76, June 6, 2007, Pgs 1-2. http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/35873.pdf Accessed March 21, 2010

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State (Background Notes).[1]

External links

• History of Morocco - U.S. relations

• Consulate General of Morocco - New York
• Embassy of U.S.A. - Rabat