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Tourists Urged to Skip Morocco
Moroccan tourist officials may well boast of their luxury hotels designed to lure European and North American tourists but the regime of King Mohammed VI has much less to say about the hell-on-earth that is his prison system and of the torture of those inside.
As the letters from United Nations officials urging his government to stop arresting and torturing innocent men fail to induce any change, maybe this appeal to travelers to seek other destinations will have some impact. Apart from your own personal safety if you run afoul (shudder!) of the Moroccan authorities, here are some reasons for avoiding this popular tourist destination.
To begin with, Morocco has shown its disrespect for international law by illegally occupying the western Sahara and also by forging a pact with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency to receive kidnapped terror suspects upon whom Morocco’s secret police inflict grotesque tortures. If Rabat will accept a prisoner kidnapped from another country without a prior legal hearing, how safe are you going to be?
James Wilson, 67, a Des Plaines, Ill., commercial airlines pilot, found out when the plane in which he was a passenger made an emergency landing in Morocco in May, 2008, and he spent 13 months in prison, from which, his family said, he emerged “in bad shape.” According to the Arlington Heights, Ill., Herald, a family member complained they “felt neglected by the American government, wondering why it would allow one of its citizens to fester in a foreign prison for a crime (drug trafficking) he did not commit.” (Could it be because the U.S. government itself is helping fill Morocco’s prisons with innocent men?)
And torture inflicted by King Mohammed’s thugs is widespread. BBC television termed prison abuses in Morocco “rampant,” charging the country’s “44 prisons are overcrowded with unhealthy conditions belonging to another age.” It quoted Moroccan human right groups that the prison regime is “immersed in corruption, violence, disease and the sexual abuse of children as young as 12.” Overcrowding is bad, BBC said, because 80,000 detainees are jammed into a space for half that number and “the only place left to sleep for some prisoners are the toilets.” Seriously, do you want to patronize luxury hotels in Rabat, the capital, while the prison authorities are raping girls a few miles away? Yuk!
One visitor who didn’t come to Morocco willingly was Abou Elkassim Britel, an Italian citizen, who, like so many others, was illegally arrested in Pakistan and sent to Morocco. The ACLU last June 25th called on the UN to investigate, because he is serving a nine-year sentence based on a confession ACLU said was extracted by torture. Britel was worked over at Temara prison.
“The U.S. has failed to take responsibility for its most egregious actions, leaving Mr. Britel and countless other victims of the ‘extraordinary rendition’ program with no choice but to turn to the international community for justice,” said Steven Watt, a staff attorney with the ACLU Human Rights Program.
After being picked up in Pakistan on alleged immigration violations in Feb., 2002, Britel was handed over to U.S. officials who, the ACLU says, “stripped and beat” him, shackled and blindfolded him, and flew him to Morocco for detention and questioning at Temara, “where he was interrogated, beaten, deprived of sleep and food and threatened with sexual torture.” Britel is currently serving a nine-year sentence even though an Italian investigating judge found “a complete lack of evidence linking the man to any criminal or terrorist activity.”
Tragically, Britel’s story is one of many. The CIA has illegally rendered 28 known victims to Morocco and, possibly, scores more, whom they turn over to the dread Moroccan Securite du Territoire(DST). Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have piles of dossiers on prisoners’ treatment at the hands of King Mohammed’s thugs.
According to a report in the London Sunday Times of Feb. 12, 2006, “Temara (prison) itself already has a fearsome reputation among former inmates. Binyam Mohammed, an Ethiopian-born Briton later sent to Guantanamo Bay…(said) interrogators there cut his chest and penis when he refused to answer questions.” He was freed in Feb., 2009, without ever being charged of any crime (which is typical) and allowed to return to England.
Tourism in Morocco is an $8 billion-a-year industry, the second largest revenue earner after phosphate exports as the country pushes tourism with its “Plan Azur,” designed to beef up coastal resorts along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Tourists have enjoyed the beaches and visiting Casablanca, Marrakech, Tangier, and Fez, is said to be fascinating. However, if you choose another destination you will send King Mohamed a personal message of your own. But it’s up to you. In 2008, Morocco had nearly a million French visitors, nearly 600,000 from Spain and close to 150,000 from Britain. Canadian and American travelers also visit in large numbers and Morocco is hoping for 10 million visits this year.
While the wife of one prisoner in Morocco contacted me requesting that I write about his particular case, it seems to me that as King Mohammed paid no attention to urgent letters from high UN officials he will pay zero attention to any scribble of mine. Besides, how much good will freeing one inmate do? And what about the girls being raped? What about the thousands of prisoners served rotten chow and dying from lack of medical attention who are penned together like sheep awaiting slaughter? Just freeing one man won’t hack it. No, civilized people everywhere need to strike Morocco off their list of tourist destinations until all the illegally rendered CIA prisoners are freed by the Moroccan police state and prison conditions brought into the 21st Century.
Maybe the king could find the prison upgrade money needed by reducing his palace operating budget of $960,000 a day, much of it Wikipedia says that goes for “car repairs” and “clothing.” Or, he might dip into his personal fortune, put at $2 billion by Forbes, gotten from his privileged Ona Group, which has its paws into retailing and food processing. Or, he could scrape up a little cash by removing his “Big Brother” face from the ubiquitous billboards that feature him and which subtly remind his subjects they may not speak ill of him because he is IT. Until then, for all I care, it might be a good idea for King Mohammed to house Morocco’s inmates in the empty rooms of his luxury hotels. Maybe he could try an experiment to see what a little love and human kindness might achieve, the kind written about in the Qur’an, which he is said to know by heart. Meanwhile, spread the word around—-BOYCOTT MOROCCO! #
(Sherwood Ross is an award-winning free-lance writer based in Miami, Florida. He formerly reported for the Chicago Daily News, and contributed weekly columns to United Press International and Reuters. Reach him at sherwoodross10@gmail.com)
Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=26609
Posted by Sherwood Ross on Apr 13 2010, With 0 Reads, Filed under Foreign Relations, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Guys like you are not welcome in Morocco. Wester sahara is Moroccan .
Look to the history of the region Sir before writing an article and giving wrong ideas about this beatiful and peacful county .
By the way tourist like you we don t need them, the world is changing know and power in the world is not in north anymore, vive Le MAROC
Thanks for your comments. I have no doubt about Morocco’s beauty and its wonderful people. I also have no doubt that the UN, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, the BBC, and other reliable sources are right about their prisons.
Sherwood
The caravan of Economic development in Morocco Keeps walking and The Dogs just bark.
Long Live Morocco; Safe and Secure
I bet the person who wrote this article never been to Morocco, and probably never been outside the US and Cancun. I’m also pretty sure he got paid for theis article by Algerian secret services dirty petrol cash.
I’m really surprised such a poor sensless article is widely published at the website of the veterans who faught for freedom around the world. You should not accept such paid for article in your website.
Dear Abe, You are right that I have never been to Morocco and while it likely is a beautiful country it is also a tyranny where the BBC reporter there noted people were afraid to speak out against the government. As for my being paid by the Algerian secret service or anybody else for what I write, that’s a lie and you owe me an apology. If you’re “pretty sure” about stuff you make up out of thin air like that lie, you’re in big trouble. Have a great day just the same. Sherwood
Dear Sherwood,
How could you write such an article about a country you’ve never been to? I’s sure everyone now will think Morocco is a large prison!!! While it is the most promising democracy in the region. Could you please show us the BBC reporter article? What a joke!! the government is creticised on a daily basis, demonstrations against it can be arranged anytime and anywhere without any problems, freedom of speech, press and faith is widely practiced in Morocco. Stop misleading innocent people about such a devolopping country that has gone far ahead to improve its citizens way of life, with no petrol or gas. I’m still waiting for the BBC reporter article in which he noted the people of Morocco were afraid to speak out against the government.
Sir
I think you do not know anything about Moroccan history. Do not think that Sahara’s issue is king our regime’s affair; it is a Moroccan each citizen’s affair.
As Moroccan Canadian we are not happy with the economic situation in Morocco, we do not like a lot of thing, mainly social, economic and poverty…. However, when it is our land our Sahara I can assure you sir that all Moroccans will be able to fight for their land.
This issue has been instrumentalized by Algeria, recently Algeria’s regime has been so active, and you know what? Just, because they are jealous of us. i-e we are poor country, we do not have oil and gas as Algeria does, but we are doing better. Algeria want to sabotage all what are we doing mainly advanced status with UE , just because they want to be the leader in Africa, we do not care about that, we do not want this leadership that does not take care of people…..
The along story is short one, before writing such as article, read the history, understand the Algerian regime’s culture, and go visit Morocco and Algeria and do some comparison, you will understand a lot of thing.
Dear MK: Thanks so much for your comments. The article was virtually entirely about prisons in Morocco and that IS the king’s affair and he IS responsible. Have a good day. Sherwood Ross
Hey Ross – You got it all wrong about Morocco, apparently you don’t know much about Morocco. I’ve been in Morocco so many times & served in Peace Corps for quite sometime, Morocco is the most peaceful country in the Arab world, not to mention the Moroccan people are the most hospitable people alover the world. I speak from experience, I don’t know how to upload photos here, I could have shown you what I am talking about because I’d like support my facts. Unlike you, what you are saying is purely nonsense. I am assuming you are getting paid for this to trash Morocco for whatever reason..
Note, every country has its own flaws starting with your country and my country USA, take a look at this Video and see how the American people are killing innocent Iraqis in COLD BLOOD – once you see this Video, you will be ashamed to be an American. And after you see this videos, you should be rather telling people NOT TO come to USA because of the thugs who have been running this country down the drain since the Bush eara..
Here is the video, take a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rXPrfnU3G0&feature=player_embedded
Take a look at this link and see what Dr. Peter J. Shield Ph.D. (Travel Contributor)is saying about Morocco. Here is his own words: “At no time during our week long visit did we feel endangered in Morocco”
http://www.marocnetwork.com/blogs/posts/Maroc/category/Morocco-Travel
And to sum it up for you, and since you have reported for Chicago Daily News, I am sure you know Mr. Bollyn Christopher, a TRUE AMERICAN BLOOD, who has been confronting your pathetic Government about the killing innocent people in this country and other countries staring with Sep-911. Read on (visit link below) to see for yourself what America is made of: http://www.bollyn.com/index.php#article_11913
Now, before trashing other countries, why don’t you start with your own country of USA, which happens to be my country – sadly..
-Jim
Dear Jim,
thanks for your comments. 99% of what I write is critical of U.S. imperialism. So why do you assume I haven’t been paying attention to it. Lincoln’s veterans were highly critical of McKinley’s Spanish-American war because they saw it as imperialism and the U.S. involvement in the Middle East is more of the same. As for the Moroccan people being wonderful and hospitable, I think that’s great. I think as much of the American people. But the governments of both nations are cooperating in patently illegal and criminal activities and that’s what I object to. That Morocco isn’t waging wars of aggression is beside the point. And it is complicit in helping the U.S. wage two wars (or is it three now?) of aggression? Have a good day. Sherwood
Hey Sir,
Just in order helping you to learn more, go please see this link is Wikipidia info : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almoravid_dynasty
And is only a short story about the Morocco Kingdoom
And keep in mind sir when it s come to Morocco land and integrety is no difference between a King or a normal citizen. we all in the same side. Good Bless Morocco.
Thanks for writing. If there’s no difference between the king and normal citizens I think Mohammed VI should put your picture on a billboard and cut you in for some of the profits he is making from his company that he gets only because he is king and not necessarily because he worked for it the way most people do. Also, if you see your friend in the palace, tell him my car broke down again and to send over one of his highly paid expert mechanics to fix it up. Here’s a guy who inherited the throne and family racket spending $960,000 a day and you’re telling me he’s no different from you? If you believe that, you’ll believe anything, even my copy. Anyway, have a wonderful day. Sherwood
Hey Sir,
Just in order helping you to learn more, go please see this link is Wikipidia info : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almoravid_dynasty
And is only a short story about the Morocco Kingdoom
And keep in mind sir when it s come to Morocco land and integrety is no difference between a King or a normal citizen. we all in the same side. God Bless Morocco.
Thanks for writing. If there’s no difference between the king and normal citizens I think Mohammed VI should put your picture on a billboard and cut you in for some of the profits he is making from his company that he gets only because he is king and not necessarily because he worked for it the way most people do. Also, if you see your friend in the palace, tell him my car broke down again and to send over one of his highly paid expert mechanics to fix it up. Here’s a guy who inherited the throne and family racket spending $960,000 a day and you’re telling me he’s no different from you? If you believe that, you’ll believe anything, even my copy. Anyway, have a wonderful day. Sherwood
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To the uneducated author of this so called article, pick something you can understand — this is clearly beyond the scope of your limited understanding.
To understand this conflict, you will to be schooled in the history of the region, and in particular you need to know the about the thugs sitting at the top of the Algerian Gov.
To do justice to your education, we will need to start you at the ABC level, no offense intended. It is the nature of the beast.
Let’s start: if I say 1+1, you say:
Hint: The answer isn’t a FROG.
manufactured conflictAt the ABC level, let’s
Dear Sit Ross,
I agree with your writing about the huamn rights issues. All the reports I read these days are depressing. And the situation is getting worse.
One point you was not informed about is the western sahara. There is no such country in the past named Western Sahara. It s all a fabrication of the algerian military regime.
Thanks
A Moroccan
Hey, thanks so much for your comments. I will look into what you are saying about western Sahara. Despite what some readers think, I have no connection with the Algerians. All best, Sherwood
I have no idea where you got your information ,however i can asure you you are dead wrong in many things .First i know james Willson personnally ,his family will tell uou that he was indeed involved in a big drug deal.acually he was very lucky to have been arrested in Morocco ,if it had happened in the Us or Europe ,the man would have left prison in a box.There is a lot of documents that proves the man’s guilt byond a resonnable doubt.The Sahara is not and will never be Algerian ,that’s all there is to it.The sahara is as Moroccan as Texas is American . i do hope you get your infos straight before you write n’importe quoi .I am wiling to help you and give you all the evidence you need.One thing Morocco did wrong is to expell some really great Christians without due process.i disagree and resent that.
Ross
FYI, James Wilson’s plane, when it landed in Morocco , the plane was full of Hashish.
If you need evidence, you can ask the USA government.
You pointed out what happening in Moroccan’s prisons, why do not you talk about what happening in Gaza? I mean what Israel arm are doing to innocent people there.
In regard to the Sahara, I suggest you the review the history and understand Algerian’s regime before jumping on this subject.
Such as article will not stop tourist visiting Morocco, au contrair many will go to discover, So I would suggest you to go and learn new things about this fascinating country and nice Moroccan people.
Jean, thanks for your comments. If the plane in which Wilson was a passenger was full of Hashish why did they set him free after a year? And since when are Americans flying hash around subject to arrest? The CIA does it all the time, going back to Air America in the Golden Triangle. As for Morocco being a fascinating country and the Moroccan people being nice, I never said otherwise. They are probably as nice as people anywhere in the world and parts of Morocco are no doubt as beautiful as Zion National Park in America. The point of the article is that the U.S. in league with the Moroccan government are guilty of crimes against humanity. That’s still the point. Have a good day. Sherwood
Sherwood,
I had a big grin on my face when I read the comments above about your article. Sure most of the comments missed the main goal of your article, which I think is human, right? But they all agree to disagree with you. I m gonna have to agree with you when it comes to conditions of prisons in Morocco, let’s just say prisons in Morocco need a face lift. But I m writing this to shine the light on what you did: you just don’t title an article “Tourists advised to skip Morocco” Do You realize how sensitive this subject is? 1/3 of the workforce is employed by tourism directly or indirectly. Any set back and you ll see millions of jobless and homeless people everywhere. Do you think the government can/will do anything about it?? No!! even if they cared they simply do not have the means to do anything about it. So you just messed up the lives of millions of innocent people to tell the world about the conditions of prisons in a third world country!! Give me a break and good luck living with your conscious!
Think twice before you title your articles!!
The word crime against humanity is misappropriate and wrong, Maybe you are talking about USA Crime against humanity and Israel and Algerian against their Owen population in 1990….
Stop saying sally things sir and take time to learn about a country that you are writing about, before wasting our time to make comment on such stupid article never see in my life.
This guy is a pedophile.
It seems you are mixing two things together, Democracy (Politcs) and territory (geography). If you ask me or any Moroccan in Morocco or abroad will tell you the same thing that we don’t enjoy the real democracy, freedom and justice. But will also tell you tha Laayoun, Wadi Dahab, Smara and Laguira are Moroccan cities as well as Ceuta and Melilla. People who chose to be Moroccans are in Morocco, the separatists who chose to kill and wage a war against the rule of law (that is similar to yours in USA where no hispano can aske for the independence of California or Texas saying it was Mexican) are in Tindouf which is the western sahara of Algeria… but I am hoping that Algeria will be civilized like and grant them the independance and Tindouf will be its capital… on that day I wish you and your friends to visit Tindouf as tourits don’t forget to wave you american flags…because you are the last ones to teach us …after the many killed, massacred and abused Irakis and Afganis…
I couldn’t help but join in this lovely sharade since i had few garbage minutes to spare. I gotta hand it out to you. You raised some valid points if they’re at all yours, since your sources seemingly peer reviewed (wikipedia). Both governments are indeed guilty as charged. To base that as a premise for an argument to boycot an industry that puts food on the table of millions of innocent people, is beyond any logic or rational. The irony in all this, is the fact that those same people you are trying to hurt with your venom, despise that same government that you’re trying to hurt. Does that sound familiar Mr Sherwood? yes, the same exact scenario in Iraq! bravo.
I am sure you meant no harm. Your intentions are driven by shear compassion for the human kindand the advancement of its cause. In which case you would take this article down. Otherwise please spare us the talk about ” try an experiment to see what a little love and human kindness might achieve, the kind written about in the Qur’an” which you clearly know a whole lot about.
[...] Tourists Urged tο Skip Morocco : Veterans Today [...]
Born and raised in the U.S, I must say that such article is just another prove of how ignorant Americans are when it comes to foreign affairs in general. No offense here, but Mr. Ross should have never been a writer/publisher or whatever when he has the gutts to actually write such a HUGE MISTAKEN article about a “COUNTRY”. Mr. Ross you owe every Moroccan citizen an apology. Your article seems to be one of those damn Republican style of lying to the uneducated. Morocco has just been claimed as one of the best examples of an improving country in all economical, and social fields. Prisons? Torture? Who tortures people in Morocco? the CIA does. Proven, and apologized by the CIA since the famous leakage of info couple years ago. Sahara? It has always been Moroccan. Why it’s still in doubt? because the UN works for what’s best for America and not for the matter of the issue. Algeria funds every bit of it to Polizario to keep them alive in order to claim their land back while most of them are actually 100% Moroccans. I HATE YOUR ARTICLE, ESPECIALLY THE TITLE OF IT… Go to Morocco, and see with your own eyes what’s happening there, then you could officially become a reporter to the public. Don’t reply to me because you have no clue what you’re talking about, but you are always welcome to ask me any kind of question about Morocco because I could def help you. You’re welcome
Dear Sherwood Ross. I think a lot of Moroccans will be so happy to hear that they possibly will lose their job, because you think they should be punished for the wrongdoings of the Moroccan regime. Instead of urging tourists to skip Morocco, you should have actually encouraged tourists to go visit Morocco. Why? Simply because only then the Moroccan people actually will have something else to worry about than their own jobs. Then they will have the time and luxury to think about the prisons, or democracy for that matter. But no, you decided the other way around – this makes you responsible for every single job lost (in the tourist sector, which is huge) in that country. It makes you responsible for creating povery, creating anger and preserving the bad image 90% of the world has about Americans.
Sir, there is no doubt about abuses of human rights and torture in Moroccan jails whether it is during the former king regime or the current (his son). Horrible testimonies of former Moroccan detainees in Tazmamaret given in the Aljazeera program “Witness of the century” are enough to testify your point.
With respect to the Sahrawis the treatment is even more cruel, hundreds died under torture, were droped from a plane alive in order to terrorize others…
Moroccan regimes territorial claims do not sotp at Western Sahara they also claim Mauritania, part of Algeria, part of Mali whereas there is no proof whatsoever to support their claims.
It is high time for the Sahrawis the brave people of Rif and others to unite and get rid of the tyranic kingdom and to unite as peoples not as “subjets” of a king that is to say a simple person who as every one eats food and responds to the call of nature..
Yours,
Abdu
Dear Mr. Ross;
I am a Moroccan citizen, living in Morocco, writing from Morocco. I am convinced that you are not paid by anyone to publish your article. I also think that you did it in very good intention and noble purpose, which is to help Morocco improve its human right situation.
I fully agree that Morocco isn’t Sweden no Norway no even Spain, when it comes to human right. Both the MOG (Moroccan Gov) and the people know it admit it. However, it is far from how you depicted it (a half-empty glass).
No later than this morning, I was reading a local newspaper and saw an article and a picture taken from a prison in Tiznit, Morocco (not so beautiful). That prompted a couple of questions and comments.
1- Since when prisons have been five star hotels? The whole purpose of a prison is to punish the “guests”. I don’t think the penitentiary system in the US is how you would like it to be.
2- The US per capita GDP is 25 times more than the Moroccan per capita GDP. Roads are better, schools are better, industry is better, income is higher and so are the prisons.
3- In April 2008, the king appointed a well respected official as head of the Penitentiary Administration in order to ensure security in Moroccan prisons, help inmates’ reintegration in the society after they serve their time and improve their detention conditions. The king, himself pays visits to prisons.
4- The last but not least is that the only Arab country where you would find such an article criticizing the prisons is Morocco.
In fact, the very reason human rights record of Morocco is now criticized is that because of the freedom of expression, the existence of which you completely denied. I urge you to go online on Moroccan newspapers, if you happen to speak Arabic or French and you will see how the GOM is openly and freely criticized. (Check for yourself).
In Morocco, you will still see human right abuses, but these are INDIVIDUAL cases and not systematic. I don’t want to compare with other countries.
Morocco made a choice of democracy, which was difficult at a time of conflict (almost war with Algeria and Polisario). But the choice is irreversible. It is a process, a learning process and a process, by definition, takes time.
As for the convicted US citizen, I was disappointed to see that you assumed he was innocent (the angel in the hand of evil). Was it because he was in Morocco. Aren’t there American criminals in the US. I am not saying that he is guilty. But IF he is, he will have to serve time where he committed his crime whether in Morocco or anywhere in the world.
One last point. Never the boycott has been effective. Look at the cases where it was applied, from Cuba to Iraq. Nada. Those who suffer are the people, not the leaders.
I urge you to read again your article after a thorough research on Morocco or better, a visit. Just like you and I can make mistakes, BBC, HRW or Amnesty International can do too.
Once again, thanks a lot for your interest in Morocco.
Sir,
I was just wondering how come you never wrote anything about Israel’s respect of UN resolutions, human rights, prisons, torture, pacts with the CIA, nuclear arsenal and so on…
Oh yes… They don’t have a king.
Maybe you should ask the Moroccans how they feel about their king?
I can bet you, if they were to choose they would definitely preserve him.
As far as the western sahara is concerned, please check your facts and try to find a map of Morocco before colonialism drew their own.
Ross,
I want to help you with your point. If you want to make a difference with your article and make a point to the Moroccan government by aiming for its economical sources, I recommend that you do the contrary. You actually should ENCOURAGE tourists to visit Morocco. For one, you will be helping the Moroccan citizens find extra income from the tourism industry, thus, improving their life style. Number two, A badly damaged economy in any government leads to more human rights violations and move poverty in the region. Only an economically strong country can work its way up to a greater degree of democracy and respect for its citizens rights.
As for Western Sahara, you really need to get deep into this issue to understand this problem. There was never any country or government existed in the first place in southern Morocco to now ask for independence. This “so called” Polisario did not exist before Morocco marched down south to free the region from Spanish occupation. These schmucks are there in cooperation with Algeria to invade our southern provinces and cripple our government which will never happen. 32+ million Moroccans will fight till their last breath to not let this happen. As you can see, it only took an article from you have people swamp all over you with 0 supporters on your side.
Now, if you want to discuss human rights violations, there is a lot of ground to cover worldwide. Morocco is a developing country and it is improving everyday by the will and strength of our King Mohammed VI. God bless him and bless Morocco.
Honestly? Dude. You’re crazy. Anything to muddy the waters and support a bunch of bandits that are using the plight of several tribes under their control to give a hard time to Morocco and play the game of the Algerian military who are busy trying to keep their population from revolting against their institutional thievery by creating made up conflicts. Gate your acts right Monday morning analyst and misguided do gooder
Dear Ross,
How much money did you get to write such short sided and disrespectful article about Morocco and the Head of State, our King. Shame on you!
Dear Mr. Ross;
I wanted to add something with regard to the Western Sahara as it is commonly refered to (in Morocco, we call it “the Sahara” or the “Southern Provinces”.
Again, the humain right record of Morocco in that region far from perfect. But, let me give you a couple of facts that you can check on your own:
1- Aminatou Haidar, who now became famous, has been travelling freely inside and outside Morocco for a long time, while everyone knew that she was a separatist. That kept going on until the day she renounced the Moroccan citizenship. (Wether the autorities were right to expell her or not is another issue). Today, she travels freely. As a matter of fact, she is in New York as we speak. Her case isn’t unique. Others, just like her talk openly about the independance of the Sahara. Now, name ONE person in the Tindouf camps who can say that the Sahara is Moroccan or even openly accept the “Large degree of autonomy” proposed by Morocco as a win win solution to settle the problem. That, my friend is a challenge, I’ll bet my last shirt for. Just don’t tell me that no one is against the independance because those who can, put their lives in danger and run away from the camps and join their mother land.
2-Algeria and Polisario have continuously refused a census of the Sahrawis in the camps by the UNHCR. They pretend the number is 195.000 while the UNHCR estimates them at around 90.000. Numerous reasons motivate this Algerian-Polisarian position: a- They will get more than needed and the rest ends up on black markets. b- in case of a referendum, they can make sure voter on their side are more than voter on the Moroccan side. c- They know, UNHCR is liking the increase of the assistance amount to census, therefore, they can play the role of the victims and get more assistance from other countries and NGOs. d- The main reason is that, after the census, the UNHCR will ask people the procedural question, if they want to return home. (Oups: that will hurt guess who). The population in Tindouf camps will definitly choose to return because life in the Southern provinces is safe and that the GOM invested zillions in the once desert areas. The population in Tindouf is aware today because they have some access to internet, phones and they watch Sahara TV.
I can talk for hours about the Sahara and why it is Moroccan, but I will stop here for now.
Mr Ross,
Make no mistake, Moroccans will never ever give up the Sahara. It is not about politics, it is about territorial integrity (look at the history of Texas). Any MOG which would come close to think about giving it up won’t last one more day.
One last thing. The Sahara issue is just one small component of the big picture (Moroccan Algerian relations) and that, my dear friend, is another story.
All the best
Back to you Ross -
I am still not quite convinced about your response to my prior feedback.
If you have some issues with the Moroccan Government, then stick to the subject! I am puzzeled as to why you are mixing Apples & Oranges by bring up the Sahara issues and worst of all the Title of your Article defies the logic – your lame Title that says “Tourists Urged to Skip Morocco” has nothing to do with what you are saying in your article. What was that all about? Why jeopardizing a great nation and the great Moroccan people because they happen to have a Corrupt Government?
How about this Title instead: “Tourists Urged to Skip Israel!!” or better yet ” Tourists Urged to Skip America!! ” – which makes a perfect sense since we have been waging senseless WARS just because we feel like it and as result, our soldiers have an obligation to die for a Terrorist state of Israel, isn’t that right Mr. Ross?
Listen to what Dr. Alan Sabrosky (former director of studies at the US Army) has to say about the inside job and make sure to write about it too:
**** 911 The Military Knows Israel Mossad and rogue US Gov ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EV4SIG9NIs
Maybe you should go back and revisit English Critical Thinking 101 and see how important the Title of any Article, which is just as important as the article itself. Imagine driving a Porche with a Toyota Engine
that’s how I see the substance of your article. The name of the brand (porche) should be just as good as the car itself if you know what I mean – unless you like to drive w/o breaks, which is basically what you’ve done in this article – that is beyound me..
Ok. Now, I’d like to see your next Article being critical of a Terrorist state of Israel that our pathetic Goverenment has been supporting for the last 30yrs despite the fact they have been killing the American people since USS Liberty ship attack in 1967. The so-called-state-of-Israel have been killing innocent people in Palestine in Cold Blood. Do I need to remind you about Gaza where over 1,300 people were killed most of them were children. What do you have to say about that?
Here is a video from CBS 60 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYAgyv2MKyI
Lastly, do you need a remender about USS Liberty in 1967 where Israel attacked us in Cold Blood? Now, they pulled another great stunt of Sept911 so we the Americans can fight for their Terrorist state. What’s next? Iran? Syria? Saudi Arabia? so these thugs can control their oil? Enough is Enough!! As Dr. Alan said, the day will come and we will wipe out Israel from the face of this Earth.. I will waste no time to JOIN Alan’s Army, and so help me God.
My God, we have killed so many innocent Arabs & Muslims in cold blood. Just in Iraq alone, over 2 million people were killed for no reason. As an American, I am deeply ashamed and I can’t begin to think how to say SORRY. We have done so much damage, it will take centuries to heal the wounds. All I can do, is to keep doing what I’ve enjoyed doing for these years – Go back to these great Arab countries including Morocco thru Peace Corps and do what I can to contribute. That would be one of ways for me to say Sorry to them..
What about you Ross? Are you sorry for what we did to the Arab people in Iraq and across the Globe?
-Jim
Mr.Ross,
How much money did you get to write such shortsighted and disrespectful article about Morocco and his Head of State, our King. The least I can say is you are not much of an expert on what Morocco politically, economically and historically represents, beside the fact that you seem to support terrorists and terrorism that want to harm America. Shame on you!
A Moroccan Citizen that loves his country and loves America, God bless Morocco and America!
Dear Moroccan Citizen: I didn’t get a penny, and zero is a lot less than your King’s advertising agencies are collecting for putting his face on all those billboards around Morocco—money that could go to the poor, to the hospitals, to charities, and, hey, even to improve the prison system! Have a good day.
Sherwood
No comment. I came to the conclusion that you are a plain idiot!
Then get a real job… (You are not good at this one anyway). That way you can better help the poor, build hospitals or even billboards…
Frankly, this is quite a bias article. You seem smart enough to copy tidbits from left and right, so you knew that already.
How can you report on a topic you , yourself, acknowledge not to know anything about, by the simple fact that you have never been to the country ? How is that journalism?
Secondly and to go back to what really bugs you: the guy who got arrested when he landed a plane in the middle of a field to collect bags of Hashish ( drugs in case you do not understand ), was caught red handed! where is the injustice in this? Frankly, I am sure that the condition in prison had nothing to do with luxury accommodations, but he was not singled out per his own saying so. He did the crime and the time! Can we please talk about Guantanamo & Abu Ghraib. I am sure I can gather up a few pictures in just a few clicks, show me yours on Morocco sir!
Moroccan Sahara, been that for centuries and will remain that! There is not even any point to discuss this topic.
Good article, well written. The imprisoned bloggers could have been mentioned. Also the news on all those prisoners who are on hungerstrike now because they don’t get a trial. And the case of Chakib El-Khayari, and the Belliraj affair.. well, there is so much rotten in Morocco it will take much more than a short web-article to explain.
I think it would be good for you to visit Morocco, before writing articles based on “reports.” I agree that the title of your article is very uniformed with “the rest of the story.” I feel compassion for these people. Much of their economy is based on tourism. I don’t think your article will affect people from visiting these amazing people and their amazing lands! No one can speak against the beautiful Atlas mountains, which God created Himself, or the beautiful Sahara dessert, or the Med sea, or the Atlantic ocean!!! Where in the world do you have such amazing sights???
These are truly amazing handiwork of the Creator Himself.
I am in an American living in Morocco. I have many friends that are both Muslim and Christian. I am shocked recently at the MOR governments involvement in abruptly removing Christian families of orphans. Leaving these kids into the hands of Muslim orphan care-takers, that want to beat Islam into them, drug them for separation anxiety, separate them from the only people who cared for them, just to say some Islamic religious news stuff, while not giving a damn about the orphans past or futures…I’m shocked to be living in the 21st century where they torture Christians that have left the teachings of Islam, torture of Islamists, beatings of innocent peoples…etc!!!
I also understand the difference between a King and a President. A King is King!!! A president leaves every 4 years (unless reelected)…praise God!!! Apparently Sen Obama made waves in getting the New Cook County Correctional Center approved. This is far from Moroccan prisons. In Morocco, you are still punished for being a criminal. You are not given a 5 star hotel to live in, lift weights, play ping-pong, lust at nature’s beauty….This is something that most Americans would dream of vacationing in.
Again said, I don’t agree with the way things are done here. But again, there isn’t a 5th amendment that people can plead to in Morocco. One genius of a man once told me, “the Muslim mind is much different than the western mind. You have to beat the truth out of an Muslim, physically. Otherwise, you wont get the truth!!!” A sad but true fact. This is why true democracy doesn’t exist in the Arab world…DOES IT??? ANYWHERE??? 100%??? Keep hoping for the day!!!
So in closing, I have a friend, who has left Islam to follow the convictions of his heart, being Jesus Christ, and is very worried about his life. He doesn’t know when his next beating will come in the accusation of him dis-faming Islam. He wishes to die and be w/ God for eternity, but the Mor gov’t denies him of this privilege, they’d rather torture him. Only higher up in gov’t to tell him, “I ‘m so sorry, I didn’t know this was happening to you! Morocco is a country of tolerance and peace for all religions..” This after sleepless nights in a prison and being beaten and not able to sleep. Mind you, fire hoses beating his naked body for nights in a “hidden” location!!! Where are Human Rights??? I don’t know. This is the Arab world my friend!!! Marhaba!!! (Welcome!!!)
But I do know, with all your claims!!! The Gov’t is doing it’s best in a 99% Muslim Country, to de-power the Islamist agenda to return to a Sharia Law in a modern society!!! Mohammed V! is “kick ass” in my definition!!! I just wish he’d leave his christians in peace! Also those that are not guilty to pick weeds at the Wiliaya or something!!! But then again I think…How many years did corporal punishment work??? 1 or 10000″s???
Let the guilty be found guilty!!!
Thanks!!!
PS…Do your homework on the West. Sahara!!!!
I think it would be good for you to visit Morocco, before writing articles based on “reports.” I agree that the title of your article is very uniformed with “the rest of the story.” I feel compassion for these people. Much of their economy is based on tourism. I don’t think your article will affect people from visiting these amazing people and their amazing lands! No one can speak against the beautiful Atlas mountains, which God created Himself, or the beautiful Sahara dessert, or the Med sea, or the Atlantic ocean!!! Where in the world do you have such amazing sights???
These are truly amazing handiwork of the Creator Himself.
I am in an American living in Morocco. I have many friends that are both Muslim and Christian. I am shocked recently at the MOR governments involvement in abruptly removing Christian families of orphans. Leaving these kids into the hands of Muslim orphan care-takers, that want to beat Islam into them, drug them for separation anxiety, separate them from the only people who cared for them, just to say some Islamic religious news stuff, while not giving a damn about the orphans past or futures…I’m shocked to be living in the 21st century where they torture Christians that have left the teachings of Islam, torture of Islamists, beatings of innocent peoples…etc!!!
I also understand the difference between a King and a President. A King is King!!! A president leaves every 4 years (unless reelected)…praise God!!! Apparently Sen Obama made waves in getting the New Cook County Correctional Center approved. This is far from Moroccan prisons. In Morocco, you are still punished for being a criminal. You are not given a 5 star hotel to live in, lift weights, play ping-pong, lust at nature’s beauty….This is something that most Americans would dream of vacationing in.
Again said, I don’t agree with the way things are done here. But again, there isn’t a 5th amendment that people can plead to in Morocco. One genius of a man once told me, “the Muslim mind is much different than the western mind. You have to beat the truth out of an Muslim, physically. Otherwise, you wont get the truth!!!” A sad but true fact. This is why true democracy doesn’t exist in the Arab world…DOES IT??? ANYWHERE??? 100%??? Keep hoping for the day!!!
So in closing, I have a friend, who has left Islam to follow the convictions of his heart, being Jesus Christ, and is very worried about his life. He doesn’t know when his next beating will come in the accusation of him dis-faming Islam. He wishes to die and be w/ God for eternity, but the Mor gov’t denies him of this privilege, they’d rather torture him. Only higher up in gov’t to tell him, “I ‘m so sorry, I didn’t know this was happening to you! Morocco is a country of tolerance and peace for all religions..” This after sleepless nights in a prison and being beaten and not able to sleep. Mind you, fire hoses beating his naked body for nights in a “hidden” location!!! Where are Human Rights??? I don’t know. This is the Arab world my friend!!! Marhaba!!! (Welcome!!!)
But I do know, with all your claims!!! The Gov’t is doing it’s best in a 99% Muslim Country, to de-power the Islamist agenda to return to a Sharia Law in a modern society!!! Mohammed V! is “kick ass” in my definition!!! I just wish he’d leave his christians in peace! Also those that are not guilty to pick weeds at the Wiliaya or something!!! But then again I think…How many years did corporal punishment work??? 1 or 10000″s???
Let the guilty be found guilty!!!
Thanks!!!
PS…Do your homework on the West. Sahara!!!!
Speaking of West Sahara, mamicootie, I will do my homework. Meanwhile, here’s some homework for you. It’s a news release from the impartial Amnesty International. — Sherwood
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA
Morocco must end harassment of Sahrawi activists
9 April 2010
Amnesty International has called on the Moroccan authorities to end the ongoing harassment and intimidation of Sahrawi activists, as five of six who have been detained since last October began the fourth week of a hunger strike in protest at their detention without trial.
The hunger strikers are among a number of Sahrawi activists who have faced harassment and intimidation after visiting refugee camps in Algeria administered by the Polisario Front, which calls for the independence of Western Sahara and has set up a self-proclaimed government-in-exile.
One group was beaten with batons at Laayoune airport last Wednesday when they returned to Western Sahara from the Tindouf refugee camps.
The six detainees on hunger strike were among seven Sahrawi activists arrested on 8 October 2009 at Mohammed V airport in Casablanca when they returned from visiting the Tindouf camps in Algeria.
“We are increasingly concerned for the health of these detainees as they continue with their protest,” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s director for the Middle East and North Africa programme.
“In fact, we consider them prisoners of conscience imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression, and we are urging the Moroccan authorities to release them immediately and unconditionally.”
Five of the six began a hunger strike on 18 March in protest against their continuing detention without trial, and the sixth joined in earlier this week.
Although they are all civilians, they have been referred for trial by the Military Court on charges of undermining Morocco’s security including its “territorial integrity”, but six months after their arrest no date for their trial has yet been set.
The six РAhmed Alansari, Brahim Dahane, Yahdih Ettarouzi, Rachid Sghir, Ali Salem Tamek, and Saleh Labihi, who joined the hunger strike last Monday Рare all held at Sal̩ Prison, near Rabat, far from their homes in Western Sahara.
The five who have been on hunger strike for longest are now reported to be too weak to leave their cells for family visits
The seventh member of the group and only woman to be arrested, Dakja Lashgar, was provisionally released in January on health grounds.
Last Wednesday, 11 other Sahrawi activists were assaulted by a crowd of people chanting slogans in support of Moroccan rule in Western Sahara when they arrived at Laayoune airport after visiting the Tindouf refugee camps.
The crowd accused them of being “traitors” because of their advocacy of self-determination for the people of Western Sahara, which Morocco annexed in 1975. Some beat the Sahrawis with batons in front of Moroccan law enforcement officials who, however, failed to intervene.
Earlier, on 9 March, another group of Sahrawi activists who had recently returned from visiting Tindouf were beaten by Moroccan law enforcement officials, who used excessive force to break up a demonstration in Laayoune in favour of self-determination for Western Sahara.
Sahrawis from Western Sahara arrived to the Tindouf refugee camps in 1975 and 1976, after Morocco annexed the territory. The Algerian government estimates the number of Sahrawi refugees in the camps to be 165,000. The UNHCR assists about “90,000 vulnerable people in the camps”. A ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front has been in place since 1991.
I think you owe an apology to the Moroccans. And if YOU ARE HERE to save the world or make a difference, you should start by removing your article off the internet, because your title is misleading and can impose a great damage to the “poor” Moroccans you are trying to defend.
p.s: Everybody is proud of putting photos of the king on their wall, he is currently trying his best to improve the Moroccan government, and if you follow the news, you will realize how much realizations and achievements have been made in regards to Human rights, women’s rights and the 360 degrees turn in economy and infrastructure.
Adnane: I’m glad to hear of your concern for the poor Moroccan hotel workers. Now what about the innocent Muslim suspects rounded up by the CIA and tortured in the Moroccan prisons? Your king doesn’t have to wait to make some reforms. He can set those men free now. What about illegally keeping children in the prisons where they are abused? Your king can set those children free today. It would be a good idea for Moroccan hotel workers to walk off their jobs today in solidarity with the innocent men, women, and children being abused by your king’s thugs. — Sherwood
Mr Sherwood,
the torture of Sahrawis exists in your head only.Some Moroccan traitors are visiting
Algeria and want to dismantel our country.We as people of Morocco want those people tried and thrown in prisons . You can maybe intervene and take them with you ,that is fine with us too.However if they want to live in Morocco ,they should obey the law ,otherwise they will expose themselves to some feet beating.Believe me it is nothing compare those the way police treats blacks and hispanics in America.
Mr. Ross,
I was surprised that you didn’t react to my too comments. I guess you do agree with them.
You seem to be a smart man, yet all the comments disagree with you, but you do not have the intellectual integrity to admit any of the “mistakes” you made on your article. Instead, you have obsinately bash the king as if he is the evil. Well, suit yourself.
In one of your previous replies, you said: “…what about the INNOCENT Muslim suspects rounded up by the CIA and tortured in the Moroccan prisons?” Why do you presume they are innocent? (Your statement is biaised and misleading). The Moroccan police were looking for fugitives wanted in connection with terrorism in some form. Some European countries were relactant in cooperating with Morocco and ended up paying the high price (Madrid train bombing).
You also said: “What about illegally keeping children in the prisons where they are abused?” Where did you get this information??? There are juvenile detention centers and separate prisons for adults. To my humble knowledge, children abuse has never been an issue in Morocco.
As for the Sahara (I like this subject, lol), yesterday, a group of people threw molotov cocktails to a police car in Tindouf. The police were on a routine patrol when they were attacked. Luckily, no one was hurt, but the vehicule was totally calcinated. I guess, in the name of human rights, the perpetrators shouldn’t be arrested, nor sentenced. But how about the policemen how were inside the car and almost got barbecued? Oh yes, I forgot, those are “Moroccan occupiers”. They deserve to burn in hell. Isn’t that right? All the reports that you refer to are based on what the propaganda machine of indepententist NGOs like CODESA and ASVDH are pretending.
Few days ago, British conservative party MP Deniel Kawczynski said: “It’s extremely important that the UK does more to support the autonomy proposal for the southern provinces”. This gentelman was up to very few days ago a strong supporter of the Sahrawi Independence. In fact, he was a member of the “Wertern Sahara All-Party Group” in the British Parliament. He did his homework, took time to see what is the best solution for the region and decided to support the Moroccan proposal, (a large degree of autonomy for the Sahrawis, withing the terrotorial integrity of Morocco). In other words, Morocco wants the symbols only (flag and stamp).
Best
It would be a good idea for Moroccan hotel workers to walk off their jobs today in solidarity with the innocent men, women, and children being abused by your king’s thugs.
I forgot to comment of the last sentence. “It would be a good idea for Moroccan hotel workers to walk off their jobs today in solidarity with the innocent men, women, and children being abused by your king’s thugs.”
Do you really mean what you said? Do you really expect people who have a position to leave it because someone on the other side of the Atlantic decides that there are “despicable abuses in their country?”
By the way, you must have had Morocco mixed up with Libya or somewhere else. The billboards don’t carry the king’s pictures. The portraits of the king are in official buildings and in offices ONLY.
Best
Mohamed, Yes, I meant every word of what I wrote. In crisis after crisis, the poor have put aside their work and participated in general strikes for worthy causes. The poor marched with Gandhi in India; the poor walked to work in Birmingham, Ala., in the U.S., under the leadership of Martin Luther King when they boycotted the buses. And the poor should be the first in sympathy with those in the prisons in Morocco, with their own people as well as those illegally rendered by the United States with the complicity of Moroccan authorities. How many rich men do you think are in Moroccan prisons? Where do prisons the world over find their prisoners? The poor are victimized everywhere, so the poor must be the salvation of the poor. The poor will not go on strike because “someone across the Atlantic” advises them to; they will go out when they realize that working people must become the masters of Morocco. America declared itself free of its king in 1776 and much of the world followed suit. That America lately has granted its presidents kingly powers is a great tragedy for America, for Americans, for the oil-rich Middle East, and the scores of countries in which the U.S. has meddled, overthrown governments, and made war upon in the last half century. These are the bitter fruits of kingly tyrannies. That is why the U.S. finds a ready ally in the king of Morocco. Sherwood
Sherwood,
I can’t blame you for being a republican (I don’t mean GOP). However you can’t blame every bad thing on monarchs. You sound more like El Che or may be is it the short distance to Havana, a few Keys down south?
There is no comparision whatsoever between the Montgomery bus boycott and the Mahatma on one hand and the situation in Morocco on the other.
The first one had to deal with segregation. African Americans were treated slightly better than animals.
The second was dealing with a foreign country while in Morocco, people are treated equally the same.
I have the highest respect and esteem for Jo Ann Robinson, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Ghandi. Therefore, comparing them to the situation in Morocco is minimizing their achievements.
You are judging a country, its policy and king while you have no idea what the country looks like. You have no idea what you are talking about. Poverty in Republican US is worst than Morocco (believe it or not). Unlike you, I have lived in the US and know very well what I am talking about. I have witnessed homeless die because of hypotermia. In Morocco, there is something called solidarity among family both small and big.
Human right situation in Morocco is much better than that of many republics around the world and so is the prison system.
I urge you to pay a visit to the country and them feel free to write whatever you want.
@Sherwood:
Great to hear from your concern about the poors. But do not forgot the poors of palestine, the Moroccan poors massacred by the Algerian regime in the camps of Tindouf and the Irak poors a result of the illegal (…) invasion of Irak by your country. You are on a bad situation to give some lessons to others.
You have no doubt about Morocco’s beauty and its wonderful people but you need to forge strongly your studies about the history of morocco to judge his geography.
To all Moroccans and those who know the facts about Morocco
Check out this quote from PR website
“SHERWOOD ROSS ASSOCIATES – is a public relations firm that can get your company’s story told locally, nationally and globally. We interview you, discuss what’s newsworthy in your operation, and write the release just the way a reporter would write it for the wires or a daily paper.”
Obviously he was hired by an enemy of Morocco to write this.
Don’t waste your time arguing with this hired mouth piece and don’t treat him like a journalist ,lets just show the tourist the beauty of Morocco.
To all the Tourists, you should be “On The Road to Morocco”
“Tourism in Morocco is an $8 billion-a-year industry, the second largest revenue earner after phosphate exports as the country pushes tourism with its “Plan Azur,” designed to beef up coastal resorts along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Tourists have enjoyed the beaches and visiting Casablanca, Marrakech, Tangier, and Fez, is said to be FASCINATING “
10 million tourists think Morocco is not safe and that’s why they all want to go there, they all love the fear for their safety? The prisons he is talking about are the Tindouf camps
New York to Casablanca nonstop 6:30 hours ,its the best bang for your dollar right now go there before it becomes too expensive you will be living like a king, those who can distinguish between facts and PR spin are buying homes for investment and vacationing. Morocco is booming and it doesn’t have just the Sahara, they have mountains with snow and skiing.
http://www.visitmorocco.com/index.php/eng/Accueil#
What you wrote about the morocco saharan frontiers is a lie and you owe an apology to the parents of victims of attacks by mercenaries and terrorsts recruited and trained in Cuba by Algeria, and brothers of victims who work in hotels and to whom you give orders like a dictator.
So does this mean we should avoid visiting the US of America because it sends human beings with the specific purpose of being tortured in Morocco? Not sure who is worse, ethically and morally, the entity sending people to torture chambers or the torturer all too willing to do the dirty work that may be well compensated? I say both are reprehensible as there ought to be no room for scale in morality.
I just find your article rather ironic in that you sit back in Miami making all kind of allegations that are based on the premise the US of A, which Miami is still part of, sanctions, participates, and covers up sponsored torture.
As to the Moroccan Sahara as a point of contention, how far back should we go to discuss the legitimacy of borders of every single country on Earth? Reality is, that piece of land will be settled once for all as Moroccan when all the stakeholders who have interest in keeping this conflict alive will either be weaker (as soon as Gas-Oil run out in Algeria, this issue of Sahara will be settled once for all. All Morocco has to do is play with Time as Algeria will run out in less than 100 years) or other issues will be more important. That is the march of history.
Now, to more important issues you can enlighten us about as I am dying to know: Is this the right time to buy a condo in Miami on the cheap?
Peace to all.
PS: I highly recommend a trip to Morocco. Regarless of how far off you may be about Morocco and Moroccans, they are the kind to host you as family, traditions oblige. As to the king, you would be so surprised that were elections held today, he would get more than 80% of the votes, fair and square. Few outsiders can understand the link between the Moroccans and their king. But no outsider is required to understand such a link, just to respect that people may hold different views and have varying affinities.
American,
God, Allah, Elohim or whatever you believe in, bless you.
One thing though. Morocco wouldn’t mind waiting 100 years or so. After all, what are centuries in the lives of countries or civilizations (ε). However, I do feel so bad about my 40 to 50.000 brothers on the other side (Tindouf camps) who are living an the harshest conditions. They have a dream, a basic dream, yet they are denied basic things that we take for granted (running water, decent housing, schools etc…)
Best
The article sheds the light on a very important issue that Morocco and the U.S. are both involved in. The article is accurate yet, it provides the wrong solution for the problem as boycotting Morocco will not hurt the regime, but instead the average Moroccan citizens who rely on tourism and hospitality industry to support their families.
King Mohammed VI and the oligarchy that he surrounds himself with may bet on tourism to solve many social and economic problems, but historically they have proved that they are great in manipulating the international community and getting away with human right abuses. While Ross did a great job reporting accurately human right abuses and secrets prisons in Temara and other places of Morocco, he failed to provide a reasonable solution for the problem. As Moroccan Tourism is the daily bread for many who are trying to escape poverty.
Unfortunately, many comments were attacks on the author’s knowledge, honesty, and possible “loyalty to other regimes” which I think was triggered by the following sentence “Morocco has shown its disrespect for international law by illegally occupying the western Sahara.” I think that Ross either did not know, or simply ignored the fact that regardless of how Moroccan might disagree about their political affiliation or loyalty to the King, there is national consensus that the Sahara is %100 Moroccan.
HZView—thanks for taking the time to write. There may be a consensus in Morocco that the Sahara is 100% Moroccan but apparently that is not the view of the International Court that heard the case. As for my not coming up with a solution,that’s debatable. My suggestion is that tourists need to pressure the regime by boycotting Morocco and its hotels until the government quits torturing prisoners in behalf of the United States. Will that work? I don’t know but it’s worth a try because nothing else has worked. Officials of the United Nations can write Moroccan officials letter after letter and nothing happens.
One reader of Veterans Today asked if I advocate tourists boycott the United States and the answer is YES, of course. I also urge people abroad not to buy American products. Will that put Americans out of work? The answer is yes, but maybe it will wake Americans up that they must not allow their government to go around the world killing people. We are not fighting here in America to defend our homes. We have sent our troops abroad to rob the Middle East of its oil and to pour profits into the coffers of the defense industry, the CIA, the Pentagon, the manufacturers of germ warfare, nuclear bombs, napalm, you name it. The American public is slow to catch on that defense industries in America and the big oil companies are booming as a result of this war. Americans need a wake-up call. The Pentagon is out to rule the world. Why else does it have 2,000 bases at home and abroad? Why else does it have a navy that is as large as the next 11 navies put together? Why else are 68% of all the arms sales being made by America? Why is the U.S. training military personnel in 130 countries? Why is it spending over a trillion dollars researching diabolical new weapons? Gandhi said that the study of war leads to dictatorship. To that we might add, yes, and America’s preventive wars are proof of it. — Sherwood
Sherwood- Thank you for interacting with your readers, I think discussions like this enhance the topic.
As for the Moroccan Sahara, the Moroccan proposal that was presented in MANHASSET and had the blessings of the U.N secretary General, the Department of State and lot of members of the international community was a reasonable plan. However, regional politics mainly the continuous support of Algeria to the Polisario Front prevented the negotiations from producing any positive outcomes. The Western Sahara issue is pretty complex since there are more than 2 parties involved in the negotiations and that both Algeria and Morocco seek regional dominance in the area, and possible economic benefits from what is under the sand dunes.
Human right abuses and secret prisons are not new in Morocco, this does not mean we should not draw global attention to this it, and seek international support to stop the ongoing crimes in the prisons of Morocco. In fact, it is time to pressure the Moroccan regime to stop the abuses, grant full rights to citizens and journalists, and implement a transparent legal and judicial systems where all the Moroccans are equally treated before the law.
From your response and comments, I can deduce that you are fully aware that the secret prisons systems where the U.S. unlawfully sends detainees to be tortured in Morocco, Egypt, Jordan… are fully paid for by taxpayers money, and that the existence of these torture facilities are a vital to the national security of the U.S. and to the American supremacy agenda. The main point I am trying to make here is that it is probably easier to ask your readers to call their member of Congress and demand that the U.S. stops the funding for these programs which support these kind of practices and abuses paid for by the American taxpayers.
Again, I really think that you have highlighted a very interesting topic that should not only concern future Travelers to Morocco, but every taxpayer in this country. However, I strongly disagree with the solution you tried to provide. By boycotting tourism, an industry that supports millions of already impoverished and abused Moroccans, your solution will not force the regime to change, but it will widen the poverty gap in a country that suffers from an oligarchic rule.
Advocating peace and human rights while one of your customers is “Armed Forces Journal”… I find that not so consistent. I can understand that you need to pay your bills, but don’t lecture people when you promote those who promote what you pretend to criticize.
As for the boycott, I find it irresponsible to call for boycott when YOU say:”Will that work? I don’t know but it’s worth a try.”
It is very easy to gamble with other peoples’ lives. Let’s try it for a couple of decades or so. If it doesn’t work, then we’ll try something else for another couple of decades. Meanwhile, a whole industry and economy crumbles. Thousands of people are jobless. Families are torn apart. Years of hard work are blown up because some smarty-pants wants to “try something”. I wrote it in a previous comment. LOOK AROUND YOU. History proves boycott doesn’t force regimes to change, no matter how unpopular they are (Cuba, Iraq, Iran, North Korea etc.)