Mythos in the Maghreb

The families of our Armed Forces wait with baited breath for the return of loved ones. From Afghanistan, Iraq, every dangerous place on earth where the commander-in-chief orders their presence necessary. The nightly news is filled with stories of children who miss their daddies, or mommies. Wives and husbands longing for just one more chance to say “I love you” or “I’m sorry.” Babies are born to fathers in combat, their beautiful faces only discovered via email, Facebook or webcam. Love and family ties are preserved while these remarkable people dedicate their lives to service. They are free to vote. Free being the key word.

Emergency responders, police officers and firemen bear similar burdens — even if they are not separated by thousands of miles. But again…they are free. They also enjoy the confidence of their fellow citizens and the respect of patriots who served before them.

All men are created equal. Upon that foundation, our nation blossomed. Though our garden is sorely in need of a landscape architect, we are fortunate to experience equality, opportunity and the freedoms laid out in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights as well as the rest of the Constitution. Our values are shared with friends in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and across Europe. Our ties with Israel are unbreakable, intrinsic to the Judeo-Christian ethics and values that make us who we are. We are allied with countries all across the globe. But the first nation to recognize us, to accept us on our own terms diplomatically, is Morocco.

In fact, our relationship with Morocco began during the Revolutionary War. In 1783, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams negotiated the Treaty of Friendship. Both men were the official signatories when the treaty was finalized in 1786. Our friendship with Morocco is the longest unbroken diplomatic relationship in American history. While every nation has their imperfections, it is our common values and goals that lift up our people.

When a friend is in need, we answer the call. Morocco has been a faithful, assertive partner in fighting the War on Terror. It has rooted out extremist groups and expelled them from the country, or prosecuted them where appropriate. The complex situation with its protectorate, the Western Sahara, weighs on the minds of many, myself included. Given Morocco’s record of openness and straightforward assistance to our nation, I am willing to listen to both sides of the story. I am a student of history and have fresh eyes on this situation in particular. I want more information, more context. Research leads to more research, to placing calls and being thrilled when experts patiently answer my questions.

I have spoken with personal friends who have expat family members living there, colleagues who worked tirelessly during the Bush administration in the State Department or the Department of Defense, and Moroccan officials. Think-tanks, lobbyists and human rights experts have all contributed knowledge. Off the record, on the record. My own reading and investigation led me to a conversation in which concern was expressed for a man who was speaking out in support of the autonomy plan put forward by Moroccan authorities to end the dispute over the Western Sahara with the Polisario Front, an organization closely tied to Algeria. His name is Mustapha Salma Sidi Mouloud. He was a police chief for the Polisario. There were concerns that his public support for the plan would lead to retaliation.