“When the Americans are getting ready to elect a president, the whole world holds its
breath,” writes Moroccon blogger, Robin des
Blogs [Fr]. It's a sentiment held by many around the world, but some
Moroccon netizens aren't sure which outcome–an Obama or a McCain presidency–would be
best for Morocco.
Obama, McCain and Western Sahara
RDB writes that the election matters most to “Third World countries that live under Uncle
Sam's wing, or worse, rot under the boots of his GIs” and agrees that an Obama win would be
a chance for America to make history.
However, there is another issue Moroccans should consider: the fate of Western Sahara:
A Maroc, les élections américaines représentent un enjeu plus que majeur,
puisque directement liées (qui dans ce monde ne l’est pas?) à l’avenir
du pays. La connexion directe s’établissant dans les relations Mc Cain-Maroc et
Obama-Mandela. Quoi?! C’est plus simple que ça n’en a l’air. Mc Cain
l’ancien président du comité d’amitié marocco-américain,
est le choix du Maroc, puisqu’il semble tourné vers les intérêts du
royaume du moins sur le papier, tandis qu’Obama est un ami d’un vieil homme
appelé Nelson Mandela. Vous ne voyez toujours pas l’anguille? Fouillez sous roche,
où mieux sous sable...Le Sahara!
In Morocco, the stakes are high for the American elections since they are directly connected
(what in this world isn't?) to the future of the country. This direct connection is
grounded in McCain-Morocco and Obama-Mandela relations. What?! It's
simpler than it sounds. McCain, former president of the Committee of Moroccan-American
Friendship, is Morocco's choice since he seems oriented toward the interests of the kingdom, at
least on paper, while Obama is a friend of an old man named Nelson Mandela. You still
don't see the snake? Look under the rock, or better yet, the sand…Le Sahara!
Oui, c’est un peu tiré par les cheveux, mais c’est une option qui peut se
vérifier…On sait tous que Mandela, l’icone mondiale de la liberation des
minorités, est un protecteur et défenseur de la cause séparatrice du
polisario. Par extention, Obama pourrait être influencé dans ce sens et faire
basculer la balance…
Sure, it's a bit far-fetched….but it's a possibility to be born out. We all
know that Mandela, global icon for the liberation of minorities, is a protector and defender of
polisario's separatist
cause. By extension, Obama could be influenced in this way and tip the balance…
Si cette hyppothèse se vérifie, le Maroc croisera les doigts pour que Mc Cain sorte
gagnant des urnes…
If this hypothesis checks out, Morocco will cross its fingers McCain comes out the winner at
the ballot box…
A reader, Cogito, writes that while he's still
thinking, RDB's post has nearly made him change his mind about Obama:
En parlant de ton article à un ami, il vient de me confirmer qu’effectivement
c’est le parti républicain qui a toujours été du coté du Maroc
en ce qui concerne le dossier du Sahara. Le parti démocrate étant toujours du
coté des minorités....
Et moi qui faisait que défendre et espérait qu’Obama soit à la tete
des Etats-unis sinon ça serait la catastrophe avec ce Mccain’sh, je me retrouve en
train de revoir ma position, par amour pour mon pays, par pragmatisme parce que la
priorité pour moi est l’avenir du Maroc avant tout…
I was talking about your article to a friend, and he just confirmed to me that effectively, it's
the Republican Party that has always been on Morocco's side when it comes to the Sahara
issue. The Democratic Party has always been on hte side of minorities.
And me, who was defending Obama and hoping he would become the leader of the United States, since
otherwise it would be a catastrophe with McCain, I find myself in the process of rethinking my
position, for the love of my country, for pragmatism, because the priority for me above all else
is the future of Morocco…
But Spy Jones doesn't think Western Sahara is much
of an issue:
Un McCain soit-disant pro-Maroc, et qui prône le prolongement indéfini de
l’Iraq... Tu trouves ça défendable comme parti pris ??
Je crois qu’il ne faut pas se faire d’illusions, et que la question du Sahara ne sera
pas perdue au Maroc à cause d’Obama (Cet ignare de McCain ne fera pas bouger les
choses ne serait-ce que d’un iota), et qu’il vaudrait mieux soutenir Obama pour
mettre fin à une guerre injuste et cruelle qui a ravagée un pays entier, et qui
l’a mise à feu et à sang.
En plus de pouvoir mieux traiter avec la crise financière que ne le ferais McCain, Obama
sera moins belliqueux que Bush et consorts, et ne cherchera pas à provoquer une guerre
avec l’Iran pour servir les interêts des lobbies militaires.
A so-called pro-Morocco McCain, and one who advocates the indefinite continuation [of an American
presence] in Iraq…Do you find that bias defensible?
I think that we musn't have any illusions, that Morocco will not lose on the Sahara question
because of Obama (that idiot McCain won't make an iota of difference), and that it would be
better to support Obama to put an end to the unjust and cruel war that ravages an entire country,
and that has engulfed it in fire and blood.
In addition to being better able to deal with the financial crisis than McCain, Obama will be
less aggressive than Bush and his consorts, and won't try to provoke a war with Iran to serve the
interests of the military lobbyists.
Belier, a supporter of Ron Paul, writes in the comments that choosing between Obama and McCain is
like choosing between Pepsi and Coca-Cola. “à 2012 peut
être!” “Maybe in 2012!” he writes.
Facebook group: Moroccans for Obama
On the Facebook group, Moroccans
for Obama, some Moroccans rallied in support of Obama, others remain cynical about his
chances:
Karim, posting from Orlando, FL, writes:
c lui la sollution pr la pai en iraq!! et c lui la sollution pr la survie des américains
aussi, ils doivent etre des idiots pr ne pas voter pr lui!!
He's the solution for peace in Iraq!! He's also the solution for the survival of
Americans, they must be idiots if they don't vote for him!! Falah Anass:
obama for change …c le seul démocrate qui pourra apporter la paix ds le monde en tt
cas pr le moment… jespere qu'il restera ainsi une fois élu président of
usa…to be continued
obama for change…he's the only democrat who can bring peace to this world, at least for
the moment…i hope that he will stay this way once he is elected president of the united
states…to be continued
Oui moi aussi je soutien Barrack Oubama j'espère bien qu'il va pas nous décevoir,et
qu'il va travailler pour le bien de ce monde.Obama et mille fois mieux que Mc cain = (Mc cayne
meno walo)
Yes, I also support Barrack Obama I really hope is not going to deceive us, that he will work
for the good of this world. Obama is a thousand times better than McCain…
Moussa, a Moroccan living in Kentucky, writes:
I admire this guy, but in the white america he has no chance. race is a big issue. i lived in
kentucky and i am 1000% sure people wont vote for him cuz he is black.
Louarni Ashraf:
they have one chance to prouve that USA is not a racist country …i don't think that it's
hard to realize …everybody want to see an african american as a president of the united
states of america !! god bless ya nigga !!
Faty Owns You:
It's all false hope.
He surely will be the president…until he gets shot.
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and reject those that you are not interested in
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