Let’s compare the qualifications of the new U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, Samuel L. Kaplan, with the current Moroccan Ambassador to the U.S., Aziz Mekouar.
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1. Former Diplomatic Experience, Overseas or Home Country -
Kaplan : None.
Mekouar : Moroccan ambassador to Italy, Malta and Albania, and permanent representative to the FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization) (1999-2002), Portugal (1993-1999), and Angola (1986-1993).
First counselor and deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Morocco in Rome (1977-1985), and permanent representative of Morocco to the International Bureau for Information Technology (1978-1985).
Elected chairman of the United Nations FAO Council from November 2001 to November 2005.
2. Languages Spoken -
Kaplan : English. No other languages mentioned.
Mekouar : Fluent in Arabic, English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish
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There is something very wrong about this.
I understand that the claim can be made that “this is the way ambassadors have always been chosen!” - however, since the position is supposed to be the public face of the United States in the designated country, I think it’s extremely arrogant to send someone who has no experience with other cultures, much less a MONOGLOT.
