I-MAG STS
1. Western Sahara – we could not find any indication that Western Sahara, sometimes known as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, could survive as an independent country. Currently, United Nations troops maintain a neutral zone, and most Sahrawis live in refugee camps in Algeria, or as internally displaced people in their former homeland. The area was not and is not an asset for Mauritania, and it
has been a liability for Morocco. Courtesy of an error we made, we did find a scenario that benefits Mauritania, Algeria, Cape Verde, Morocco and the Sahrawis, Spain (Canary Islands), Portugal (Azores) and the United Nations. James Baker III spent 17 years trying to hold an election. We suggested a Trans-Macaronesian Economic Union to promote regional maritime resource management (fish and
petroleum), common tsunami and earthquake rescue, improved medical care, increased education and a shared modern inter-modal port at Casablanca.
2. Morocco – has viewed two Spanish enclaves as liabilities. We suggested that these could be viewed as entries to greater European economic opportunities. In both cases we hoped to increase recognition of the King Hassan II mosque as a pilgrimage site and to decrease both internal turmoil in Morocco and international friction between Morocco and Algeria.
3. Nepal – we pointed out that Nepal simply could not afford to continue fighting a civil war, and that Nepal needed to focus on not just preserving its unique culture, but should set its sights on becoming the Switzerland of Asia by virtue of being between India and China.
4. Ivory Coast – we failed to convince the factions there that the effective division of the country into two parts will cause the parts to fail faster and worse than a unified country. This has unfortunate consequences for several adjacent countries – all of whom have critical AIDS, locust and drought problems.
5. Lithuania – we advised against a purchase of the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad on grounds that it, much like Eastern Germany, would cost too much, would be hard to integrate, was not likely to be an economic asset, and probably will be
a lot more cheaper later.