From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Tue Sep 02 2008 - 05:35:54 EDT
Is the US Policy towards Africa becoming Militarized?
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
By Scott A Morgan
Over the last year that has been growing concern in both Africa and
amongst the activist community here in the United States about the role
of AFRICOM (Africa Command). Since January of this year there has been a
plethora of activites that the country has been involved in.
The US began this year by intervening diplomatically in the Violence
plagued Kenyan Elections. Working in conjunction with the EU and AU a
Government of National Unity was agreed upon. The year began also with
the APS (African Partnership Station) in place in the Gulf of Guinea.
That region which is where 20% of the American Oil Imports Originate
from has a problem with Militants, Drug Trafficking and Piracy. So this
program was an effort to train Regional Military Forces to conduct such
Operations.
The National Security Strategy Document published in March 2006 states
that the United States "recgonizes that our security depends on
partnering with African States to strengthen failed and failing states
and bring ungoverned areas under the control of effective democracies.
This statement can be seen as a base for the US efforts to bring about a
regime change in Zimbabwe, restore the rule of law to the Kivu Provinces
in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and limit the Influence
of Al-Qaida in the Sahel Region of West Africa.
This Strategy has had its failures as well. The US Proxy efforts to
restore a Strong Centralized Government in Somalia by Ethiopian Arms
continues to muddle on. A report that Addis Ababa is considering
withdrawing will be seen as a failure of US Policy. The Situation in
Darfur with the apparent unwillingness of the US and its European Allies
to take any action smacks of hypocrisy.
So why is the Pentagon taking the lead in this? They are not the only US
entity that is formulating policy. There have been several instances
where the CIA has taken steps to investigate the status of Militia
Forces Operating in the African Great Lakes Region. The easy answer is
that currently the State Department is in a weakened state. After all
they did put out conflicting signals during the Kenya post-election
crisis.
In General it is bad policy to have the Soldiers make Key Foreign
Decisions. With the inability of the State Department to articulate what
the goals of the United States are someone has to do it. There are some
that would like to have AFRICOM to have some sort of accountability.
Well as a DOD Command it does have to request funds from the Congress.
After all the easiest way to force change on someone is to impact the
flow of funds.
Whether it comes to Energy Supplies, Radical Islamists or even the Rogue
Military Officer that cannot be reined in by his Country the US will
have interests in Africa. This means US Diplomats and Soldiers will be
seen as both Friends and Targets. There will be chances for both Praise
and Criticism of US Activities as well. And in January a New President
will be the one taking the heat.
The Author Publishes Confused Eagle on the Internet. It can be found at
morganrights.tripod.com
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