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AFRICOM Will Not Be in Africa

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), a new organizational construct intended to unify the entire African continent (except Egypt) under a single U.S. commander, is due to become fully operational later this year. Since its founding in October 2007, it has been based in an old German military barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, until a suitable African location can be found to house its command infrastructure. But according to the BBC, AFRICOM has now stopped searching for a permanent home due to a lack of interest among all but one of the 53 African nations falling under its area of responsiblity:

Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua announced in November that he would not allow his country to host an Africom base and that he was also opposed to any such bases in West Africa.

South Africa and Libya have also voiced strong reservations.

Only Liberia, which has historic links to the US, has offered to host it.

There has been concern that Africom is really an attempt to protect US oil and mineral interests in Africa, amid growing competition for resources from Asian economies, says the BBC's Alex Last in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

Then there are fears about the continent being drawn into the US war on terror, our correspondent adds.

At a press conference held earlier today in Ghana, the latest stop on President Bush's tour through Africa, the U.S. commander-in-chief tried to reassure his African audience about American intentions on the continent. An excerpt from the transcript on AFRICOM's website:

We do not contemplate adding new bases. In other words, the purpose of this is not to add military bases. I know there's rumors in Ghana, 'All Bush is coming to do is try to convince you to put a big military base here.' That's baloney. (Laughter.) Or as we say in Texas, that's bull. (Laughter.) Mr. President (Kufuor) made it clear to me, he said, look, we -- you're not going to build in any bases in Ghana. I said, I understand; nor do we want to. Now, that doesn't mean we won't develop some kind of office somewhere in Africa.

Unless that office is to be located in Liberia, it's unlikely to open any time soon.

Comments

Well, it seems that 99% of African countries reject the idea of a U.S. military base. [sarcasm]I wonder why; things are going so swimmingly in Iraq, after all.[/sarcasm] Just rent an office building in Liberia and get it over with.

Democrats rule and Republicans drool! 'Nuff said.

Posted by: Bleeding-Heart Liberal on 02/20/08 at 3:06 PM Respond

A Mighty River Of NaziBoyz Flowed Past Der Fuhrer!!

I expect an answer from you about those stunning uniforms, jymmy! All of the Nazi regalia was obviously conceived and coordinated by a GENIUS!

So MASTERFUL!! Sublimely understated, yet commandingly eye-catching in a wholesome, yet aggressively MASCULINE way! Yes, the colour and line of the young men's clothing was simply superb, and the accessories were simply perfection!

Oh! That early Fall of 1937...the summer leaves just beginning to change... the beautiful old city, the music, the splendid weather, the stirring pageantry of rank upon rank of magnificent men and powerful, potent machines, the tympanic beat of a hundred thousand gleaming leather boots, and over it all, arm raised in rigid salute, THE FURHER HIMSELF!!!

SEIG HEIL! SEIG HEIL!!! HURRAUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Buddy Hinton Sturmgewehr on 02/20/08 at 11:29 PM Respond

i havent a clue what your ranting about mr. sturmgewehr, but i do know allot of africans that watched U.S. marines stand idly bye during the second RUF assualt on freetown and prayed they would jump in and thrash the RUF, who had ammassed quite a bundle of hacked limbs by that piont. Many of estimated a contingent of about 500 marines would have handily done the job.

I think a U.S. base in liberia with real teeth, and a couple thousand soldiers ready to keep order a la pax americana in west africa, european or asia style post WWII, is great idea.

know i am not American, or even a westerner, so abstract bullshit about how it's all westerners all the time, is a luxury i do not have, basic security and structural solidity of the nation state system in Africa is what is required.

Posted by: nyongesa on 02/21/08 at 5:54 AM Respond

dear god, the last thing the world needs is the US military trying to take over Africa next. I do not trust our military, and perhaps more importantly, those pulling the strings behind it.
Resist, Africa! If something like this is done at all it would need to be an international effort with checks and balances in place to mediate US selfish motivations that are not in the best interests of Africans.

Posted by: next question on 02/21/08 at 6:20 PM Respond

How paternalistic of you next question to dictate what is in the "best interests of Africans."

Forgive me if I have a little more confidence in the peoples of Africa to determine what is in their best interests than you doing so for them.

Posted by: Howee on 02/22/08 at 10:11 AM Respond

Excuse me? That's exactly what I'm saying. That it's not up to me or American military forces to decide. If African nations don't want US military there, I'm glad they're standing up and saying so.

Posted by: next question on 02/22/08 at 1:19 PM Respond

Security would certainly be a problem, since such a headquarters as envisioned in Liberia would most certainly be in Monrovia, the only place there is relative peace; a contonement area heavily policed would at The airport (Smithfield, 35 miles out of town) would be required. Cant have American GIs walking the streets of the capitol! But it could be done. (carefully) But Germany is nicer!

Posted by: Taylor B, McKinnon, Maj USAF Retired on 04/07/08 at 3:08 PM Respond