Africa United in Rejecting US Request for Military HQ
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon’s plan to create a US military command based in Africa have hit a wall of hostility from governments in the region reluctant to associate themselves with the Bush administration’s “war on terror” and fearful of American intervention.
A US delegation led by Ryan Henry, principal deputy under-secretary of defence for policy, returned to Washington last week with little to show for consultations with defence and foreign ministry officials in Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Egypt, Djibouti and with the African Union (AU). An earlier round of consultations with sub-Saharan countries on providing secure facilities and local back-up for the new command, to be known as Africom and due to be operational by September next year, was similarly inconclusive.
The Libyan and Algerian governments reportedly told Mr Henry that they would play no part in hosting Africom. Despite recently improved relations with the US, both said they would urge their neighbours not to do so, either. Even Morocco, considered Washington’s closest north African ally, indicated it did not welcome a permanent military presence on its soil.
“We’ve got a big image problem down there,” a state department official admitted. “Public opinion is really against getting into bed with the US. They just don’t trust the US.”
Another African worry was that any US facilities could become targets for terrorists, the official said. Economic incentives, including the prospect of hundreds of local jobs, had not proved persuasive.
Mr Henry said African officials had agreed that counter-terrorism was “a top security concern”. But he added: “The countries were committed to the AU as the continent’s common security structure. They advised us that Africom should be established in harmony with the AU.”
The US talks with Libya appear to have been frank. “In the area of security, they are looking for Africa-only solutions,” Mr Henry said. “I wouldn’t say we see eye to eye on every issue.”
Mr Henry emphasised that the US was not seeking to supplant or supersede African leadership but rather to reinforce it. He said the creation of Africom would not entail the permanent stationing of large numbers of US troops in Africa, as in Asia and Europe. Its overall aim was to integrate and expand US security, diplomatic, developmental and humanitarian assistance in collaboration with regional allies, not increased interventionism, he said.
Unveiling the plan in February, President George Bush said Africom would advance “our common goals of peace, security, development, health, education, democracy and economic growth”. But African opposition appears to have modified Washington’s approach. Mr Henry said the latest plans envisaged “a distributed command” that would be “networked” across several countries.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007
Despite such claims of scarce oil recent reports say that an even greater supply of oil is waiting for development in africa. We have been told all about peaking oil and it’s all downhill from here, yet they have known of the vast fields waiting for development in afica. We have been conned as usual. However were the world to actually use all this oil, the planet would heat up to intolerable limits. But it’s africa’s time soon for this new oil…plans are being made…and for oil men…military bases to service it.Here we go again.
If I am African, I have no reason to believe the benign b.s. used to push for the establishment of these facilities.
Good for Africa–We are spread out too much in this world anyway. It is past time we start closing down existing rather than opening up new military facilities.
Good for Africa!
I have no doubt they will be plied with economic incentives (read bribes), weapons and monies to prop up any willing dictator. Never fear we will get a base of destruction in Africa, I applaud them for holding out for the time being.
Hey Bugs, not that I’m doubting you but blanket statements like “reports say” and “plans are being made” do not help the cause of holding these fascist criminals accountable. They only stir up hate and anger. Neither are very useful when we need to keep our collective wits and speak the truth. Sources?
Way to go African nations!
The US Govt has a habit of taking what they want by force. Anyway, the next oil wars are already being fought in Africa with China being the biggest obstacle. Get the popcorn for this one………..
New Cold War between Washington and Beijing over control of major oil sources…
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=theme&themeId=6
Can I get a shout out to IMPEACH CHENEY!!!!
Don’t give up any sovereign soil!
http://www.taureandevi.blogspot.com
IT’S ALL ABOUT OIL AGAIN! BUT CHINA HAS BEEN SIGNING UP A LOT OF IT WHILE BUSH IS F…..G AROUND IN IRAQ!
Way to go Africa!! This report has brightened my day. The US has between 737 and approximately 1,000 MOBs, FOSs and CSLs in other countries (little Americas) that are paid for, in part, by the host countries. A good earner for the US. Billions of dollars are paid by these host countries to have US military and weapons dumps on their land.
The Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs) that these countries sign with the US gives the forces the freedom to do whatever they like to the indigenous peoples so long as they can hike back to little America before they are found out. Then they are untouchable. Only one soldier has been convicted under local law of rape in Okinawa. Murders and rapes are common, road accidents and deaths are common (the soldiers don’t have to learn local road law), they don’t have to clean up the mountains of trash they leave behind. SOFAs are outrageously biased to the American presence in foreign countries.
I am so pleased that the AU has seen fit to tell the US Pentagon to go fly a kite. I just hope they can sustain their opposition in the bully face of the US Administration.
Henry is quoted as saying the US wants to ‘reinforce’ African leadership. Yeah, right. Jess knows - it’s all about oil again.
Unfortunately Fedup is right, the US usually gets what it wants by riding roughshod over the sensibilities and wishes of other sovreign states. This empire building by the US has to stop. All countries have to kick the US military out, if they can. Australia doesn’t even want to try! We have a weapons dump near Darwin ready for use against Indonesia, for god’s sake!
It sounds terrible to say, but I can’t wait until the rest of the world kicks the US arse. Remember China has billions of Treasury Bonds - as the US dollar loses value, when will they try to redeem those billions? China must be getting edgy at the moment.
At the moment I feel good that Africa has said ‘get lost’.
V
Thank you Africans. You have saved us a fortune just like the Philippines did when they closed bases there.
Please, every country that has an American base, throw us out before we mess up your country and bankrupt ours. Don’t enable our sickness.
Is anyone taking bets yet on which African nation the administration intends to democratize first?
Watch out African nations! A military base means bombs, soldiers, CIA, and destruction.
If the U.S. gets a foothold by bribing, cajoling, or by hook or crooks, the first thing they’ll do is to change your government to a more pliant, subservient one, and once they do that, they will stay there for ever. Just look at Korea and Japan.
With a U.S. military base, you will lose your sovereignty and security, plus you will allow a spy network to also middle with your neighbors. Watch out. This tantalizingly colorful snake is deadly!
My bet is that Chad will step up to host a US imperialist base. I have no doubt that the AU is unified against US bases, but on an individual basis, each country is running the numbers and scenarios as to who can first jump into bed with the US.
Remember, the AU hardly represents the huddled masses as it is composed of dictators, the rich and military leaders.
“They just don’t trust the US.”
Cover story in the weekly magazine “Well, Duh!!”
When is the Beltway going to get the message that putting makeup on pigs just doesn’t work? People recognize pigs no matter what you do to pretty them up. If you want to sell something, you need to have something that people want to buy and advertising doesn’t work if people can see that it’s a lemon.