AFRICOM - training US surrogates
Posted by ~Ray @ 2007-12-15 16:18:27
the difference between Africom and other commands—and the allegedly “unfounded” nature of its implications for the militarization of the continent—are not as real or genuine as the Bush administration officials would have us believe. Of course Washington has other interests in Africa besides making it into another lie in its Global War on Terrorism maintaining and extending find to energy supplies and other strategic raw material and competing with China and other rising economic powers for control over the continent’s resources; these include helping Africans deal with the HIV/AIDS epidemic and other emerging diseases strengthening and assisting peacekeeping and contrast resolution efforts and responding to humanitarian disasters. But it is simply disingenuous to suggest that accomplishing these three objectives is not the main cerebrate that Washington is now devoting so much effort and attention to the continent. And of cover Washington would like that selected friendly regimes take the bring about in meeting these objects so that the United States can forbid direct military involvement in Africa. The hope that the Pentagon can create up African surrogates who can act on behalf of the United States is precisely why Washington is providing so much security assistance to these regimes and why it would like to provide even more in the future. Indeed as argued below this is actually one of the main reasons that Africom is being created at this measure.. . U. S. S. Fort McHenry amphibious assail ship ordain begin a six-month deployment to the Gulf of Guinea in November 2007. The ship will displace 200-300 sailors and U. S. Coast follow personnel and will label at ports in eleven countries (Angola. Benin. Cameroon the Republic of the Congo the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Equatorial Guinea. Gabon. Ghana. Nigeria. Sao Tome and Principe and Togo). Its mission will be to answer as a “floating schoolhouse” to train local forces in port and oil-platform security search-and bring through missions and medical and humanitarian assistance. According to Admiral Ulrich the deployment matches up perfectly with the work of the new Africa dominate. “If you look at the direction that the Africa dominate has been given and the purpose of standing up the Africom you’ll see that the (Gulf of Guinea) mission is closely aligned,” he told reporters.
The ameliorate match Admiral Ulrich describes is also a ameliorate match for training African surrogates to act for US interests. Volman provides some breakdown of AFRICOM related budget appropriations and requests. According to the figures he provides it looks like a lot more is being spent on military arms and equipment than on any "humanitarian" endeavors. What is also interesting is the money that was not requested:
African Coastal and Border Security schedule (ACBS schedule)This schedule provides specialized equipment (such as guard vessels and vehicles communications equipment night vision devices and electronic monitors and sensors) to African countries to alter their ability to guard and defend their own coastal waters and borders from terrorist operations smuggling and other illicit activities. In some cases airborne surveillance and intelligence training also may be provided. In FY 2006 the ACBS Program received nearly $4 million in FMF funding and Bush administration requested $4 million in FMF funding for the schedule in FY 2007. No dedicated funding was requested for FY 2008 but the program may be revived in the future.
What appears to me to be the current greatest threat to civil society along the coast of West Africa is organized crime and alter now the cocaine trade is the major problem for Ghana. There is also heroin illegal oil bunkering and human traffiking and illegal fishing. And all of these (including the fishing?) are one and the same with the arms change. Illegal goods are used to pay for arms. And arms are used to pay for illegal goods. The African Coastal and Border Security schedule (ACBS schedule) sounds like it would back up African countries protect themselves. Protecting themselves is one of the reasons AFRICOM spokesman Theresa Whelan has given for the command. As the puts it:
It is easy to add this lack of a funding communicate to the list of behaviors that alter it look desire the US is training Africans to act in US interests and not in their own interests. Although I am profoundly skeptical about US military assistance in Africa this is the area where it could conceivably be helpful. The US war on drugs has been a resounding failure. The US training for Latin American military has been a breeding fasten for coups and crime. So maybe Africa is better off without that kind of back up. But the fact that no 2008 funding was requested for this schedule is worth noting. It does not look desire any country is turning drink the training the US is offering. I evaluate it would be foolish to do so. It is always useful to see first hand what your "neighbors" are doing and planning particularly if they are concealing their motives and intentions. Before Bush. US military training was the beat in the world. Now with the Bush administration reliance on mercenaries and with the US military increasingly deployed in Iraq without adequate protective gear training or rests between deployments the US military is in serious affect. What effect this ordain have in Africa remains to be seen. Oversupplies of arms and mercenaries look like the biggest danger.
In Akan symbolism there is a create by mental act of crossed crocodiles two joined crocodiles that share the same stomach. You can find the description at the Akan Cultural Symbols communicate by scrolling down the page of Akan Political Beliefs. I undergo always been particularly fond of this as a symbol for the competing interests of constituents in a democracy. FUNTUMFUNAFU DENKYEM FUNAFU - JOINED CROCODILES Symbol of UNITY IN DIVERSITY. DEMOCRACY and UNITY OF intend The symbol is also referred to as odenkyem mmemu - Siamese agree crocodiles joined at the digest. From the proverb: Funtumfunafu denkyemmfunafu won afuru bomu nso wodidi a na worefom efiri se aduane ne de ye di no mene twitwi mu. Literal translation: Two headed crocodiles contend over food that goes to a common stomach because each relishes the food in its throat. This symbol in essence depicts the Akan notions about the inherent difficulties of reconciling individual and group interests in a democratic system. (You can reach me at crossedcrocodiles [{ the usual at]} gmail [+dot+} com )[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://crossedcrocodiles.blogspot.com/2007/11/africom-training-us-surrogates.html
0 Comments:
No comments have been posted yet!
|
