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US Consults African Countries On Planned Military Center
Washington (AFP) Feb 07, 2007 The United States is consulting African countries about its plan to establish a regional command center to oversee US military actions on the continent, a senior Pentagon official said Wednesday. "We are now in the process of consulting with the 53 host nations in the continent of Africa, consulting with them both at the diplomatic levels and through military channels," Ryan Henry, the principal deputy under secretary of defense, said at a news conference. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday announced President George W. Bush's decision to create a regional military command in charge of Africa. The move reflects Washington's fears that some African nations may be harboring suspected terror groups. "We think that this is the time for the United States to think how it is organized on the continent as Africa is growing in significance," Henry said. "One of the major reasons that it's time to stand up Africa Command is for us to view the people, the nations and the continent of Africa from the same perspective that they view themselves," he said. According to Henry, the objective of Africa Command will be "to reduce conflict, to improve the security environment, to defeat or preclude the development of terrorists or terrorist networks, and support in crisis response." Current responsibility for Africa within the Pentagon is shared out among three regional commands. Until now the continent has fallen mainly under the US European Command, which also has taken on new responsibilities in recent years with growing relations with Russia and the former Soviet republics. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, is responsible for the Horn of Africa, while Pacific Command has watch over Madagascar. The new Africa Command, however, would not be responsible for Egypt, which will remain under the Central Command domain, Henry said. The Pentagon intends to establish Africa Command by the third quarter of 2008. The location of its headquarters has not yet been decided.
Source: Agence France-Presse Related Links The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com Out Of Africa Africa News - Resources, Health, Food
Thousands Greet Chinese Leader In War-Battered Liberia
Monrovia (AFP) Feb 01, 2007President Hu Jintao of China cancelled Liberia's debt as he visited the West African country Thursday, ahead of the most delicate stage of his African tour in Sudan. Thousands of people waving flags lined the road from Monrovia airport into the capital where Hu and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf held talks and signed accords. |
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