U.S. Military Forms Africa Command

As Al Qaeda and other threats continue to grow on the continent, the Pentagon is creating a new command to handle security and military concerns in Africa, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday.

The Africa Command would take over duties split among three of the military's five geographic commands, the European Command, Central Command and Pacific Command. Establishment of an Africa Command is done under presidential authority but members of Congress have been consulted in recent weeks.

"This command will enable us to have a more effective and integrated approach than the current arrangement of dividing Africa between Central Command and European Command, an outdated arrangement left over from the Cold War," Gates said, speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee during a budget hearing. President Bush has already signed off on the move.

The command would "oversee security, cooperation, building partnership capability, defense support to nonmilitary missions, and if directed, military operations on the African continent," Gates said.

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Defense officials had been discussing the idea of a new position in the Pentagon because of growing concern about Africa's significance in the War on Terror, especially in the Horn of Africa, which includes Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. The countries lie across the Gulf of Aden from the Saudi Arabian Peninsula and are home to increasing religious and military tensions.

A new command would give the U.S. military a distinct organization to counter potential threats and plan military action on the continent.

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Carpenter said the changes likely will not result in any noticeable alterations in troop levels. The bulk of current military forces in Africa now — about 1,700 personnel — are stationed in Djibouti, which borders Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. He said fewer than 3,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed in Africa overall.

Carpenter said the headquarters will house mainly officers and administrators, from generals to lawyers to accountants. It is not clear how many would be stationed in the yet-to-be-determined headquarters, but it likely would be fewer than 1,000, he said. About $50 million in the current fiscal year budget is earmarked for the plan, but it was not immediately clear how much had been allocated in the fiscal year 2008 budget plan released by the White House on Monday.

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This is a very interesting development. Clearly the U.S. is seeing how important Africa is becoming strategically. Most unexploited resources are going to be there in Africa and it's one of the last largely untapped labor pools in the world.

Perhaps the US is expanding the few forces already in Africa. The USN has had forces,SEABEES & Marines, in the Horn of Africa for some time.

Djibouti, Africa (April 12, 2006) - U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Richard W. Hunt salutes the Ensign during the playing of the National Anthem at the conclusion of the Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa (CJTF HOA) change of command ceremony. Hunt relieved U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Timothy Ghormley as Commander CJTF-HOA at Camp Lemonier. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Roger S. Duncan (RELEASED)

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Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. All I will say is containing China and look at the map.

Afganistan is in US interest so oil through Afganistan to China could only come by the controls of the US. So now if US bases troops on the shores of Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, this seems like another threat to China that the US is in a position to contain China even further.

Afganistan would be oil from Iran.
Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea would be oil from Sudan.

What a joke terrorist? Just call people terrorist and you can do whatever you want. They used to call them witches.

Next question how will China respond to this Action?

I doubt they created an Africa command solely for East Africa. There are other concerns in the region. Nigeria, a few years back there was our involvement in Liberia, and there's also North Africa.

alwaysfresh said:

What a joke terrorist? Just call people terrorist and you can do whatever you want. They used to call them witches.

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Well, if 911, Bali, Madrid, Riyadh, Casablanca, London, Egypt, Delhi, and countless smaller attacks, and the many plots that were uncovered and foiled (like the planned airline bombings between the UK and US) are your idea of a joke...no one is laughing.

Jeff Head said:

Well, if 911, Bali, Madrid, Riyadh, Casablanca, London, Egypt, Delhi, and countless smaller attacks, and the many plots that were uncovered and foiled (like the planned airline bombings between the UK and US) are your idea of a joke...no one is laughing.

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Why would some one risk their life to kill someone else?

FreezyAaron said:

Why would some one risk their life to kill someone else?

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There are many reasons...some of them good, most of them bad.

For example, the Imperial Japanese in World War II would fight to the death and take as many people with them because they had been indoctrinated and taught that it was honorable to die in that fashion for their emperor, whom they considered to be a God, and for his wishes or directives...or those whom they believe spoke for him...and they believed it.

Today, there are brands of Islamic radicals who believe they will go to Heaven and receive 72 pure virgins for eternity if they die as Martyrs in Jihad war against infidels...which are people who do not subscribe to their brand of religious fervor and whom they feel must either convert, be subjected, or be killed. At the same time, there are plenty of people of good will, reason and compassion in all faiths who do not act in this way.

I do not want this to be a history lesson, but there have been fanatical adherants to all brands of totalitarian ideologies and belief systems...and amongst almost all peoples at one time or another...who would willing kill and die for those ideologies against whatever they deemed to be enemies to those ideologies for a long, long time. The die hard Nazis were like this...just to name one example. There have also always been people willing to risk their life in fighting against them.

As a simple example of any people who would willingly die in the defense of their homes, families, and freedoms...if someone one were attacking my home intent on raping my daughters and wife, or killing them and my sons, then I would willingly risk or lose my life in an attempt to kill such individuals and prevent those terrible things from happening to my wife and children. I believe most people feel the same.

Anyhow...hope that helps. Unfortunately, there is bad in the world who will kill to get their way...so there must also be good willing to risk all to stop them.

Having said that, that is not what this thread is about so I hope we can leave off further discussion in that direction.

I somehow can find no real logic in thinking a US Africa command is created for the main purpose of controlling ship lanes to China. The USPACCOM could have done that without the restructuring. So I don't expect any reaction from China, since I currently can see no reason to give any.
It's more of an internal restructering. The US sees Africa becomming more importand in strategic terms. Therefore it might be a reason to look at it with some interest and find out what the US intetantions are. But first and in the short term it's just a new "unit". Oversight will be performed by a command that's sole mission is to coordinate Africa missions, wich might improve abilites since they have to solely cover "only" one continent.

US "involvement" seems to increase for some time now. I remember reports form Janes for example of the military, especially the USN, to increase maritime security and awareness around the middle west coast. The govt seemed to be engaged with local authorities for improving patrols and policing in the region.

The Somalia spot might get highlighted in the near future, too. US intel saw increasing As Quaida activity in the lawless region for the past years. They probably seek to solve the situation there. Hopefully with "nationbuilding" to add stability to that region.

Looks more like its intended to be dual use ie 1;to gain a head start on a potential failed state creating a new terrorist base,as in the Islamic attempt to take over Ethiopia recently,and also to create a base to use against Iran in case its deemed neccessary to take military action against that country.

PS;Does anyone know if such a base would be out of range of a potential missile strike from Iran?

pps; Can't see how you could surround China from Africa,maybe try to gain influence away fro China,but would of though that could be better achieved thru development aid etc.

lcortez, Multipile posting is not permitted. Use your edit button to add to your post if no one has responded.

bd popeye super moderator

lcortez said:

Looks more like its intended to be dual use ie 1;to gain a head start on a potential failed state creating a new terrorist base,as in the Islamic attempt to take over Ethiopia recently,and also to create a base to use against Iran in case its deemed neccessary to take military action against that country.

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I believe the primary reason in the current environment is straight forward. The US is concerned about Africa and does not want a safe haven to develop for Al Quida or other terrorist organizations.

Counter balancing China's growing influence and presence in the region could be a secondary issue...but it would, at this point, be a fairly distant second given the ongoing WOT.

As to Iran, the US has plenty of places to strike directly at Iran already (Iraq, Afghanistan, Diego Garcia, various bases in and around the more moderate Gulf States, the Arabian Sea). I do not believe it is happenstance or a coincidence that Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom put large US forces bordering both sides of Iran which the US has for years viewed as one of, if not the primary supporter and funder of terroist activities.