US claims it is not seeking military bases in Africa, or showdown with China

[silver 2039]

ACCRA (GHANA): In a country teeming with resources the world covets, US President George W Bush sought on Wednesday to soothe African fears about American interests on the continent. He said the US is not aiming to make Africa into a base for greater military power or a proxy battleground with China.

The desire for Africa's vast raw materials, oil, gold, diamonds, minerals, crops and more, has a long and often violent and exploitative history.

That is especially true in Ghana, a tropical, resource-rich nation on the shores of West Africa, the first place in sub-Saharan Africa that Europeans arrived to trade, first in gold, then slaves, and now the site of a new offshore oil discovery.

So it came as little surprise that Bush's talk about how US generosity has made strides against disease and poverty encountered some skepticism here about the underlying American agenda. Some of those questions arose during Bush's appearance with Ghana's leader at Osu Castle, once a hub of slave-trading and now the seat of government.

With no prompting at a news conference, Bush sought to deal with suspicions about the creation of a new US military command dedicated to Africa.

Nations such as Libya, Nigeria and South Africa have expressed fears the plan signals an unwanted expansion of American power on the continent or is a cover for protecting Africa's oil on behalf of the US.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...r_showdown_with_China/articleshow/2799705.cms

I doubt it highly.... its definatley trying to expand its influence there.

 

[Tee Kay]

I doubt it highly.... its definatley trying to expand its influence there.

Well can you imagine Bush saying "yes, we are expanding our influence in Africa, and we will be in competition with China"?

 

[RedRalph]

I doubt it highly.... its definatley trying to expand its influence there.

Of course they are, but who of the major powers isnt?

 

[sourboy]

It's to counter China, but it's just a bluff. No one wants to send troops there.

 

[Patroklos]

Influence /= military bases.

The new command is to deal with the problems directly affecting Africa which the military is intimately involved in through aid work and friendship missions. Right now Africa is lumpted in with with EURCOM, which worked in the Cold War when Africa was a side show. Now, with Europe the side show, it is appropriate to have a dedicated command for that region unhindered by European distractions.

 

[The Yankee]

Influence /= military bases.

The new command is to deal with the problems directly affecting Africa which the military is intimately involved in through aid work and friendship missions. Right now Africa is lumpted in with with EURCOM, which worked in the Cold War when Africa was a side show. Now, with Europe the side show, it is appropriate to have a dedicated command for that region unhindered by European distractions.

I agree. I doubt we'll be seeking very many bases there, unless there's some kind of flare up that somehow demands our attention.

 

[carmen510]

I think even Bush knows a showdown with China might result in some very bad price hikes in Walmart and other such chain stores.

Besides, military bases in Africa would not be that influential, maybe it might help a country not collapse into civil war or save some tribe from genocide.

 

[Merkinball]

Influence /= military bases.

The new command is to deal with the problems directly affecting Africa which the military is intimately involved in through aid work and friendship missions. Right now Africa is lumpted in with with EURCOM, which worked in the Cold War when Africa was a side show. Now, with Europe the side show, it is appropriate to have a dedicated command for that region unhindered by European distractions.

True.

However, some of it is also in CENTCOM:

Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda, Somalia, are in CENTCOM. CJTF-HOA is a CENTCOM operation. And from what Major General Ghormley was saying, AFRICOM was being formed to get Africa out of EURCOM, and allow CENTCOM to focus on CENTCOM, and not Africa.

The base in Djibouti is supposed to expand...a lot. But as you said, these are all geared towards aid, mil to mil, humanitarian type operations.

 

[Abaddon]

Colonialism v1.02

 

[The Yankee]

The base in Djibouti is supposed to expand...a lot. But as you said, these are all geared towards aid, mil to mil, humanitarian type operations.

I would think CENTCOM could cover anything we may need to do in Somalia if we decided to bat that hornet's nest again. I really can't fathom where else we'd be taking offensive action on the continent, unless we somehow decided to add forces to Darfur peacekeeping missions.

Even when we deployed some Marines to Liberia a few years back, it was nothing on the scale that would justify even a small base.

 

[bhsup]

We should not fear a showdown with the PRC. It is not our fault if embracing freedom-loving people in Taiwan upsets the oppressive monsters of Beijing. That's their issue. So in this respect, I applaud a potential "showdown" with the PRC.

 

[Patroklos]

The PRCs investments in Africa, while significant in and of themselves, are insignificant given worldwide investment in the continent. There is plenty to go around, and assuming that investment isn't robber barron style, good.

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

1890 = France, germany, Belgium and Britain
2008 = USA and China
I see no reason why a country that isn't at war needs to have foreign troops marching around. I would like to see the Americans accept their country to be spamed full of foreign bases and the americans to pay.

 

[Pannonius]

Imagine Russia having it's own "AFRICOM". There would be at least a dozen threads about the "evil Russkies" here on CFC.

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

Imagine Russia having it's own "AFRICOM". There would be at least a dozen threads about the "evil Russkies" here on CFC.

Even worse, Russian bases in America. This proves that some countries are more equal than others.

 

[DNK]

Even worse, Russian bases in America. This proves that some countries are more equal than others.

I think there's already plenty of proof to go around for that one

I imagine the Europeans also have significant presences in Africa still, the French especially, I think. Anyone have numbers on that?

 

[Abaddon]

and the americans to pay.

I thought the economys around bases experience a relative boon?

 

[Patroklos]

I would like to see the Americans accept their country to be spamed full of foreign bases and the americans to pay.

Well, since just like American bases everywhere they are, we would have to agree to it for it to happen so there shouldn't be any problem accepting it.

We are not like the Russians, we don't just park our whole army overtop other people whether they like it or not in peace time.

 

[GoodGame]

And to prove that point, we will be honoring double coupon price cuts on Sundays.

Well can you imagine Bush saying "yes, we are expanding our influence in Africa, and we will be in competition with China"?

 

[Ramius75]

Its only after China decided to Invest in Africa that prompted the American to show more interest in the continent. Good for Africa thou. The competition might spur investment and growth.