AFRICOM's still seminal

ARTICLE: 'Questions About Military's Role in Africa Spur Steep AFRICOM Cuts,' Inside the Navy, Vol. 21, No. 37, 15 September 2008

Depending on the motives, this could start a good and better dialogue on AFRICOM. As I have indicated, I would draw AFRICOM differently, making the "commander" a retired 4-star with combatant command experience, for example.

So, while on the surface, this is inherently bad for AFRICOM as currently configured, don't assume this is an abandonment of the idea of blending diplomacy, defense and development. In my mind, it means only that Congress sees a beast it does not yet know how to interact with, and hence demands a more familiar package, balanced in a manner it believes to be more appropriate.

This discussion, then, is just beginning.

(Thanks: Chris Janiec)

Comments

[Brian H]

Since AFRICOM has to do with Africa, it might be worth taking on board what the local darling, China, is up to:http://tinyurl.com/4bnuv6

A bit grotty, wot?

[Tom Barnett]

China is going to replicate the same bad behavior the Europeans did, unless forced to do otherwise.

No surprise there.

You can view that with overwrought, modern disdain, like Hitchens does here, or you can spot the opportunity and do something positive about it.

This is how I view Development-in-a-Box: good for us, good for the locals, and good for the Chinese.

[Tim Marshall]

Yup - at least 30% of raison d'etre of Africom is China. They've gone all Bismarkian and want their place in the sun. But since when was Stuttgart in Africa? Mind you, Centcom does Afghanistan out of Florida.

[anand]

Could Africom request that a three star Chinese General, and top officials from the Chinese foreign, finance, and trade ministries have permanent liaisons with Africom's HQs?