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Muslim Affairs Team
Answer
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
Mr. Crawley, First allow me first to thank you for joining us today on IslamOnline.net.
Since February 2007, when President Bush announced the plan creation of U.S. Africa Command, there has been a lot of public worry in Africa about this plan.
Can you give us an idea of what exactly does Africom target in Africa?
Answer
Thanks for inviting me.
The purpose of U.S. Africa Command is to more effectively coordinate U.S. Defense Department support for U.S. foreign policy in Africa.
We are emphasizing theater-security cooperation programs -- peacekeeper training, military education and professional partnerships.
Name
Mousa
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Dear Sir,
While the US African Command may indeed provide some help to the African continent in terms of fighting diseases and natural disasters, it may also cause major discontent among, not just what the US calls terrorists, but also others who oppose the US hegemony. So the AFRICOM may have a side effect so to say to Africa.
What is your intake on that, are Africom commanders aware of this?
Thanks,
Answer
One of the guiding principles of General William Ward, our commander, is to "do no harm." We want to understand what African organizations, such as the African Union, are doing to support long-term stability in Africa. Then support them, because it is U.S. policy to reinforce African initiatives to end conflict and violent extremism.
It's important to understand that the work we're doing is not new. We have inherited numerous programs, requested by Africans, approved by U.S. Ambassadors, authorized by our Congress and paid for by the American people.
We're also very much a "listening" and "learning" organization. General Ward's first official visit as commander of Africa Command was to the African Union.
Name
Abbas
- Morocco
Profession
Question
There have been many reports about the likeliness of Morocco to host Africom’s headquarters. The US and Moroccan forces are seen conducting joint military operations and activities near Tan-Tan, next to Western Sahara.
First, let me ask what do you say about these reports? Second, If the command is actually to be built in Morocco, do you think it will stabilize the region or actually push the already troubled place into conflict?
Answer
I've seen those reports and they are incorrect. The United States military, in partnership with the government of Morocco, has trained in the vicinity of Tan-Tan. But there are no plans to establish a U.S. presence.
U.S. Africa Command is based in Stuttgart, Germany, and intends to remain here for the forseeable future. Our focus is on our work -- the partnership programs I've already mentioned -- not on any specific location, because the continent of Africa contains more than 50 nations.
As Genearl Ward has said, "There are no plans to move the headquarters at this time. We are doing our very best to ensure the programs we are executing are being conducted and carried out the most effective way. That's the focus. If down the road, there are notions of having some portions of the command relocated, that's a decision to be made later."
However, the command has inherited a small but meaningful U.S. military presence in numerous African nations. This includes Camp Lemonier in Djibouti, as well as Department of Defense personnel assigned to U.S. Embassies and diplomatic missions to coordinate Defense Department programs supporting U.S. foreign policy.
Name
Amrozy
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Profession
Question
How do you expect the reaction of Islamic groups in Africa? Since the American experience with Islamic movements are not good.
Answer
We recognize and deeply respect the fact that approximately half of all Africans are of the Muslim faith.
We know there has been a lot of concern and misunderstanding about the motives and actions behind the creation of Africa Command. That's one of the reasons were are taking this slowly. We have a long-term goal of sustained partnership. Our horizon is best measured in decades. We believe, over time, that people will judge us by our actions and accomplishments.
Name
Leo of Tripoli
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Profession
Question
What are the criteria for selecting a country to base US command in Africa, strategically and politically.
Answer
General Ward and his staff are not looking for a headquarters or base in Africa. We have a little over 2,000 people in Djibouti, and there are no plans to establish any other U.S. military basing on the continent or its island nations.
Name
Lamin
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Hello Sir
Why does the United States try to reorganize its presence in the world? Is Europe becoming no longer strategically important for the United States and that Africa today takes the importance of Europe?
Obviously there is nothing given for free in international politics, what does the US expect to obtain from the poor, war-ragged Africa?
Answer
"what does the US expect to obtain from the poor, war-ragged Africa?"
In a word -- "stability"
And Africa is a much more optimistic, vibrant place than your question might suggest.
This has nothing to do with the diminishment of Europe as a strategic partner. However, creating Africa Command is perhaps belated recognition by the U.S. Department of Defense that Africa, too, is important, strategically, politically and economically.
I'll quote Brigadier General Jean De Martha Jaotody, an African Union representative who spoke at our formal establishment ceremony October 17:
"A stable, healthy and more prosperous Africa will contribute to global security and a strong world economy," Jaotody said.
"The AU believes that AFRICOM represents an opportunity to strengthen and expand United States and African relationships in this regard," he said. "We pledge to take this partnership seriously, and that our combined effort would help Africa to attain sustainable peace and security in the continent."
Name
Hiba,
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Hi,
If the United States is really serious about aiding Africa out of its bottomless pit of numerous problems, it needs to put extensive weight behind the what you say is a benign mission of Africom. However, since the is basically going to rely simply on “inherited” military presence, then what good is that going to be?
Answer
It's really not about presence. It's about focus.
We now have about 1,000 people here in Stuttgart who wake up every morning thinking about ways to support long-term stability in Africa. That's never existed in the U.S. military before.
Name
Ahmad
- Egypt
Profession
Question
For the last eight years, there is no doubt that the United States has lost a lot of its credibility, not only in Africa but throughout the world.
Africome into the same old policy, what may be good instead for both Africa and The US is establishing new independent USAID just for Africa. SO my question is , is the US never wants get the idea?
Answer
U.S. Africa Command doesn't represent a new U.S. policy toward Africa. It is the U.S. Defense Department's means to do a more effective job supporting U.S. policy.
In our democracy, it is not the role of the military to set policy.
To quote from the U.S. National Security Strategy of 2006, "We are committed to working with African nations to strengthen their domestic capabilities and the regional capacity of the AU to support post-conflict transformations, consolidate democratic transitions, and improve peacekeeping and disaster responses."
Name
Ibrahim,
- Ghana
Profession
Question
Hi Mr. Crawley,
The African continent is a huge one, and its problems are diverse and complicated. Are there specific countries in Africa, or specific problems that Africom’s is going to focus on.
If it focuses on peacekeeping, as you mentioned, there are so many places that need such service, and the US has learned quite a hard lesson is Somalia.
Answer
I agree. And General Ward served in Somalia in the early 1990s.
We are supporting the training and deployment of African peacekeeping units. Since 1997, the United States has trained about 100,000 African peacekeepers for U.N. and African Union missions.
We are not focusing on specific countries, inasmuch as we have some form of military relationship with nearly every African nation.
Name
Abbas
- Morocco
Profession
Question
Again about the location of AFRICOM; You sade the command will remain in Germany for the foreseeable future. But onething is sure, there definitely is something quite interesting going on In Tan-Tan, Morocco, precisely in the river that enters into the Ocean. I understand you are an on-the-record speaker, however you also have your sense of analysis and judgment.
If at all, in the unforeseeable future the US builds this command in Morocco, what the impact on Western Sahara conflict and the Morocco-Algeria relations is likely to be?
Answer
An American statesman once said "the only thing that is certain is death and taxes," so I'm not really in a position to speculate about the unforeseeable future.
Africa Command really is taking a continent-wide viewpoint, not focusing on a specific region or location. I can assure you, there are no plans to base the command in Morocco.
It's important to understand that our staff is half military, half civilian. The majority of us are long-experienced professionals with families and children attending school. This is not a troop command with a lot of young soldiers. We spend most of our workday in meetings, on the phone and on the computer. It would be extremely challenging, and costly, to move our staff to a remote and isolated location.
Name
James
- United States
Profession
Question
What is the standing of Africom in comparison to other US commands such as EuroCom,CentCom,Pacificom..etc.
Answer
We are the sixth U.S. geographic unified command. I suppose it's up to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to determine our standing compared to the other five geographic commands, but we consider ourselves to be on equal standing with them. For the record, the other five commands are: U.S. Central Command, headquartered in Tampa, Florida; U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany; U.S. Northern Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado; U.S. Pacific Command, Honolulu, Hawaii; and U.S. Southern Command, Miami, Florida.
Name
Editor
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Profession
Question
The session has ended. We would like to thank Vince Crawley, a spokesman for U.S. Africa Command (U.S. AFRICOM, for taking the time to answer your questions, and all those who participated in the dialogue.
We apologize for not being able to answer all the questions due to time limitation.
