Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Boston Globe
February 16, 2008 By Reuters
WASHINGTON - President Bush said yesterday that the possible shift of the US military command for Africa to the continent from its current home in Germany will be among the issues on the agenda as he meets with leaders of five African countries.
Bush yesterday departed for a six-day trip to Africa to highlight one of the few bright spots in his foreign policy agenda, assistance to HIV/AIDS victims, and helping developing businesses. He will visit Tanzania, Ghana, Benin, Liberia, and Rwanda.
The conflicts in Darfur and Kenya also will be on the agenda, as well as lobbying from African leaders on where to locate the new US Africa Command headquarters, known as Africom, primary mission of which will be to work with African militaries.
"If there is going to be a physical presence on the continent of Africa in the form of a headquarters . . . obviously we would seriously consider Liberia," Bush said in an interview with foreign reporters.
In the interview, Bush also said there was hope for a political solution in Kenya, which has been wracked with violence after a disputed election. Bush has asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to go to Kenya with a message that there must be a full return to democracy, and she will be in Nairobi on Monday.
The US attention on Africa has been growing amid concerns that countries there could become havens for militants seeking to base operations and plan attacks on the United States.
"Africom is a brand new concept aimed at strengthening nations' capacities to deal with trafficking or terror, but also to help nations develop forces capable of doing the peacekeeping that unfortunately too often is needed on the continent," Bush said.
February 16, 2008 By Reuters
WASHINGTON - President Bush said yesterday that the possible shift of the US military command for Africa to the continent from its current home in Germany will be among the issues on the agenda as he meets with leaders of five African countries.
Bush yesterday departed for a six-day trip to Africa to highlight one of the few bright spots in his foreign policy agenda, assistance to HIV/AIDS victims, and helping developing businesses. He will visit Tanzania, Ghana, Benin, Liberia, and Rwanda.
The conflicts in Darfur and Kenya also will be on the agenda, as well as lobbying from African leaders on where to locate the new US Africa Command headquarters, known as Africom, primary mission of which will be to work with African militaries.
"If there is going to be a physical presence on the continent of Africa in the form of a headquarters . . . obviously we would seriously consider Liberia," Bush said in an interview with foreign reporters.
In the interview, Bush also said there was hope for a political solution in Kenya, which has been wracked with violence after a disputed election. Bush has asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to go to Kenya with a message that there must be a full return to democracy, and she will be in Nairobi on Monday.
The US attention on Africa has been growing amid concerns that countries there could become havens for militants seeking to base operations and plan attacks on the United States.
"Africom is a brand new concept aimed at strengthening nations' capacities to deal with trafficking or terror, but also to help nations develop forces capable of doing the peacekeeping that unfortunately too often is needed on the continent," Bush said.