[Mb-civic] NYTimes.com Article: Four Stars for Africa

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Four Stars for Africa

October 14, 2004
 By RICHARD WILCOX 



 

Rome 

Europe has one. Latin America has one. Asia has two. But in
the American military's system of regional combatant
commanders, Africa is an afterthought, divided among
generals and admirals whose priority is other continents. 

It shouldn't be that way. While much went wrong in the
world's response to the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, it
could have been different if there had been a top American
military commander focused solely on Africa and with
significant resources at his command. The same holds true
today for Sudan, which is part of a regional command whose
leader is understandably more focused on his
responsibilities in Afghanistan and Iraq than on a
humanitarian mission to help the people of Darfur. With
American interests and military activities on the continent
ever increasing, it's time for Africa to have its own
regional command. 

Often called America's "proconsuls," combatant commanders
are in charge of all United States military operations in
their region. They carry more weight with heads of state
than any ambassador. Key strategic areas have dedicated
combatant commanders: European Command for Europe, Southern
Command for Latin America, Central Command for the Middle
East and Near Asia (its commander, Gen. John Abizaid,
oversees operations in Afghanistan and Iraq) Pacific
Command for East Asia. Africa, on the other hand, is
divided among European Command (North, Central and Southern
Africa), Central Command (the Horn of Africa), and Pacific
Command (Madagascar). 

Establishing an African Command would be more than a
symbolic manifestation of America's commitment to Africa.
The American military is training forces in peacekeeping in
10 African countries. The Navy has conducted major
exercises off West Africa, an area that, according to a
recent study by the National Intelligence Council, may
surpass the Persian Gulf as a source of oil for the United
States in a decade. American forces in North Africa are
reported to be directly engaged in counterterrorist
operations. American forces based in Djibouti, in the Horn,
keep a close watch over terrorist activities in an area
with large Muslim populations. 

The African Union, the continent's budding effort at
developing its own peacekeeping capacity, could also
benefit from the attention and support of a top-tier
commander. And any major future peacekeeping intervention
in Africa, with or without United States combat forces,
will require American logistical and intelligence support. 

In Washington, combatant commanders wield considerably
more influence than the assistant secretaries of state, the
State Department diplomats responsible for the world's
various regions, or their civilian counterparts at the
Department of Defense. From the Pentagon to the State
Department, the White House and Capitol Hill, combatant
commanders are a most powerful voice. 

Not having a four-star commander is a serious disadvantage
for Africa in the power game in Washington, and in the
world. 

Richard Wilcox was the director of United Nations affairs
on the National Security Council from 2000 to 2001. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/14/opinion/14wilcox.html?ex=1098778961&ei=1&en=1e3d9bd0eb49a15f


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