US government having trouble finding countries willing to host the proposed new Africa Command. It's much easier to get favorable basing agreements when the local government is actually the product of your invasion.
« With the Colleagues You Have | Main | Cheap Talk »
All Alone
26 Jun 2007 08:39 am
Comments (8)
Well, there was that small business with the Torch landings, of course.
Well, it was never realistic that Libya (as quoted in the story) would accept it, was it?
It's much easier to get favorable basing agreements when the local government is actually the product of your invasion
Finally, a rationale for the Iraq War . . .
Trust someone to get the wrong end of the stick, somewhere. Some country will have to be "bribed" with lots of aid dollars to take Africacom in. This is largely just the beginning of the negotiations.
It's much easier to get favorable basing agreements when the local government is actually the product of your invasion
Basing Agreements? We don't need no stinkin' Basing Agreements!
While it might be satisfying to beat up on this initiative, the truth is there are plenty of African countries that want to host the command and improve their strategic relationship with the US. I was on the delegation to the Mahgreb and we never asked those countries for anything. We just wanted to be transparent about our rationale for the command. With pedominantly Arab Muslim populations, the govts of the Mahgreb are in tenuous control. They have to posture in public as anti-US. In private they were receptive to the idea and wanted to continue our counter-terrorism activities--which they rely on. Don't believe everything you read about AFRICOM, especially from the Post.
Posted by PJ | June 27, 2007 9:01 AM:"With pedominantly Arab Muslim populations, the govts of the Mahgreb are in tenuous control. They have to posture in public as anti-US. In private they were receptive to the idea and wanted to continue our counter-terrorism activities--which they rely on."
There's often a touching naivete about State Department Officials. What makes you think they weren't lying in private and telling the truth in public? What makes you think they don't just posture in secret? It is cheaper than actually doing anything. The only way to make sure you know what another government, especially a Third World, really means is to make them pay. If it hurts and they still do it, they probably mean it. Otherwise they don't. I don't see anyone hurting for Uncle Sam or counter-terrorism.
Comments closed July 10, 2007.
| 
Heads in the Sand
Darfur here we come!
Posted by dr | June 26, 2007 8:59 AM