Africa has always been a backwater as far as the US military is concerned, a place where we once sought to counter Soviet influence but where little intrinsic strategic interest was discerned. Today, the situation is different. A lot of new military initiatives between the United States and African nations are coming online in conjunction with the standing-up of the Pentagon's newest regional combatant command, Africa Command, or Africom, which will be completed next year. One of the latest is the African Partnership Station scheme, which kicked off this fall, in which the US navy and Marine Corps will maintain a constant naval presence in West Africa's Gulf of Guinea.
Read on: Continental ambitions.
There are 12 comments so far, most of which are characterized by this one:
Yup, this one brought the US-bashing tinfoil hatters out from under their rocks in force.
Comments (5)
It's the Guardian. What kind of comments did you expect?
Posted by Jeremy A![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/weblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 20, 2007 6:45 PM
I'm reminded of one of my ex-gf's favorite sayings: "I'm right, you're wrong, so there." Adorable when it came from her lips, not so pleasant when people mistake it for actual proof of argument.
Posted by Michael | December 20, 2007 9:17 PM
Kudos on your jump across the pond to yet another commentary forum. Did your spell-checker have any trouble with "manoeuvre"?
Posted by Matthew Garcia | December 20, 2007 10:50 PM
MG: the Guardian edited for their style ;-)
Posted by Sean Meade![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/weblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 21, 2007 8:12 AM
Sounds like a better idea than private security firms, such as Executive Solutions, trying to secure our interests.
Posted by cyberdyver![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/weblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 2, 2008 10:28 AM