Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog

ARTICLE: Pentagon scales back AFRICOM ambitions, By Gordon Lubold, Christian Science Monitor, May 16, 2008

Don't be surprised by the back-tracking. This was the military's reach, not the rest of the government's.

Here's the key realization:

Officials have had to make other adjustments. Initially billed as a "whole of government" approach to solving the region's problems, the new, hybrid command had sought to marry military and civilian expertise.

"To make it more effective, we want to incorporate other nonmilitary US players working in Africa so the security piece is optimized," says Col. Pat Mackin, a spokesman for US Africa Command. But, he adds, "There is no government mechanism to create a true interagency headquarters." [italics mine]

The command of about 1,300 people will still be half civilian and half military, and agencies such as the US State Department will be given senior positions.

Enough is done by this administration simply to set it up and start the evolution. Proof will come in deeds, not promises. Resistance from locals will weaken if we do our job right, and harden if we do it badly.

It's as simple as that.

But good instincts and clear signaling of bureaucratic desire by the much put-upon U.S. military.