The tone of the article is one of optimism for Africa, but placed primarily on the election of B.H. Obama. The writer(s) were professional enough to bring to the fore that the present president of the USA has done more to combat AIDS in Africa than any other . . not mentioned is that he has done the same for many others. (Note how even the most jaded ‘rock stars’, et al, have never campaigned against him ~ they (and African reps) thought they would ‘shock’ him with the amount of money needed. President Bush not only agreed, but added Billions to that total.) Congressman Conyers speaks about AfriCom as “the latest attempt to re-colonize Africa.” This is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard coming from anyone, anywhere, let alone a US congressman. Statements like these are known as “pandering” to the public; this is not only beneath his position as a public official, but an embarrassment to the average citizen of the United States of America. The US not only has never ‘colonized’, but has done more than any nation in history to undo that vile term. (The USA was once a colony, remember?) The aim of AfriCom is as far from colonization as one may get. Yes, US interests are involved ~ because it was finally figured out that a world at peace is a much better place to be.