Leadership (Abuja)
28 September 2007
editorial
Abuja — Yesterday, the US Senate Committee on Armed Services opened confirmation hearings that would include the nomination of Army General William E. Ward as commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).
This is in spite of the stiff opposition to the project by most African countries. The Command is scheduled to begin operation by October 1.
When launched, AFRICOM will become a permanent military base in Africa, thus completing a long-desired strategic plan by the US. The stated reason was that it would check the spread of terrorism and smoothen the path of aid to the continent, but the real reason is to secure the continent's resources and safeguard US military interests in the region. However, many African and American pressure groups are vehemently opposed to this project, seen largely as a neocolonial expansionism. TransAfrica Forum, America's premier African-American foreign policy organisation, has said AFRICOM "represents a policy of US military-driven expansionism that will only enhance political instability, conflict, and the deterioration of state security."
The US has tried to effect illegal regime change in over 50 countries in addition to invading 35 others in 56 years. African countries should reject AFRICOM in its entirety. Our National Assembly should therefore be on the look-out for any effort by Uncle Sam to impose it on us. The US Senate Committee on Armed Services should also not give in to President Bush's expansionist policy under the guise of humanitarianism, knowing he is only making the world a much more dangerous place in which to live.
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