Gregory Simpkins
9 October 2008
guest column
It seems that Republican candidates for president are all too often written off as not having sufficient interest or experience to benefit Africa, even though recent history has proven such speculation to be untrue.
For example, in discussing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that he wrote, former Democratic congressional staff member Mike Williams often refers publicly to then-Vice President Richard Nixon's support for U.S.-Africa trade as the result of his late 1950s visit to Africa for the Eisenhower administration. According to Williams, Nixon's view on the need for enhanced U.S. trade with Africa partly served as his inspiration for the AGOA bill.
Throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, American presidents dealt with the newly-independent African nations either through their former European colonial powers, who were by and large U.S. allies, or in relation to those nations' ties to the Soviet Union.
When President George H.W. Bush became president, few would have expected him to do anything much to benefit Africa despite his extensive foreign policy expertise. As it turned out, his administration came to power at a point in history when the Cold War influence on U.S. policy toward Africa was about to end and colonialism was finished. Now America could consider relationships with African nations that had nothing to do with European colonial powers or Russia.
Under the first Bush administration, the United States fielded a large humanitarian operation in Somalia and created the African Regional Electoral Assistance Fund, which would make significant technical contributions to the wave of African elections and transitions to democratic systems in the 1990s.
Moreover, the administration of the first President Bush issued National Security Review 30, a paper that outlined a broad policy of increased U.S. engagement with Africa. That policy initiative came too late in his administration to be enacted, but fortunately President Bill Clinton did enact it.
Clinton had no Africa experience to speak of coming into the presidency, but building on the Bush plan, he produced a robust engagement of Africa that has set the tone for his successors. He signed into law the first AGOA bill, which helped to realize the increased U.S.-Africa trade Nixon had spoken of decades earlier.
The current President George Bush came into office with no Africa experience as well, but he has assembled a remarkable record of achievement on Africa policy – from his administration's greatly-expanded contributions of funds to combat HIV/Aids and malaria to his steadfast advocacy of AGOA, his support for African education (especially for girls) and his partnership with African governments on mutual security issues.
It would be foolish to suggest that Senator John McCain has more knowledge or passion for the continent than Senator Barack Obama – a son of Africa – but that does not mean a McCain presidency would ignore or neglect Africa. We have moved beyond that possibility.
Africa matters and U.S. policymakers understand that. The bulk of trade with African nations still centers on American imports of African oil. U.S. oil imports from Africa comprise nearly a quarter of American oil imports and promise to grow as new sources of oil continue to be found in West Africa. West African crude oil is less costly to produce and refine and there are no strategic choke points to inhibit its transport – just open ocean to American refineries.
Moreover, African nations have abundant minerals on which our modern economy relies. Nearly 80 percent of the strategic minerals the U.S. needs need originate in Africa. An estimated 97 percent of the world's platinum is from Africa, as well as 90 percent of the cobalt, 80 percent of the chromium, 64 percent of the manganese, half the world's gold reserves and as much as a third of all uranium. In recent years, the mineral coltan, largely coming from Africa, has enabled the development of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices. We would be hard-pressed to construct jet aircraft, automobile catalytic converters or iPods without the minerals found in Africa, and in some cases, almost nowhere else in the world.
Senator McCain has expressed his desire to work with African partners on issues of mutual concern, and there is every reason to believe he is sincere in that sentiment and has the support to make it happen.
His main Africa adviser, Professor J. Peter Pham of James Madison University, has impressed broad audiences with his knowledge of Africa in his writings, at congressional hearings and at appearances on behalf of Senator McCain.
There are also other Republicans who can provide advice on Africa to a McCain administration, such as Richard Williamson, our special envoy to Sudan; U.S. ambassador to Tanzania Mark Green; Senators Sam Brownback and Norm Coleman, staunch supporters of various Africa legislation; Congressman Ed Royce, the successful House floor leader for AGOA; Congressman Chris Smith, the relentless battler against modern-day slavery; Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, champion of legislation to address the scourge of child soldiers; and Congressman John Boozman, founder of the congressional West Africa Caucus.
So Africa need not depend on Senator Obama to win to have its issues addressed by a new U.S. administration. Republicans do just fine on Africa.
Gregory Simpkins is vice president for policy and program development for the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation. He served as a professional staff member for the U.S. House of Representatives sub-committee on Africa policy issues under two Republican chairmen.
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"PHYSICIAN,HEAL THYSELF" It is not part of Republican party culture to look after people who are down. Your party has done bad things recently, and you know them. I am always grateful to America for enabling me to become what I am today. However, everything that has helped me was voted against by your party men at the time some President made it to become law. Your party has lots of evil chacracters e.g Rush Limbau, and all members of useless societies such as the KKK, and known racists. "A cow does not feel good, where they are killing Sheep", so, I donot feel good when a particular party has a motto of helping the rich in particular. How on earth, do you expect this beautiful country to make it in the face of multiple wars and a love for cutting taxes for the rich? How on earth, can a sane people, in such a pretty country support laws that people should carry guns freely? Donot misunderstand me:I am simply writing on what has become your party's portfolio. Not every Republican is an evil person, but, a great many(including some of my colleagues in an all-white college) are hard to deal with. They just donot care about others. "If you donot like human beings who you see everyday, is it God that will think you will like him when you see him? Now, cure the economic imbrogilo that you have let loose upon the world.
Author tbeme wonders why it took (takes) so long for something to be implemented (from the U.S. side) and why the continent is so “outdated”. To the first, politics. Second, when the PEOPLE are ready to DEMAND progress, it will come. I pray for his/her family. Then Phillip Owi and Wachira weigh in with what I at first thought was complete tripe, but I do wonder if it is not as a result of a politically skewed education. To bring up the KKK in this day and age is simply stupid. To associate it with the Republican party shows an extreme ignorance of history. (By the by, what few remaining idiots there may be in what is left of the KKK, are reviled by all but their pathetic brethren.) The KKK came about by (moronic) folks instigating what started as a vigilante group; this group was formed by the losers of a war. President Lincoln was a founder of the Republican party, and I would hope you at least know enough history to know that he was not a racist. They then rant on about many things, like “How about stepping in with the eastern DRC/Rwanda violence?” Okay, it would be a good point if one were, say, God, but other than that, he has not a clue that even the U.S., the most powerful nation in the world, can not do everything at once. If anyone cares to take the time to verify the veracity of Gregory Simpkins article, I know they will be proved true. In closing I will refer to a statement I made about the power of the U.S.A. Look at all of the nations in the world, and remember that the U.S.A. started its revolution in 1776. Others have been around many millennia. We are not perfect, but strive for it every day, and in every free election. As a side note, the USA allows more legal immigrants in to our country every year than the rest of the world combined. The U.S.A. gives more money and technical assistance to other countries than the rest of the world . . . COMBINED. Think about it. (And while you are at it, see if you can get some teachers that know what they are doing. We want you as our friends. Diversity is one of our greatest strengths.)
Gee - what a surprise that this article was written by a Republican. What an easy exercise to toss down a few accomplishments that the republican adminstrations have done. I hope people are not that easily fooled, and it's a bit disheartening to see this news forum used as such an obvious PR piece - kind of disgusting actually.
The REAL deal on Somalia? The US withdrew, ran actually with it's tail between it's legs - badly managed, badly implemented, and likely did more to stoke the war than help it.
And, let's not forget the promises made with regard to relief packages to Africa - the US is nowhere near what they've promised. This is, and should be noted as, the biggest shortcoming of all. To publicly promise large amounts gets immediate press - the press is less compelled to report continuously on the under-delivery of the promise, it's just not the same PR buzz. (And for the record, I'm a US citizen).
How much did the US help Kenya in post-electoral violence? How about stepping in with the eastern DRC/Rwanda violence?
Africans and those who care about Africa's future - do NOT be duped by the above PR piece - this is in no way an objective news article. And remember - US Republicans don't even fully believe in global warming (as if it's existence was a debate any longer) - want to guess what Republicans will do to help Africa in this regard? You got it - zero.
The article sounds good, but wait. If the republican has done so much for Africa, then how come it took so long to get something implemented? Also, why is Africa so outdated in education, health and other important social needs? When has anyone outside Africa done anything that was really sincere and beneficial? Yeah, that article do sound like propaganda.