|
Bush deploys black general
11/07/2007 08:23 - (SA)
Washington - United States President George W Bush on Tuesday nominated army general William Ward, the highest ranking black in the US military, to lead the new Africa Command and co-ordinate military operations on the continent.
Bush's decision in February to create Africa Command came
after months of discussion inside the Pentagon and reflected
increasing US strategic interest in the continent and worry
that Islamic militants were finding safe haven there.
Ward, who must be confirmed by the senate, was the
fifth black man to attain a fourth star, making him a full
general.
Ward said: "I am honoured by President Bush's and (Defence) secretary (Robert) Gates' confidence and look forward to the confirmation process."
Africa's natural resources
US military and intelligence assessments had for years
pointed to potential threats in Africa posed by weak
governments and ungoverned spaces as well as humanitarian
crises and armed conflicts.
Al-Qaeda carried out near simultaneous car bombings at the
US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,
in 1998, killing more than 250 people.
Since then, the US began counter-terrorism
training for local armies in west and central Africa and this
year launched air strikes targeting al-Qaeda militants in
Somalia.
Washington was also interested in the potential offered by
Africa's natural resources, especially as the US tried to reduce dependence on oil from the Middle East.
The US military assigned responsibility for parts of the
world to regional commands. Africa was now divided between
European Command, responsible for Europe and most of Africa,
and Central Command, responsible for the Middle East and Horn
of Africa.
Operational command
Africa Command would first be part of European Command and
have some operational capability by October. It should be a
stand-alone, operational command by the end of fiscal year
2008, which ended on September 30 2008.
The Pentagon has not decided where to put Africa Command's
headquarters. Ryan Henry, principal deputy undersecretary of
defence for policy, in June said the command might set up staff
offices at different places around the continent.
- Reuters
|
News
