In What Ways Has US Security Cooperation Programs Been Effective in Helping Kenya to Build Partnership Capacity to Counter Transnational Terrorism?
Abstract
This monograph uses Kenya as a case study to analyze the U.S. Security Cooperation role and process in building host-nation capacity to counter transnational terrorists' networks. U.S. counterterrorism operations since 9/11 have explicitly demonstrated the U.S. requirement to take an indirect approach to the problem. In addition to host-nation capacity building, the cooperation of all agencies within the U.S. Government (USG) is required for a coordinated and effective approach to the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). The United States began formal relations with Kenya in 1981 with air and port basing agreements. Kenya's strategic location also has facilitated access for stability and humanitarian operations in the western Indian Ocean and east Africa. Kenya became a central front in the GWOT due to its strategic location and willingness to be an ally. Kenya is one of the three "anchor states" in sub-Saharan Africa, along with Nigeria and South Africa, that are essential to stabilizing the area. The program with Kenya focuses on three general lines of effort: foreign assistance, defense security cooperation and assistance programs, and counter-terrorism training programs. In general, all three efforts have been effective, but the lack of a coordinated regional U.S. Government effort has reduced the effectiveness of on-going programs to counter the transnational threat in the region. This monograph seeks to determine if the conditions in Kenya support or deter terrorists' exploitation by examining the country's overall stability, economic conditions, governance, corruption, and strength of institutions. These factors are not the cause of terrorism, but they do leave states vulnerable to terrorists' networks. The primary question this study investigates is this: In what ways has the United States achieved its goals of building partner capacity through security cooperation with Kenya? The focus is on the period after the 1998 U.S. embassy bombing in Nairobi.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 30, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA470674
Entities
People
- Jason C. Henneke
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College