Is the United States Africa Command on Track

Abstract

The February 2007 decision to launch a new Department of Defense Unified Combatant Command for Africa (AFRICOM) has met with controversy both in the United States and abroad. AFRICOM's proponents claim that the new command accurately reflects Africa's growing strategic importance and an enlightened U.S. foreign policy focused on supporting "African solutions to African problems." Its critics allege that the command demonstrates a self-serving American policy focused on fighting terrorism, securing Africa's burgeoning energy stocks, and countering Chinese influence. To overcome such misgivings AFRICOM must demonstrate a commitment to programs mutually beneficial to both African and American national interests. In his speeches, General Ward has repeatedly asserted that AFRICOM intends to be a learning organization. The question is, has the command and its staff used the opportunity following its formation to date, to prove its ability to assist the continent to meet its security challenges?

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA520014

Entities

People

  • Sentsekae T. Macheng

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Continents
  • Employment
  • Governments
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Law
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • United States
  • United States Africa Command
  • United States European Command
  • United States Government
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • International Relations, focusing on Korea-Africa and North Korea-South Korea relations, and Nigeria-Latin American Relations.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Strategic Security Studies