African foreign policy evaluated
A USC conference brings together panelists to discuss African Command.
Marysol Valle
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: News
A conference on the United States' new military operative in Africa stressed the importance of taking a supporting rather than a dominating role in African foreign policy.
The USC Center on Public Diplomacy and the USC Center for International Studies organized the Feb. 7-8 conference to open up dialogue about the purpose and intent of the U.S. Africa Command or AFRICOM.
AFRICOM is a new United States military headquarters committed to assisting 53 African nations in order to create stability within their societies, allowing economic and political growth, according to AFRICOM's website. It was established one year ago by President Bush.
The conference panelists continually stressed that AFRICOM will use soft power when dealing with African countries, a method in which the United States will play a background role, use traditional diplomacy and support as well as work multilaterally with other African agencies.
Among the people attending the panel discussions were retired and active military personnel, students and faculty, defense contractor representatives, journalists, African researchers and ambassadors.
"We act instead of listen sometimes, and AFRICOM is a risk and an experiment. Public diplomacy is a fundamental element in its success," said Ryan Henry, the principal deputy undersecretary of Defense for Policy.
There will not be a large military base in Africa, but rather a small presence in various African regions that will aim to be more responsive to the citizens' needs so as not to intimidate them, said Charles P. Kosak, the principal director for the Office of African Affairs.
AFRICOM will help African countries improve their capability and capacity to deal with the size of the problems they're facing, said General Herbert L. Altshuler, the director of Strategy Plans and Programs for U.S. Africa Command.
The military will need to establish a relationship with the African people by speaking with them to understand what is going on in a particular community and what they want to be done, he added.
The USC Center on Public Diplomacy and the USC Center for International Studies organized the Feb. 7-8 conference to open up dialogue about the purpose and intent of the U.S. Africa Command or AFRICOM.
AFRICOM is a new United States military headquarters committed to assisting 53 African nations in order to create stability within their societies, allowing economic and political growth, according to AFRICOM's website. It was established one year ago by President Bush.
The conference panelists continually stressed that AFRICOM will use soft power when dealing with African countries, a method in which the United States will play a background role, use traditional diplomacy and support as well as work multilaterally with other African agencies.
Among the people attending the panel discussions were retired and active military personnel, students and faculty, defense contractor representatives, journalists, African researchers and ambassadors.
"We act instead of listen sometimes, and AFRICOM is a risk and an experiment. Public diplomacy is a fundamental element in its success," said Ryan Henry, the principal deputy undersecretary of Defense for Policy.
There will not be a large military base in Africa, but rather a small presence in various African regions that will aim to be more responsive to the citizens' needs so as not to intimidate them, said Charles P. Kosak, the principal director for the Office of African Affairs.
AFRICOM will help African countries improve their capability and capacity to deal with the size of the problems they're facing, said General Herbert L. Altshuler, the director of Strategy Plans and Programs for U.S. Africa Command.
The military will need to establish a relationship with the African people by speaking with them to understand what is going on in a particular community and what they want to be done, he added.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
African Dashiki
posted 7/11/08 @ 8:45 PM PST
Today is the day all men see all other men as equals,
the days of territorial invasion and mercantilism
are over.
= )
Post a Comment