AFRICOM has not gone away

| Tuesday February 26, 2008 00:00

Although politicians, policymakers, and persons of influence may not always appreciate what the media has to say, an informed and activist 'Fourth Estate' is essential in ensuring liberty and justice, in your country as well as mine.  I do wish to take exception, however, with three issues you seem to present as fact in your editorial but are really more one-sided opinion.

Firstly, in actual fact AFRICOM has not gone away.  It exists, as it has, since October 2007 when it was formed as part of a U.S. Department of Defence reorganisation.  The headquarters is currently located in Stuttgart, Germany where it will likely remain until such future time as the United States Government decides to locate an AFRICOM administrative office presence on the continent. 

An AFRICOM spokesman also observed on February 19 that 'the discussion of where we will place the headquarters has been so animated and apprehensive that it is getting in the way of our programmes.'  As successor to the European Command or EUCOM, AFRICOM continues to assist many African nations. 

Botswana has been a significant beneficiary of important military-to-military cooperation that has gone on for decades.  The Botswana Defence Force has sent many of its soldiers and officers to the United States for training over the years, under the auspices of EUCOM funding. 

This has aided the development of one of the finest and most professional militaries in all of Africa, which has a genuine respect for the civilian and elected officials in Botswana.  Strong civil-military relations are vital to the health of any democracy, and U.S. engagement with Botswana through EUCOM and now AFRICOM has supported the peace, opportunity, and tranquility Botswana so richly deserves.

Secondly, as a founding member and its leading benefactor since 1945, the United States takes great pride in the leadership role it has achieved within the United Nations and its multitude of specialized agencies to further the security, human rights, and other interests of the world's citizens -- many of whom live in Africa. 

The United States works very closely with and has a diplomatic mission accredited to the Addis Ababa-based African Union (we had close contact as well for years with its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity) to promote conflict resolution and peacekeeping endeavours, humanitarian assistance, and economic development across this great continent. 

Our Embassy here also maintains an effective and cordial liaison with and support for the Gaborone-based Southern African Development Community, in such issues as trade, energy, and the environment, and we continue to explore avenues to enhance U.S.-SADC cooperation.

Finally, Botswana and the United States are each like any other nation, in that we all have important national interests and will seek to advance and protect them as we best see fit. 

Rather than suppose, as you do, that the 'failures of America's foreign policies around the world, seemingly driven by the Machiavellian spirit, have been recorded in history,' I would instead cite the scores of successes, fuelled by the spirit of Jeffersonian democracy and the goodness and strength of America's people and their representative government. 

History has recorded how we have stood up to Nazi fascism, Soviet communism, and the evils of terrorist extremism that we all experience today, in order to make the world a safer and more prosperous place. 

When problems confront our society at home, or affect our vital interests abroad, Americans tend to deal with them straight on in the public domain, whereas others might choose to avoid a festering sore as this is more a risk-averse approach -- and often more dangerous in the long run. 

Please poll the previously-oppressed people, or their progeny, on every continent to get a true sense of whether American foreign policy has made a difference to them or not.   In his journey across five nations in Africa this week, President Bush has certainly enjoyed a warm reception for the assistance the United States has bestowed across Africa in the fields of health, trade and investment, and economic development.  Botswana too has been a major beneficiary of PEPFAR funding, in our mutual global war against the terrible scourge of HIV/AIDS.    

In closing, let me also note that AFRICOM Commander General William Ward, who visited Botswana last December, confirmed during a visit to Egypt on February 17 that Washington has not yet asked countries on the continent to host the AFRICOM headquarters, and that Liberia is the only country that has publicly offered to do so.  Therefore, the AFRICOM headquarters for the time being remains in Germany, but AFRICOM itself has not gone away, nor will it. 

The good news is that the important work of building strong civil-military and security cooperation across Africa continues, for which many Africans and Americans are undoubtedly grateful.

Keep up the good reporting and writing, and I appreciate your allowing me to express my own opinions, just as you have done on your editorial page.  I can also assure you that I have no plans to cancel my Mmegi subscription.  Best regards.
Sincerely,

Philip R. Drouin
Deputy Chief of Mission
Embassy of the
United States of America
Gaborone