2.7.2007: Into Africa

President Bush's approval of the creation of an African Command to handle military issues related to that region is mixed news for those who have advocated that issues related to Africa should receive more attention.

Management of military matters in Africa had previously been split between the U.S. Central Command and the European Command. But former Defense Secretary Rumsfield had recommended the change as way to address geopolitical changes in the 21st Century.

While this does not mean an imminent U.S. military response to the genocide in Darfur, it is another signal that the Bush Administration does take African issues more seriously than many critics contend.

In addition to the military reorganization, Bush has pledged $15 billion dollars over 5 years to address the global AIDs crisis. --especially in several African countries. In his budget announcement this week, W requested $5.4 billion in spending for this effort ($1.4 billion more than last year.)

The reality in Africa is that we still depend greatly on Nigeria's oil reserves, but this supply is constantly threatened by bands of independent militias. We also want to prevent Al Qaeda elements from preying upon dysfunctional governments, like that in Somalia.

W sees AIDs relief and military restructuring as a way to address issues like these because he rightly sees Africa as being on the front lines of the Global War on Terror.