Head Of US Africa Command Nominated

[Jacaylbaro]

President George W. Bush nominated Army Gen. William Ward on Tuesday as the first commander of a new U.S. military command for Africa, the Defense Department said.

 

Ward is currently deputy commander of the U.S. European Command after serving in South Korea, Egypt, Somalia, Bosnia, Israel and Germany. The Senate must confirm the nomination.

 

The Africa Command, or Africom, is due to be fully operational by the end of September 2008 and is aimed at coordinating U.S. military and humanitarian efforts for most of Africa.

 

Bush's decision to set up a new Africa command in February came amid concern that politically unstable African countries could be a sanctuary for Islamist militants.

 

The decision also reflects increasing U.S. interest in natural resources on the continent at a time China is trying hard to strengthen ties with African countries to secure the energy supplies it needs to sustain its rapid economic development.

 

At present, responsibility for operations on the African continent is split among three combatant commands -- the U.S. European Command, U.S. Central Command and U.S. Pacific Command.

 

They are responsible for most of the nations on the African mainland except in the Horn of Africa, for Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia and Kenya, and for Madagascar, the Seychelles and the Indian Ocean area off the African coast, respectively.

 

Cajiib

[AYOUB]

Is it because he's black?

[Fabregas]

will he save us from their bombs?

[AYOUB]

Spot on Oodweyne. Brother Bill should've asked his masters that question when he was selected for this field duty. Only a matter of time before he's championed as the liberator of Darfur.