President Bush's Africa trip about more than AIDS
Jessica Johnson
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Opinion
Liberia is the only country in Africa that's expressed an interest in hosting AFRICOM, or Africa Command, which is a coalition created by Bush to bring peace and stability to Africa, according to the AFRICOM Web site.
Bush's trip was only intended to mark success in the battle against AIDS. He made no reference to AFRICOM as the purpose of his trip.
"The governments of these countries are very, very clear about the way in which this trip is tied to the militarization of Africa and the spread of AFRICOM," Horace Campbell, professor of African-American studies and political science, said.
Last week, Campbell told Amy Goodman of Democracy Now that the new AFRICOM, with headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, would permit under the U.S. military "whatever work is being done in Africa by the United States Agency for International Development, the United States Treasury, the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Commerce, all agencies, Peace Corps and university work." In other words, this will be the next step for the militarization of the continent of Africa.
Jessica Johnson is a junior television, radio and film major. Her columns appear every other Tuesday. She can be reached at jtjohn03@syr.edu.
Bush's trip was only intended to mark success in the battle against AIDS. He made no reference to AFRICOM as the purpose of his trip.
"The governments of these countries are very, very clear about the way in which this trip is tied to the militarization of Africa and the spread of AFRICOM," Horace Campbell, professor of African-American studies and political science, said.
Last week, Campbell told Amy Goodman of Democracy Now that the new AFRICOM, with headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, would permit under the U.S. military "whatever work is being done in Africa by the United States Agency for International Development, the United States Treasury, the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Commerce, all agencies, Peace Corps and university work." In other words, this will be the next step for the militarization of the continent of Africa.
Jessica Johnson is a junior television, radio and film major. Her columns appear every other Tuesday. She can be reached at jtjohn03@syr.edu.
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