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26 November 2008
AFRICOM Spokesman Discusses U.S.-Africa Military Relations
Ask America webchat transcript, November 20
Vince Crawley, a spokesman for the U.S. Africa Command, answered questions in a November 20 Ask America webchat on military relations between the United States and Africa.
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
Ask America Webchat Transcript
Guest: Vince Crawley
Date: November 20, 2008
Time: 9 a.m. EST (1400 GMT)
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): We are now joined by Vince Crawley, a U.S. Africa Command spokesperson! Thanks for being here!
U.S. Africa Command Vince Crawley: Hello. This is Vince Crawley. I'm a spokesman for U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany. U.S. Africa Command is responsible for coordinating military-to-military relationships between the United States and African nations and military organizations. I look forward to answering your questions.
Question [Issa]: Why US makes a new AFRICOM?
Answer [America.gov Senior Editor (Merle)]: Africa can expect America to remain engaged across the continent in fostering security, economic prosperity, improving health and education. While America can not meet these challenges alone, it will work closely with the people of Africa to enhance their lives and livelihoods. That has been America's commitment under President Bush and will be under President-Elect Obama. Thank you for this opportunity to speak with you on these important issues.
Answer [U.S. Africa Command Vince Crawley]: This represent's the U.S. military's recognition of the importance of African nations and the African Union. This doesn't change U.S. policy in Africa. The main purpose is to allow the U.S. military to more effectively support U.S. policy.
Q: [djamel fenineche algeria]: what do you think of algeria and other big africain states to host the comnd of Africom?
A [U.S. Africa Command Vince Crawley]: We are not actively seeking any host for the command. As of now, U.S. Africa Command has not asked any government other than the government of Germany to host its headquarters. In October, Secretary of Defense Gates decided to delay a decision on the permanent location of the U.S. Africa Command headquarters until early 2012. The decision has been postponed so that U.S. Africa Command can develop more experience in working with partner nation militaries and thus a better understanding of its long-term operational requirements. Selection of any location for an U.S. Africa Command presence will depend upon the invitation of the host nation.
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): RoseM asked a very good question in our open forum. I'm going to repost it here.
Q [RoseM]: The EU plans to send troops to strengthen the UN mission in DRC Congo, what role can AFRICOM play in this crisis?
A [U.S. Africa Command Vince Crawley]: We provide military support to U.S. policy. So we stand ready to support any decisions by our elected leadership with regard to U.S. support for the international community in DRC Congo.
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): We have two questions here concerning piracy.
Q [TKO]: Why USA mosdt powerful military force canot stop Somali pirate? will new africom fufill this role?
Q [RoseM]: Just a curiosity. o you know it there are any links between pirates operating in Somalia and indonesian pirates from the malacca straight? or other pirates groups?
A [U.S. Africa Command Vince Crawley]: There has not been a change to U.S. policy. U.S. Africa Command views piracy as an international problem that requires an international solution. The current incidents in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden are in waters patrolled by our sister headquarters, U.S. Central Command, and its maritime component, U.S. 5th Fleet. U.S. Africa Command is taking a long-term approach to working with African military and security organizations to help them develop more effective capacity to patrol their waters.
Q [mohamed]: Can AFRICOM help Somaliland to fighit the somali islamic radicals Al shabab by training and intelegince wise?
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Please visit http://www.america.gov/multimedia/askamerica.html for information on our programs.
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Also, please email us at conx@state.gov to get our newsletter announcing upcoming programs.
A [U.S. Africa Command spokesman Vince Crawley 2]: Our focus right now is on building long-term, transparent relationships with the African Union and African nations and organizations. Our interest is not in unilateral solutions to security challenges in Africa but in working with African nations and organizations to support African solutions to African challenges. For example, we have provided training and airlift support to the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.
Q [RoseM]: Gender based violence is a huge issue in many african conflicts. How does the ACOTA training programs take this dimension of conflicts into account?
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): While Mr. Crawley answers this question I want to point you to the U.S. Africa Command website: http://www.africom.mil/
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Also, for more news on the relationship between the U.S. and Africa go to this website: http://www.america.gov/world/africa.html
A [U.S. Africa Command spokesman Vince Crawley 5]: Excellent question. ACOTA peacekeeper training, as well as all U.S. military training, includes a strong element of core U.S. values, to include cultural and gender respect. Earlier this month, for example, one of our female colonels spoke at a military seminar in Swaziland and addressed gender specific issues, including sexual assault, harassment, and pregnancy, with the intent of helping to improve overall order, discipline, and readiness of the Swaziland and Lesotho militaries. Our own U.S. military integrated women into the force in the 1970s as part of our switch to an all-volunteer force. In recent days, the U.S. military just promoted its first four-star female general. Another example: a team of military investigators and lawyers from the United States and Europe visited the Democratic Republic of Congo in late January to take part in a collaborative training project with the Congolese military on the investigation and prosecution of sex crimes that take place under military jurisdiction. A four-day training workshop was organized by the U.N. Mission in DR Congo's Rule of Law division in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Defense Institute of International Legal Studies, home-based in Newport, Rhode Island.
Q [Josephs]: What does US want with africa command>
A [U.S. Africa Command spokesman Vince Crawley 6]: What does the U.S. want with Africa Command? In a word, Partnership. The U.S. Department of State has had an Africa Bureau for 50 years now. The U.S. military in the past several years came to realize that we were not well organized to work with Africa. We want to work with African nations and organizations to promote security and prevent conflict in support of U.S. foreign policy in Africa. You should not expect dramatic changes. We are a new organization, and we intend to spend the next months and years visiting, consulting and listening to our international partners.
Q [chat]: Sir, you may koww (this follow on to Rose M) that a true professional modern armed force trains soldiers to respect human rights. Will this partmnership be used to modernize soldiers in Africa to respect human rights of people?
A [U.S. Africa Command spokesman Vince Crawley 7]: Absolutely. We're working with Africans and the international community to promote the fundamental idea that the military can be a servant of the people, allowing stability and prosperity to flourish. Our U.S. military works under the oversight of our U.S. Congress and under the scrutiny of U.S. and international media. We emphasize that this public scrutiny is part of the U.S. governing process. Under the direction of our Congress, U.S. military training includes respect for human rights. Further, our laws require that any individual receiving U.S. military training first must be investigated by our U.S. Embassy staffs to ensure they have no records of prior human-rights violations. We take this very seriously. About 200,000 young American men and women join our armed forces every year, as volunteers. Their country and their families expect them to serve with honor, representing our nation with dignity.
Q [Josephs]: What countries in Africa does the US see as big challenge besides Somalia and Sudan
A [U.S. Africa Command spokesman Vince Crawley 8]: I'm going to have to speak not of challenges but of opportunities. We work in one way or another with nearly every one of Africa's nations, at the request of host nations and with the approval of our Department of State. Our commander, General William Ward, is very much interested in taking a regional and continental view of Africa, not on singling out individual nations but on working with regional organizations, such as the African Standby Force, as well as the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. He is paying his second visit to the African Union in the near future.
Q [RoseM]: People (I mean regular citizens) in many countries have a negative image of security assistance partnerships, will your consultations also include CSOs or just security officials ?
Q [Webchat Moderator (Kristin)]: Rose - what do you mean by CSO?
Q [Webchat Moderator (Kristin)]: What does that stand for?
Comment [RoseM]: Civil society organizations, sorry (local NGOs, political parties, etc)
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Great, thanks Rose!
A [U.S. Africa Command spokesman Vince Crawley 8]: We fully realize we'll be judged by our deeds, not by our words. We consult with a wide range of people and organizations. Our U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is the lead U.S. government agency for dealing with development matters and in connecting and consulting with NGOs and civil groups. We have three senior USAID people on our staff to help us more effectively understand civil sector work, so that the military can better support overall U.S. policy. We do understand that many peoples around the world view military organizations in a less than positive light. General Ward, our commander, is very adamant that we conduct ourselves as guests in Africa and with dignity and respect. His goal is that, decades from now, the work of U.S. Africa Command will be viewed in a positive light. With the coordination of our USAID and U.S. Embassy colleagues, we do consult with NGOs and others.
Q [Duncan Henry Sisya]: What do you think about the future of Africa?
A [U.S. Africa Command spokesman Vince Crawley 8]: My boss, General Ward, said it best during a visit earlier this year to an internally displaced persons camp: ‘I am confident that in the years to come, people will see an Africa that is secure, stable and developed in ways meaningful to its people and our global society. U.S. Africa Command will make positive contributions in this important endeavor."
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Thank you so much for joining us, Vince!
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): And thanks to all our participants for submitting questions and for joining us today.
Comment [RoseM]: Indeed, many thanks!
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): We appreciate your feedback and input.
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): Please visit http://www.america.gov/multimedia/askamerica.html for information on our programs.
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): We also have a facebook community at http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/CoNx-See-the-World/26365096875
Webchat Moderator (Kristin): This chat is now closed.
(end transcript)
