On 1/11/2008 4:06:09 PM Col Jim Welton wrote

I'm Colonel Jim Welton, U.S. Air Force, deputy director of Strategy, Plans and Programs. Our directorate is responsible for developing theater strategy, command policy, plans, and implementing theater security cooperation programs and military-to-military activities in support of U.S. foreign policy and U.S. aid and development efforts.

It is always interesting to read the views of the public that are posted on the AFRICOM Dialogue. It helps us to understand public views on the purpose of AFRICOM and how the command is being perceived globally.

In order for AFRICOM to be effective, we need to understand what people think about the command. From inception of the idea for a U.S. military unified command focused on Africa, the concept has always been that AFRICOM would be designed to address stability and security challenges faced by many of our friends and partners in Africa.

The work of other U.S. government departments and agencies, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will be more effectively supported by the establishment of AFRICOM, compared to the way the Department of Defense organized itself in the past, splitting Africa between three unified commands Central, European, and Pacific commands. In essence, the intent is to better focus the command to be able to support U.S. government efforts to encourage economic development, which requires stability, and stability requires security.

AFRICOM's first objective is to add value to all U.S. government efforts on the continent, which have been going on for decades, and do nothing to interfere with or degrade those programs, which are welcomed by the Africans. Over the course of the next nine months, we need to ensure we build our headquarters staff to be capable of taking on the responsibilities for the missions, activities, programs, and exercises that are currently being accomplished by Central, European, and Pacific commands.

The American people, and the U.S. government, want to support African efforts to build a peaceful, stable, secure, and prosperous environment for all Africa's peoples. We want to ensure that as we build AFRICOM, we support those efforts and desires in cooperation with our African partners and African organizations.

On 4/9/2008 6:16:21 AM BEN in USA wrote
Thank you very much for coming to the aid of Mama Africa. Africom Command will show the light in AFRICA as not just a continent of poverty and hunger and this might also change the long term negative mind settings,impressions created by the media over decades. I thinks positives images from AFRICOM will enable investors also see the security assurance in investing in Africa. My advice is that the American media must also start good media coverages over Africa which may also be of good help. My question is what is,will Africom Command do to help the African Union peace keeping operations in Sudan. They really lack equipment to sustain and maintain peace operations

On 2/25/2008 2:54:12 PM eugene in kigali wrote
The formation of AFRICOM was long overdue.The security and stability components of its mandate are very relevant to most African countries' needs despite some latent suspicions from some African leaders. But most importantly, focus should be directed towards peace keeping training and equipment. I believe, AFRICOM has particular interests in Africa. And I am sure African leaders and their countries have their interests too. This means both have a lot to gain from each others' interaction and cooperation...in terms of economic gain. But it is most essential to have secure and stable institutions in order to realize economic benefits. AFRICOM should help African governments build, strengthen, and stabilize security institutions and infrastructure. But AFRICOM should also have a physical base and presence on the continent if it has to achieve its mission.

On 2/20/2008 11:56:52 PM Suleiman in Hargeisa, Somaliland wrote
Principally, I support the establishment of AFRICOM and I must congratulate US government of this move or strategic decision which they decided to setup African Command in this particular time. As Somaliland citizen I believe that the security and stability of globe are entirely interconnected because today for many means and ways the world becomes village. Therefore we as the human being need regional and globally based partnership mechanism institutions that working for the promotion and protection of our most expensive asset which is the "security and stability".

Every one of us is well recall the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he said "We are all caught up in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever effects one directly effects all indirectly." Today the security of Washington, Bangladesh, Hargeisa, cape town, Jeddah, Israel is interconnected therefore the capacity of individual state army or security personal is not enough the protection against regional and international network of fundamentalist. Who courtly have great risk the lives of many human beings live around who have potential risks the economic of world as well as have dangerous treat against democratic systems particularly the fragile democractic culture in developing world.

I as well as many Somaliland people believe that at this moment the most vulnerable country in Africa who need the support of AFRICOM is Somaliland, because the fragile democracy of Somaliland and the latest achievements of Somaliland people are at risk to destroy the fundamentalists as they have 80 of country's economy and education system to those fundamentalist groups and their supporters. But the important question is at what time AFRICOM will help the needed African people or and nations?

It is too late.

Suleiman

On 2/1/2008 3:53:23 AM Leonso in Augusta, Georgia, USA wrote
First and foremost AFRICOM's inception is in the right direction for most of the regional commands located around the globe to follow. The COCOM's have for the past few decades served as warriors on foreign soils first and as statesmen second. With the Political Advisor and in some cases the Ambassadors of some nations are bit players in the grand scheme of things. Some countries perhaps because of their previous histories existence under military rule respond quicker to the uniformed figure. In certain regions that posture is perfectly acceptable, yet without a Cold War Era foe to deter and possibly fight, the reason for existence soon shifts to peaceful cooperation. Africom provides that mixture between regional cooperation and wartime mindset. A command that has both a wartime function and a peace and cooperation function is essential. The use of force in the Belgian Congo and Somalia as well as Rwanda and Liberia has shown that force is not the ultimate solution.

Africa for the most part will continue to remain a volatile, continent due to poverty, and tribalism and their natural resources being plundered and sold commercially elsewhere. Until the people decide that regional stability is a key tenet and their ability to maintain that stability is established. It will be difficult to unite the continent. "I ask the fifty two nations, who have given the Ethiopian people a promise to help them in their resistance to the aggressor, what are they willing to do for Ethiopia? And the great Powers who have promised the guarantee of collective security to small States on whom weighs the threat that they may one day suffer the fate of Ethiopia, I ask what measures do you intend to take? " Emperor Haile Selasie of Ethiopia spoke to the League of Nations in June of 1936. The content of the speech is similar to what Martin Luther King alludes to in his "I Have a Dream Speech" and has also been used in the lyrics "WAR" of the Jamaican singer Bob Marley.

On 1/14/2008 5:52:02 PM Dan in Frederick, MD wrote
Sir,

Consistent with the DoDD 3000.5 and GEN Ward's command guidance, I suggest AFRICOM adopt a forward-leaning, preventive posture that includes the rapid development of core skills and sustainment training for citizens of Africa.

African infrastructure will be a critical stabilizing element within the continent. Training the next generation of African business leaders, program managers, and skilled labor to absorb the work and labor asssociated with this construction ought to be foremost of your strategic concerns. African leadership during these sessions is paramount.

My suggestion is that AFRICOM conduct an industry day with African and US coporations who are willing and able to work in partnership. Focus would be on most-needed infrastructure in the country such as roads to gain access to ports, maritime and shipping ports, and airfields. These projects require skilled and capable labor for construction and for sustainment. Experienced US Companies would sign on as participants in training and in implementation.

AFRCIOM and Industry need to form a long term partnership with interests that are more than the bottom line. Rather, we need to invest in a new initiative of human security, through which we provide an alternative to the illusion of terror and the destruction it brings for all. The metric would be the measurable increase in such trades as construction, procurement, program management, number of African businesses, and engineering.

Investing in the infrastructure of the continent is a monumental effort that requires a unique strategic partnership between USAID, AFRICOM, and Industry in both Africa and the US.

The time to begin planning is now. As Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy Director Shay Assad stated on 2 Jan., We need government participants involved in source selections to fully engage with industry at all stages of the competitive process.

When we plan and engage early everyone wins.

Dan Wagner