By Mr. Ryan Henry, Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy
African Dialogue Conference  Print     Share  

Airlie House, Warrenton, Virginia, 

Sep 23, 2007 — On September 22-23, representatives from African nations attended a U.S.-sponsored weekend conference called the “AFRICOM Dialogue” to discuss U.S. Africa Command. The meeting took place at the Airlie House conference center near Warrenton, Virginia, about 80 kilometers from Washington, D.C.

Ryan Henry, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, delivered a dinner address at the close of the conference.

Among Henry's points:
The United States intuitively brings a continental perspective to issues.
Other nations may know much more about Africa, but they also may be limited by their history with the region.
Many of Africa's challenges are transnational and regional. African governments and institutions are moving toward a sense of “continentalism.”
Regional and continental institutions in Africa will require decades of diplomacy and investment. AFRICOM provides a mechanism for sustained engagement.
By nature, Americans are individualistic. To successfully work with Africans, America has to adapt its approach to be both more multi-lateral and bilateral.
AFRICOM is a bold experiment. It will evolve markedly over time as the United States learns from Africans how to most effectively contribute to the future of the continent.

Below is a transcript of Henry's remarks. The setting for the conference was near historic battlefields from the U.S. Civil War of 1861-65.


Participants:
Mr. Ryan Henry, Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy
African Dialogue Conference · Airlie House, Warrenton, Virginia
Sep 23, 2007

Good evening and welcome. I want to personally thank you for making the journey here in order to engage and join in this expanding dialogue on the establishment and evolution of US Africa Command. This is a journey that is only just beginning.

As I was driving west this afternoon, I found myself drifting back to a different time and place as we gather tonight in this area steeped in Civil War history. The battlefields of First and Second Manassas, or Bull Run depending on your heritage, are close by, but Warrenton is also famous for being the heart of “Mosby's Confederacy.”

Col. John Singleton Mosby, who is actually buried a few short miles from here in Warrenton Cemetery, was an innovative and daring leader of small detachments of irregular cavalry whose exploits harried Union leaders all across this area. His methods were unorthodox for the time, and not without some controversy, but he met success where it counts and that is on the battlefield.

And it struck me that there is an analogy here between Mosby's legacy and what we are developing with Africa Command. We intend to be as bold and daring in the implementation, experimentation and evolution of Africa Command as Mosby was during the Civil War. In terms of innovation and willingness to try different approaches, we intend to be as earnest as Mosby was in developing new tactics and experimenting with different types of irregular cavalry formations.

That said, however, I am not an expert on Africa. That expertise resides within this assembled audience. My expertise lies in the management of large enterprises and getting them to operate more effectively. But the first step to improve any organization requires initiating a dialogue and that is what we have been engaged in since President Bush announced the creation of Africa Command in February of this year.

I have made several extended trips to the continent, visited dozens of nations and have held frank and open discussions with numerous African political, military and business leaders. I have also just recently returned from Europe, where we held detailed discussions with many of our Western European friends and Allies about Africa Command.

So, while not an expert, I want to share with you some of the opinions I've formed to date as we have engaged on this subject.

MY OPINIONS
• The United States, by virtue of its size and history, intuitively brings a continental perspective to issues and is the only nation that can look at Africa as a continent and not as a collection of discrete regions or nation states.
• US actions in Africa are perceived through the larger lens of America's global strategic role, which can sometimes appear more threatening to Africans, since we have more operational reach and a broader strategic perspective than other actors possess.
• Other nations know much more about Africa and possess a greater understanding of the continent's challenges than we do in America. But, others are also captives, to some extent, of their history with the region and that limits what they can achieve.
• Many of Africa's challenges are transnational and regional in nature. African governments and institutions are moving toward a sense of “continentalism” and in some instances accountability and we need to adapt using new approaches, like AFRICOM.
• With sustained and coordinated commitment, we can achieve results in Africa, but that success will take decades, not years. Progress in Africa is not a sprint but an Ironman triathlon that requires the vigorous use of all elements of national power—diplomacy, investment, military and economic. AFRICOM provides a mechanism for sustained engagement on the continent.
• By nature, Americans are individualistic, while Europeans and others are more communalistic. To be successful, America has to adapt its approach to be both more multi-lateral and bilateral.
• AFRICOM is a bold experiment and a most innovative strategic concept. It will need to evolve markedly over time as we learn from you how to make our contribution on the continent most effective.


AFRICOM Strengthens Strategic Relationships

I understand there are some concerns about how existing relationships will change as AFRICOM stands up over the coming months and years. The bottom line is that some relationships will change. But I think you will come to see that the bulk of these changes will yield positive results.

With AFRICOM, you will begin to see noticeable efficiencies and improvements in how we engage with your respective governments and security forces. When we collaborate on training exercises, through AFRICOM we will provide instructors and trainers who possess richer regional experience and possess a mindset committed to the long-term investment in your success. When we work with your Ministries of Defense to identify officers for specialized training in the United States, AFRICOM will be able to coordinate those procedures within the context of closer relationships between your respective staffs and the staff at AFRICOM.

When natural disasters occur, we will already have a mechanism in place to respond rapidly to African requests for assistance, and to mount disaster relief efforts that leverage the resources and skill sets of all US government agencies on the continent. When crises arise, AFRICOM will be there to support your disaster management efforts and bolster the outcomes.

This weekend has been about explaining our vision for AFRICOM, why we think it is necessary and listening to your insights. In reality, however, AFRICOM's success hinges on how you collectively help inform its development and engagement. It will only be as effective as the nations of Africa want it to be in terms of us helping you help yourselves by working to professionalize your security forces, conducting joint training exercises and enhancing African security arrangements and structures.

Our Dialogue Will Continue

This weekenddoes not mark the end of our conversations on AFRICOM. It does, however, mark a transition to a new stage of our ongoing dialogue. Since February, we have been building the blueprint for AFRICOM – determining structure, disposition, areas of operations, mission hand-off schedules, fiscal and legal issues, and assorted administrative elements. We have invested significant time and energy to consult with you, solicit your ideas and listen to your valued advice. We remain interested in hearing your continued questions and comments as our planning moves to the next stage. We will continue to meet with you as required and listen to what you have to say, not only today, but as AFRICOM learns to crawl, and walk and function as a real command over the next year.

We know we do not have all of the answers understood as AFRICOM takes shape or even have the right questions framed. But no one possesses all of the answers here. We are humble in our approach and realize we will make mistakes as we move forward. But I want to assure you that we remain open to your perspectives, we want to hear your ideas and we will adapt and evolve as we garner insights and lessons learned along the way.

AFRICOM is a bold departure from how America usually establishes new military organizations. Historically, new commands only emerge after some crisis or disaster has occurred. The Pacific and European Commands are a legacy of the headquarters that fought World War II. Central Command was created in the aftermath of the Iranian Hostage Crisis in the late-1970s. Northern Command was established after the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

By creating AFRICOM now we hope to avoid a future disaster from occurring that we can all agree is not in the interests of either Africa or the United States. This command is something new and different. It reflects a new and profound American commitment to enhancing African security on a sustained versus episodic basis. AFRICOM will endeavor to help us create the conditions so that problems do not erupt into crises and crises don't result in catastrophes. Personally, I think we can deem it a success if AFRICOM keeps American troops out of Africa for another 50 years.

Thank you for your participation in this weekend-long dialogue. Your commitment is truly heartening.On September 22-23, representatives from African nations attended a U.S.-sponsored weekend conference called the “AFRICOM Dialogue” to discuss U.S. Africa Command. The meeting took place at the Airlie House conference center near Warrenton, Virginia, about 80 kilometers from Washington, D.C.

Ryan Henry, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, delivered a dinner address at the close of the conference.

Among Henry's points:
The United States intuitively brings a continental perspective to issues.
Other nations may know much more about Africa, but they also may be limited by their history with the region.
Many of Africa's challenges are transnational and regional. African governments and institutions are moving toward a sense of “continentalism.”
Regional and continental institutions in Africa will require decades of diplomacy and investment. AFRICOM provides a mechanism for sustained engagement.
By nature, Americans are individualistic. To successfully work with Africans, America has to adapt its approach to be both more multi-lateral and bilateral.
AFRICOM is a bold experiment. It will evolve markedly over time as the United States learns from Africans how to most effectively contribute to the future of the continent.

Below is a transcript of Henry's remarks. The setting for the conference was near historic battlefields from the U.S. Civil War of 1861-65.


Participants:
Mr. Ryan Henry, Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy
African Dialogue Conference · Airlie House, Warrenton, Virginia
Sep 23, 2007

Good evening and welcome. I want to personally thank you for making the journey here in order to engage and join in this expanding dialogue on the establishment and evolution of US Africa Command. This is a journey that is only just beginning.

As I was driving west this afternoon, I found myself drifting back to a different time and place as we gather tonight in this area steeped in Civil War history. The battlefields of First and Second Manassas, or Bull Run depending on your heritage, are close by, but Warrenton is also famous for being the heart of “Mosby's Confederacy.”

Col. John Singleton Mosby, who is actually buried a few short miles from here in Warrenton Cemetery, was an innovative and daring leader of small detachments of irregular cavalry whose exploits harried Union leaders all across this area. His methods were unorthodox for the time, and not without some controversy, but he met success where it counts and that is on the battlefield.

And it struck me that there is an analogy here between Mosby's legacy and what we are developing with Africa Command. We intend to be as bold and daring in the implementation, experimentation and evolution of Africa Command as Mosby was during the Civil War. In terms of innovation and willingness to try different approaches, we intend to be as earnest as Mosby was in developing new tactics and experimenting with different types of irregular cavalry formations.

That said, however, I am not an expert on Africa. That expertise resides within this assembled audience. My expertise lies in the management of large enterprises and getting them to operate more effectively. But the first step to improve any organization requires initiating a dialogue and that is what we have been engaged in since President Bush announced the creation of Africa Command in February of this year.

I have made several extended trips to the continent, visited dozens of nations and have held frank and open discussions with numerous African political, military and business leaders. I have also just recently returned from Europe, where we held detailed discussions with many of our Western European friends and Allies about Africa Command.

So, while not an expert, I want to share with you some of the opinions I've formed to date as we have engaged on this subject.

MY OPINIONS
• The United States, by virtue of its size and history, intuitively brings a continental perspective to issues and is the only nation that can look at Africa as a continent and not as a collection of discrete regions or nation states.
• US actions in Africa are perceived through the larger lens of America's global strategic role, which can sometimes appear more threatening to Africans, since we have more operational reach and a broader strategic perspective than other actors possess.
• Other nations know much more about Africa and possess a greater understanding of the continent's challenges than we do in America. But, others are also captives, to some extent, of their history with the region and that limits what they can achieve.
• Many of Africa's challenges are transnational and regional in nature. African governments and institutions are moving toward a sense of “continentalism” and in some instances accountability and we need to adapt using new approaches, like AFRICOM.
• With sustained and coordinated commitment, we can achieve results in Africa, but that success will take decades, not years. Progress in Africa is not a sprint but an Ironman triathlon that requires the vigorous use of all elements of national power—diplomacy, investment, military and economic. AFRICOM provides a mechanism for sustained engagement on the continent.
• By nature, Americans are individualistic, while Europeans and others are more communalistic. To be successful, America has to adapt its approach to be both more multi-lateral and bilateral.
• AFRICOM is a bold experiment and a most innovative strategic concept. It will need to evolve markedly over time as we learn from you how to make our contribution on the continent most effective.


AFRICOM Strengthens Strategic Relationships

I understand there are some concerns about how existing relationships will change as AFRICOM stands up over the coming months and years. The bottom line is that some relationships will change. But I think you will come to see that the bulk of these changes will yield positive results.

With AFRICOM, you will begin to see noticeable efficiencies and improvements in how we engage with your respective governments and security forces. When we collaborate on training exercises, through AFRICOM we will provide instructors and trainers who possess richer regional experience and possess a mindset committed to the long-term investment in your success. When we work with your Ministries of Defense to identify officers for specialized training in the United States, AFRICOM will be able to coordinate those procedures within the context of closer relationships between your respective staffs and the staff at AFRICOM.

When natural disasters occur, we will already have a mechanism in place to respond rapidly to African requests for assistance, and to mount disaster relief efforts that leverage the resources and skill sets of all US government agencies on the continent. When crises arise, AFRICOM will be there to support your disaster management efforts and bolster the outcomes.

This weekend has been about explaining our vision for AFRICOM, why we think it is necessary and listening to your insights. In reality, however, AFRICOM's success hinges on how you collectively help inform its development and engagement. It will only be as effective as the nations of Africa want it to be in terms of us helping you help yourselves by working to professionalize your security forces, conducting joint training exercises and enhancing African security arrangements and structures.

Our Dialogue Will Continue

This weekenddoes not mark the end of our conversations on AFRICOM. It does, however, mark a transition to a new stage of our ongoing dialogue. Since February, we have been building the blueprint for AFRICOM – determining structure, disposition, areas of operations, mission hand-off schedules, fiscal and legal issues, and assorted administrative elements. We have invested significant time and energy to consult with you, solicit your ideas and listen to your valued advice. We remain interested in hearing your continued questions and comments as our planning moves to the next stage. We will continue to meet with you as required and listen to what you have to say, not only today, but as AFRICOM learns to crawl, and walk and function as a real command over the next year.

We know we do not have all of the answers understood as AFRICOM takes shape or even have the right questions framed. But no one possesses all of the answers here. We are humble in our approach and realize we will make mistakes as we move forward. But I want to assure you that we remain open to your perspectives, we want to hear your ideas and we will adapt and evolve as we garner insights and lessons learned along the way.

AFRICOM is a bold departure from how America usually establishes new military organizations. Historically, new commands only emerge after some crisis or disaster has occurred. The Pacific and European Commands are a legacy of the headquarters that fought World War II. Central Command was created in the aftermath of the Iranian Hostage Crisis in the late-1970s. Northern Command was established after the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

By creating AFRICOM now we hope to avoid a future disaster from occurring that we can all agree is not in the interests of either Africa or the United States. This command is something new and different. It reflects a new and profound American commitment to enhancing African security on a sustained versus episodic basis. AFRICOM will endeavor to help us create the conditions so that problems do not erupt into crises and crises don't result in catastrophes. Personally, I think we can deem it a success if AFRICOM keeps American troops out of Africa for another 50 years.

Thank you for your participation in this weekend-long dialogue. Your commitment is truly heartening.