davidbfpo
11-01-2013, 12:58 PM
The Oxford academic Paul Collier, well known for his book The Bottom Billion, in a new book chapter he argues that Africa needs a common standing military force that can be deployed against rebellions. From a short review:
The reason this makes sense in Africa is that the kinds of conflicts that occur are ones where a few thousand gunmen with small arms can be relatively easily out-gunned and out manoeuvred by well equipped and professional forces. That’s not the same in many other parts of the world, but in Africa the practicalities of military interventions are relatively simple, it’s the politics of intervention that’s the problem.
Link to review:http://www.ippr.org/articles/56/11438/do-we-need-an-african-nato
Link to book (due out next week):http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9781783560066
Personally I cannot see African governments agreeing to an African NATO, nor would the UN take responsibility. Africa does have a number of professional militaries, equipment is another matter, let alone having the airlift, mobility and more to act.
The reason this makes sense in Africa is that the kinds of conflicts that occur are ones where a few thousand gunmen with small arms can be relatively easily out-gunned and out manoeuvred by well equipped and professional forces. That’s not the same in many other parts of the world, but in Africa the practicalities of military interventions are relatively simple, it’s the politics of intervention that’s the problem.
Link to review:http://www.ippr.org/articles/56/11438/do-we-need-an-african-nato
Link to book (due out next week):http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9781783560066
Personally I cannot see African governments agreeing to an African NATO, nor would the UN take responsibility. Africa does have a number of professional militaries, equipment is another matter, let alone having the airlift, mobility and more to act.