Have to agree with Tom. I know what the book says and
I also know how our Guvmint really works. The Departments do effectively set de facto policy in many areas. Sometimes it's followed up with a de jure Presidential nod, sometimes not. Frequently it just fills a vacuum and stays around. It also is sometimes set not by a Department but by one of their minions on the ground and the Department involved embeds it.
That latter construct has gotten even more deeply entrenched since Goldwater Nichols gave the geo Cincs so much clout...
Also agree with Tom on the NSA but in defense of some would point out that a firm and more bureaucratically aware (is that a nice way to put it?) SecState or SecDef can hobble even the best NSA. That's happened to others aside from Rice.
CentCom is always amusing
in my observation... :rolleyes:
VOA 5-part series on AFRICOM
VOA has just started a 5-part series on AFRICOM. Check out first installment at http://www.voanews.com/english/Afric...fit-Africa.cfm
AFRICOM deputy talks to Pentagon 'bloggers' and Internet reporters
Africa Command Pledges to Partner with Other U.S. Agencies
Not a bad start, General. Now if we could just get those 'other agencies' to agree with you. :rolleyes:
Quote:
The military's unified command responsible for engagement activities across Africa will work in tandem with other U.S. government agencies to assist partner nations there to confront poverty, disease, terrorism and other challenges, a senior U.S. officer said today.
"We are not looking to take the lead for any other government-agency work that they are doing today across the continent or our international partners," Navy Vice Adm. Robert T. Moeller, U.S. Africa Command's deputy to the commander for military operations, told "bloggers" and Internet reporters during a conference call.
AFRICOM will team with the U.S. State Department and other U.S. agencies and organizations to assist African partners to combat AIDS, malaria and other challenges that affect regional stability and security, Moeller explained.
"The establishment of AFRICOM is not about the deployment of [sizeable U.S.] forces to the continent or the establishment of bases," Moeller emphasized.
A key point is that African nations are taking the lead in their relations with AFRICOM, which will assist those countries in developing the capacities they need to help themselves, Moeller said. Source: DefenseLink
Nice links at the site !
Africom: The military projection of foreign policy
I recently stumbled across this article written by by Jean Damu and published on Friday, December 282007 in the San Francisco Bay View, National Black Newspaper.
I was interested to note, to the extent that this article is representative, how black politicians and the Congressional Black Caucus view the establishment of AFRICOM.