The Pacific is not always pacific
but the name, applied to a US Military Command is fairly benign. As are the names Central, Northern and Southern. European is locale specifc but it's been around so long no one notices.
OTOH, naming a new Command for a specific and troubled continent at a time whee we're in one of our periodic 'throwing our weight around' modes is probably not very smart.
I have no question that the long standing division of the continent among three Commands should be rectified for many reasons but an innocuous name would soothe the concerns of many. Regardless, we've done it and named it.
That did not mean we then had to go shopping for an office building and get embarrassed by having our credit card rejected -- totally predictably -- in several countries. Hopefully, we will not be dumb enough to bully our way in somewhere.
If Southern Command can operate from Miami, so could Africom...
No question that the Command should be located
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SteveMetz
But remember that Southern Command operated for decades from Panama. And old SOUTHCOM hands will tell you that it was more effective then.
As an old Africa hand, I kind of feel like that if none of our erstwhile partners on the continent want to host a training, advisory, and security assistance command, maybe we should just write them off.
...there and as a visitor to SOUTHCOM then and later, no question said old hands are more than right. However, as you know, there's a reason SOUTHCOM is now (but probably not forever) in Miami. I'm merely thinking aloud that the same rationale applies to AfriCom at this time. Two or three years in the future will likely be a bit more propitious. I'm probably a tad over reactive on the PR angle in this and many things because I keep seeing us getting tromped in that arena -- and not only by erstwhile enemies... :wry:
Not being at all familiar with Africa and lacking a willing host you may be correct on a write-off but given we've announced the Command even that wouldn't be easy.
Participate in? I thought that was the
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mark O'Neill
Rob,
Where is the fun in that?
Isn't building units, HQ and 'empire' the default game that all Western Militaries like to participate in?
. . .
Mark
overriding reson d'être. In US parlance, flags and spaces make stars... :)
Rob, adding your comment to Mark's...
Great. We can work with this. We're already in Djibouti, I noted in my 13 Jun Jane's that our White Hatted friends say they're going to almost permanently keep a small deck Gator in the Gulf of Guinea for training and support. So we put the command in those two locations and this justifies the Command aircraft TDA to bump up from a C21 or UC 37 to a C20. Or maybe even a C40. Of course, a couple of SH 60s will be required to ferry from the LSD to the nearest airport. Plus extra spaces due to the aircraft support contract management and the distributed model. The potential is endless... :D
Seriously, the distributed model has merit, might be a worthwhile experiment.
The Americans Have Landed
Esquire magazine - The Americans Have Landed by Thomas P. M. Barnett.
Quote:
A few years ago, with little fanfare, the United States opened a base in the horn of Africa to kill or capture Al Qaeda fighters. By 2012, the Pentagon will have two dozen such forts. The story of Africa Command, the American military's new frontier outpost...
SF, CA and PsyOps should be
in my view, returned to the Army (and at least some SEAL teams to the Navy) and USSOCOM should keep the DA, SR and allied tasks. The major problem in the services has been the melding of the SOF culture with that of the broader service and that is a really significant issue, a big hazardous disconnect, that someone better get a handle on before it creates a minor disaster.
The two sides are totally distrustful of each other -- both with some very legitimate complaints and both with some self righteous flaky complaints. A major mistake the Army made IMO was to create the SF Branch. The cross fertilization that was available before at all ranks was more beneficial than is the slightly increased competence due to the formation of the branch. I realize that's not going to change either but some method of breaking down the barriers better be explored.
That is not to say that I disagree with SOF, I'm a firm believer and a former practitioner. JSOC was necessary, USSSOCOM was possibly not -- I give them credit though for being innovative, developing a rapid and effective procurement system and some great capabilities but they are over secretive (with some justification and then, most everyone is over secretive) and way too parochial. They're doing some innovative and very good things but it's supposed to be a national effort.
So let me join you in that minority. I am a SOF Believer of the first water but not a USSOCOM fan. I railed against Barbwire Bob when he was lobbying to get it set up -- not that anyone paid much attention -- and I think it was a mistake. Immaterial, really, it's here and Parkinson's Law will apply.
Thus, we will have dual chains of command in operation until a bunch of people get badly, totally, publicly killed by foul-ups due to that duality and the distrust for the community of the Big services (and vice versa). That's the American way. Regardless of how the Command morphs, I'd be willing to bet at some time, most if not all elements in theater will be responsible to the Theater Commander.
Army Gen. William Ward to Lead Africa Command
11 July Reuters - Bush Picks Black General to Lead Africa Operations by Kristin Roberts.
Quote:
U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday nominated Army Gen. William Ward, the highest ranking black in the U.S. military, to lead the new Africa Command and coordinate military operations on the continent.
Bush's decision in February to create Africa Command came after months of discussion inside the Pentagon and reflected increasing U.S. strategic interest in the continent and worry that Islamic militants were finding safe haven there...
More...
Quote:
Africa Command will first be part of European Command and have some operational capability by October. It should be a stand-alone, operational command by the end of fiscal year 2008, which ends September 30, 2008.
The Pentagon has not decided where to put Africa Command's headquarters. Ryan Henry, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, in June said the command might set up staff offices at different places around the continent.