America's New Frontline: Diplomats or Warriors?

America's New Frontline : Diplomats or Warriors? (Aljazeera Witness - September 20,2009)

In October 2008, the US formally launched Africom, a new military command for Africa.

Rageh investigates the genesis of Africom – the critical combination of the Bush administration's neo-con world view, the increasing panic about access to natural resources and the launch of the so-called war on terror.

One of the new programmes involves training forces in Rwanda, the army of a government that was previously accused of undermining democracy.

Elsehwere Africom provided logistical and intelligence support to the Ugandan army (UPDF) in 2008, in operations against rebel forces, thus embroiling itself indirectly in an African war.

The UPDF is strongly associated with Yoweri Museveni, the Ugandan president, who changed the country's constitution to extend his term of office indefinitely.

In July 2009, Obama promoted sustainable democracy, good governance and peaceful resolution of conflict fo the African continent.

Africom's complex relationships in Uganda, Rwanda and other African countries highlight the dilemma Obama faces.

Can he extract the new command from the legacy of the Bush administration and turn US-African relations in a new direction?

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