Post by Djedi Maaur on Feb 24, 2008 8:23:06 GMT -5
President John Kafur of Ghana (pictured above) dogged Bush about intention to build bases there and "even brought it up in their private meeting prior to the press conference. "You're not going to build any bases in Ghana," Bush said Kufuor told him."
Although Bush denied these intentions, many of you may recall the article I posted here a few weeks ago about the AFRICAN COMMAND bases the US had been planning for the continent.
peace
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From Die Spigel (German) Newspaper
SPIEGEL ONLINE - February 21, 2008
With the establishment of a military command responsible for Africa, the US was hoping to promote peace and stability on the continent. The problem is, the Africans want no part of the American military.
"That's baloney," US President George W. Bush told the press in Ghana on Wednesday. "Or, as we say in Texas, that's bull."
Bush's words, spoken during a joint appearance with Ghana's President John Kufuor, were about as direct as it can get. And the reason for the outburst was clear: Throughout the week -- as the US president has traveled to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and, on Thursday, Liberia -- worries have been spreading across Africa that the Bush administration is planning to build military bases on the continent.
According to Bush, Kufuor even brought it up in their private meeting prior to the press conference. "You're not going to build any bases in Ghana," Bush said Kufuor told him. "I understand," Bush responded. "Nor do we want to."
The concerns, though, haven't come out of nowhere. Last October, a new US military command, called AFRICOM -- short for African Command -- began initial operations. The idea isn't much different than other regional commands run by the US military and is a recognition that stability and prosperity in Africa has a major role to play in global security. Indeed, AFRICOM advertises itself as "a different kind of command." Instead of a heavy focus on weapons systems and soldiers, AFRICOM -- currently based in the southern German city of Stuttgart -- sees itself as a glorified aid agency focusing on, as the president has put it, bringing "peace and security to the people of Africa and to promote the ... development of health, education, democracy and economic growth."
www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,536789,00.html
Although Bush denied these intentions, many of you may recall the article I posted here a few weeks ago about the AFRICAN COMMAND bases the US had been planning for the continent.
peace
e
a
c
e
From Die Spigel (German) Newspaper
SPIEGEL ONLINE - February 21, 2008
With the establishment of a military command responsible for Africa, the US was hoping to promote peace and stability on the continent. The problem is, the Africans want no part of the American military.
"That's baloney," US President George W. Bush told the press in Ghana on Wednesday. "Or, as we say in Texas, that's bull."
Bush's words, spoken during a joint appearance with Ghana's President John Kufuor, were about as direct as it can get. And the reason for the outburst was clear: Throughout the week -- as the US president has traveled to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and, on Thursday, Liberia -- worries have been spreading across Africa that the Bush administration is planning to build military bases on the continent.
According to Bush, Kufuor even brought it up in their private meeting prior to the press conference. "You're not going to build any bases in Ghana," Bush said Kufuor told him. "I understand," Bush responded. "Nor do we want to."
The concerns, though, haven't come out of nowhere. Last October, a new US military command, called AFRICOM -- short for African Command -- began initial operations. The idea isn't much different than other regional commands run by the US military and is a recognition that stability and prosperity in Africa has a major role to play in global security. Indeed, AFRICOM advertises itself as "a different kind of command." Instead of a heavy focus on weapons systems and soldiers, AFRICOM -- currently based in the southern German city of Stuttgart -- sees itself as a glorified aid agency focusing on, as the president has put it, bringing "peace and security to the people of Africa and to promote the ... development of health, education, democracy and economic growth."
www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,536789,00.html