Foreign Correspondence

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United States increases its military clout across Africa

Africa is of growing strategic interest to the United States because of its terror links and its oil, seen as a possible alternative to Middle East fuel. The United States is now militarily involved in Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti, soon Africa and probably already Pakistan although that has yet to be confirmed. #msg-2520880

This involvement does not include covert operations in a plethora of other places.

This involvement is, however, required to fight the “world war” in which according to the PNAC's seminal report, Rebuilding America's Defences: strategy, forces and resources for a new century, we will "fight and win multiple, simultaneous major theatre wars".

Woolsey, a Wolfie pal, bluntly told U.C.L.A. students that to reshape the Middle East, the U.S. would have to spend years and maybe decades waging World War IV. He also mentioned that Iraq was the opening of a "fourth world war," and that U.S. enemies included the fundamentalist religious rulers in Iran, states such as Syria and Islamic terrorist groups.

We’re not really supposed to be talking about this now. They will spring it on us later.

Bush's aides will not discuss the future – yet.
"We don't want to talk about a broader agenda now," one of his aides said. "It's not the time. The time will come."

This is a world war they speak of, one that could last for decades, serious stuff. You storm the basilica; I’ll sit here and drizzle. -Am

United States increases its military clout across Africa

2004-02-29 / Associated Press /
The United States is scaling up its military presence in Africa as concern mounts over terrorist threats - both immediate and future - on the continent, the deputy head of American forces in Europe said.

"The threat is not weakening, it is growing," U.S. Air Force General Charles Wald said in a telephone interview Friday with The Associated Press from Luanda, Angola. "We can't just sit back and let it grow."

The focus on Africa is part of major restructuring as U.S. forces in Europe reposition for the war against terror.

The European Command oversees U.S. military activities in Africa excluding the Horn, site of a U.S. counterterrorism effort for northeast Africa and Yemen.

Africa is of growing strategic interest to the United States because of its terror links and its oil, seen as a possible alternative to Middle East fuel.

European Command is not looking to station large concentrations of troops on the continent, Wald said. But it intends to make its presence felt through joint exercises, training initiatives and other exchanges.

U.S. forces have also negotiated access to a number of sites, including air strips in Angola and Gabon, that can be used for stopovers, refueling, or to position troops and equipment.

Wald said this will allow U.S. forces to respond with light, mobile troops - whether for peacekeeping, crisis response or a specific terrorist threat.

"We're actually going to get more capability with less force because of our ability to move around fast," he said.

Key to the effort is supporting the development of strong regional security groups, improving the capabilities of African police and soldiers, and building relationships with the continent's governments and militaries, Wald said.

Wald is one of at least three top U.S. commanders to touch down in Africa over the past two weeks, following on the heels of the U.S. commander in Europe, Marine General James L. Jones. And he said he expects to be back about every three months.

Wald's trip includes stops in regional military powers Nigeria and South Africa; oil-rich Angola, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe; and Algeria and Niger, whose vast desert expanses are seen as a potential haven for terrorists.

At the same time, U.S. Air Force Major General Jeffrey Kohler, the European Command's point man on planning for force reconfiguration, has been visiting the Saharan nations of Mauritania, Mali and Niger.

The three generals are leaders in proposals awaiting a decision in Washington to shift from Cold War-era troop buildups in western Europe to smaller concentrations closer to the world's trouble spots.

http://www.etaiwannews.com/World/2004/02/29/1078026919.htm


Reference:

http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=2101766

Woolsey, a Wolfie pal, bluntly told U.C.L.A. students that to reshape the Middle East, the U.S. would have to spend years and maybe decades waging World War IV. He also mentioned that Iraq was the opening of a "fourth world war," and that U.S. enemies included the fundamentalist religious rulers in Iran, states such as Syria and Islamic terrorist groups.

One of George W Bush's "thinkers", Richard Perle, spoke about
"total war", I mistakenly dismissed him as mad. He recently used the term
again in describing America's "war on terror". "No stages," he said. "This
is total war. We are fighting a variety of enemies. There are lots of them out
there. All this talk about first we are going to do Afghanistan, then we
will do Iraq... this is entirely the wrong way to go about it. If we just let our
vision of the world go forth, and we embrace it entirely and we don't try to
piece together clever diplomacy, but just wage a total war... our children
will sing great songs about us years from now."

But several of the hawks outside the administration who had pressed for war with Iraq have moved to the next step. R. James Woolsey, a former director of central intelligence, said Wednesday that Iraq was the opening of a "fourth world war," and that U.S. enemies included the fundamentalist religious rulers in Iran, states such as Syria and Islamic terrorist groups.
Woolsey seemed to be speaking for at least some in the administration. But Bush's aides will not discuss the future – yet.
"We don't want to talk about a broader agenda now," one of his aides said. "It's not the time. The time will come."
Excerpt from Bush aides deny war new aspect in foreign policy

By David E. Sanger
NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE
April 6, 2003

Perle is one of the founders of the Project for the
New American Century, the PNAC. Other founders include Dick Cheney, now
vice-president, Donald Rumsfeld, defence secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, deputy
defence secretary, I Lewis Libby, Cheney's chief of staff, William J Bennett,
Reagan's education secretary, and Zalmay Khalilzad, Bush's ambassador to
Afghanistan. These are the modern chartists of American terrorism. The
PNAC's seminal report, Rebuilding America's Defences: strategy, forces and
resources for a new century, was a blueprint of American aims in all but name. Two
years ago it recommended an increase in arms-spending by $48bn so that
Washington could "fight and win multiple, simultaneous major theatre wars".
This has happened. It said the United States should develop "bunker-buster"
nuclear weapons and make "star wars" a national priority. This is happening.
It said that, in the event of Bush taking power, Iraq should be a target.
And so it is.

Next on Perle's list would be Iran.

"It's part of the problem, not part of the solution," he said.
Perle's approach to Tehran would be different. He asserts the people of Iran are increasingly disaffected toward their government and favorable to the United States. That instinct could be "encouraged" with propaganda and support to political opposition groups.

"There may be ways to get other resources to opponents," he said.

Perle believes the overthrow of the government in Iran could be bloodless.

"We should be doing everything we can to encourage the centrifugal forces" of change there.

Perle said the United States should then turn its attention to longtime allies, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. – excerpt: Top Bush Adviser: 'Get Saddam Out Violently', NewsMax.com Wires, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2001