11 February 2004
Wolfowitz Cites Importance of Africa In U.S. Security Policy
Defense official highlights partnerships at ACSS Senior Leader Seminar
By Jim Fisher-Thompson
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- The Pentagon's number two civilian, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, February 9 told more than 120 military and defense officials from Africa that America would stand shoulder to shoulder with them to counter a wave of international terrorism that threatens the security of not only their continent but the whole world.
At the same time, he called on the leaders to live up to their responsibilities to work together to encourage economic growth and political participation and to enhance security both in their own countries and in the region.
"I'm told there's an African proverb...it says, ‘One hand alone cannot tie a bundle.' Let the United States and the nations of Africa work together to find solutions to the problems we face," especially terrorism, the official said.
Wolfowitz, a defense intellectual who has been described by some as a driving force behind the new U.S. policy of forward engagement that resulted in a U.S.-led coalition of forces undertaking action in Afghanistan and Iraq, was speaking at the beginning of the Senior Leader Seminar sponsored by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) February 8-20 in Washington, D.C.
ACSS is part of the Defense Department's (DOD) National Defense University and runs workshops on issues like defense budgeting and the proper role of militaries in democracies. Top military and defense officials from 44 African nations are attending the ACSS seminar whose director, former Marine Corps General Carlton Fulford, described it as an opportunity for African leaders to share experiences and work toward solutions to common security problems.
According to Wolfowitz, "Africa has already been drastically hurt by terrorism. We remember not only the bombings in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi in 1998, but more recently in Mombasa and in Casablanca. The global war on terrorism, in other words, is not only an American concern or a concern of the developed world; it is a growing African concern as well. We are working closely with many of our partners in Africa to combat terrorism. The Pan-Sahel Initiative and the East Africa Counter-terrorism Initiative are a key part of our efforts in that regard on the African continent."
He added, "I hope that you can understand as I do that good governance and democracy, security and economic growth are as essential to the global war on terrorism as direct action. The United States looks forward to working with African countries on all fronts in this war."
Hammering home his anti-terrorism message, Wolfowitz said, "When the United States acts in the world we do not act by ourselves but as part of a community of states, and we see our strength multiplied by the contribution of others and our interests advanced when the interests of others are advanced."
In that regard, Wolfowitz noted that NATO is taking a prominent role in the operation against terrorists in Afghanistan, while in Iraq the United States is countering die-hard resistance by adherents of Saddam Hussein with the help of militaries from 26 nations.
U.S. worldwide commitments "have grown even more global in scope since the terrible attacks of September 11th and the global war on terrorism which occupies so much of our attention," Wolfowitz explained. "But despite our commitments elsewhere, African nations should have no doubt about the importance my country attaches to Africa."
There are many reasons for this, the U.S. official said, "including humanitarian ones, but we also as a country need to view Africa from a perspective of security -- both that our relationships with Africa can contribute to security on the continent and that security in Africa can contribute to security in the United States.
Wolfowitz told his audience the war on international terrorism "has brought us to put together a coalition of more than 90 countries," employing not only the military but "intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies and even the foreign ministries of our respective countries to pursue terrorists and to capture them and to get them off the street."
With that in mind, he said, "We want to build partnerships that manage concerns and ensure compatibility among our forces. We want to share intelligence with our friends. In some cases American forces will be in a supporting role. In other cases we will be supported by others. The U.S. government, through the Agency for International Development, the Department of State, and our own programs in the Department of Defense and many other governmental agencies, is supporting efforts to develop democratic institutions, to promote economic growth, to develop peacekeeping mechanisms, to support humanitarian operations, and many other programs in Africa."
As an example of U.S./African partnerships, Wolfowitz said, "We were in a supporting role when West Africa and ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) forces intervened last year in Liberia -- a crucial supporting role, however, as I had the occasion to observe at the time.
"Our goal as much as possible is to increase the capacity of our friends to provide for their own security. But we do believe that the militaries of African countries can and must attain a higher degree of professionalism, one that is better suited to the challenges of the 21st century."
Repeating his belief that "strengthening institutions in Africa has got to be the key to moving forward," Wolfowitz said "Africa is now at a crossroads in political, military and economic terms. We see the prospect of peace finally at hand in Sudan even though negotiations are still ongoing. Countries such as Botswana are successfully tackling their economic development problems at the same time that they are consolidating democracy and managing their AIDS crisis."
Speaking directly to the African officers and officials in the audience, Wolfowitz said, "As leaders in your countries, you have a tremendous responsibility to help lead your societies in a direction that encourages economic growth and genuine political participation. Too often irresponsible actions by government officials hinder the ability of their people to achieve prosperity. The challenge for you as national and regional leaders, both civilians and military, is to work together to solve the problems facing the nations and regions that you represent.
"In our view, in order for the security sector of your governments to contribute effectively to this end, three principles are critical: ensuring civilian control in military reform, developing military professionalism, and building a capacity to serve the nation's military needs appropriately."
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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