U.S. plans Africa military command

Operations would be centralized; location still to be determined

From wired reports
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon will establish a new military command to oversee its operations in Africa, President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Tuesday.

Creation of the U.S. Africa Command, which had been expected, will "strengthen our security cooperation with Africa and create new opportunities to bolster the capabilities of our partners in Africa," Mr. Bush said.

The president said he had directed Dr. Gates to establish the command by Sept. 30, 2008, the end of fiscal year 2008. The location of the command will be determined after discussions with Congress and officials of countries on the continent, Mr. Bush said.

Dr. Gates, testifying Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that creating the command would eliminate an "outdated arrangement left over from the Cold War."

Three commands now divide responsibility for operations in Africa: The European Command, which oversees most countries on the Continent, except the Horn of Africa; the Central Command, which has responsibility for Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia and Kenya; and the Pacific Command, which has responsibility for Madagascar, the Seychelles and the Indian Ocean.

The man who is about to become the head of the Central Command, Adm. William Fallon, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Jan. 30 that he favored establishment of an Africa Command, in light of the humanitarian crises and instability across much of the continent and the strategic importance of the region. "The Horn of Africa sits astride one of the most critical sea lines of communication in the world," Adm. Fallon said.

On Tuesday, the committee endorsed him to succeed Gen. John Abizaid to head the Central Command and sent the nomination to the full Senate for confirmation.

The New York Times