Should the U.S. be more involved in Africa?

The U.S. Can Not Walk Away From Africa:

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2006 – The United States walks away from Africa at its own peril, the U.S. general in charge of military operations there said in an interview here yesterday.

Marine Gen. James L. Jones, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and commander of U.S. European Command, said Africa is a reality that cannot be denied. The continent is potentially an economic giant, and the United States must engage on the continent.

The United States has the opportunity to do the right thing in Africa, Jones said. “It’s an exciting part of the world," he said. “We cannot walk away from Africa for a whole lot of reasons, including moral reasons. It’s an area where we can highlight all of the good things that the United States stands for."

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

The problem with 'engaging' Africa is, one, the level of horror these people readily employ. We would have to go full bore, no PC, shock troop berzerkers on them. We just don't do that. They, though, will 'engage' in machette death.

Two, as the absolutely incredible one says, either way we will be killing "brown and black skinned people". It'd just make us all kinds of racist.

Hello Aint you do make me laugh I like that we might not agree on a lot of things but I like your style.I read these comments and laughed myself.

Marine Gen. James L. Jones, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and commander of U.S. European Command, said Africa is a reality that cannot be denied. The continent is potentially an economic giant, and the United States must engage on the continent.

It's to late America has had since 1945 to do the right thing in Africa and look at what America has done.It's China's turn you see the deals she is striking around the world and in Afica the latest one being in Negeria,oil everybody needs it.

You know I could go on but all I will say is that we the thinking and aware are looking at the west's interference in the Ivory coast,Sudan,and Somalia.We might be wrong but we do not think that America wants anything good to happen in or to Africa.

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....but we do not think that America wants anything good to happen in or to Africa.

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This is a very sad but seemingly true statement; one which I think will come back to haunt America.

Not just the US but Europe must engage more in Africa and find more ways to help Africans to help themselves. Europe is Africa's neighbor and is being swarmed by people trying to escape that continent. Not only is helping Africa morally necessary, it is also necessary to Europe from a security point of view.

I agree, as I stated in a post elsewhere, uranium from Africa was one of the claims made which took us to war in Iraq. There are resources in Africa which will be exploited to the detriment of both Europe and America, yes it is also a moral issue of human suffering, but I definitely agree that it is also a security issue.

I do not know what to think about American and UN Forces involvement in Somalia. From my outsiders view, it appears as though we pulled out with our tail between our legs. The warlords and militia groups were very hard to contain. But I also feel like Africa, as a continent, bears some responsibility. There is a movement to have a United Africa, similar to a United States or European Union. Although the African Union faces many challenges and are rather weak at implementing agreed upon policies. I think that a United Africa could be much more resourceful in solving its’ own problems; but that is a dream which has yet to materialize.

I may sound a bit slow here but what is it that American is suppose to do for Africa? I thought the US was sending aid to Africa or food or something? I know them poor people need help and we should help if we can, but I thought we were helping. Can you fill me in with some more information about what American is suppose to be doing?

Debt relief would be a good place to start.

The US does give aid to African countries. Billions in our life time alone. But, its not enough. It never will be, not to some. If the US emptied its entire gross worth into the countries of Africa, if all the charities and private companies that make donations to African countries went belly up to give it all, some would say give more, more, more. Maybe next time they get that email from Nigeria, they should send the money.

The US has excused millions, probably billions, of African debt. But you see, someone has called for more, more, more.