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"Bush Africa visit seen more about strategy
18:33 - 15/02/2008
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's
comingAfrican tour will emphasise the caring side of U.S.
policy but it is widely seen as being more about military
interests, oil supplies and combating Chinese influence.
Bush is scheduled to start a tour of five nations with a
brief stop in Benin on Saturday, although he has threatened
to delay the trip because of a legislative battle with
Congress.
The five countries -- Tanzania, Ghana, Liberia and Rwanda,as
well as Benin -- have been chosen for what are viewed as
strong democratic credentials and successful U.S. aid
projects.
The centrepiece and longest stop of the tour will
beTanzania, whose leader, President Jakaya Kikwete, is seen
by Washington as a poster boy for progressive African
government.
Bush, accompanied by his wife Laura, will visit
hospitals,schools, AIDS and malaria projects. In Tanzania he
will sign the biggest ever grant, of $698 million, under his
Millenium Challenge Corp, to fund water, energy and
infrastructure.
The MCC is intended to reward good governance and sound
economic policies.
Kikwete named a new cabinet this week after the previous
prime minister resigned over a corruption probe but
Washington sees this as confirmation of the president's
anti-graft credentials rather than an embarrassment.
Bush's attempt to anoint some of his more successful
policies in Africa in the dying months of his presidency
risks being derailed by cynicism over U.S. motives and the
sameissues, led by Iraq, that have made him unpopular
elsewhere.
About 2,000 Muslims marched peacefully through Dar esSalaam
on Friday to protest against Bush and his war on terror.
One of the march organisers, Sheikh Mussa Kundecha, told
Reuters: "Bush will be here for his own benefit instead of
caring about the people of the country."
Student Emmanuel Dickson said earlier: "America and Bushhave
one policy, to look after their own interests. If he is
going to give us money for infrastructure and health ...
whatdoes he want in return? He wants to bring forces to
Africa andhe wants to stop the Chinese from getting a
greater hold."
Beijing is now Africa's third biggest trading partner,behind
the European Union and the United States, after a huge30
percent jump in the first 10 months of 2007.
AFRICOM
Analysts say confused U.S. policy on Africa and bad handling
of its new Africa command (Africom), particularly premature
discussion of basing it on the continent, have alienated
regional powers like South Africa and made Washington
unpopular.
Bush approved Africom, a new command for Africa to offer
both training to African armies and humanitarian work, a
yearago. But African opposition has forced it for the moment
to shelve plans to base the headquarters on the continent.
Africom has added to Africa's unhappiness over other
elements of Bush's post 9/11 campaign against Islamist
militants.
U.S. backing for the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia a year
ago to prop up a weak transitional government against
Islamist insurgents and the subsequent "rendition" of Muslim
suspects,including Kenyan nationals, to Ethiopia has caused
widespread anger.
Patrick Smith of the Africa Confidential newsletter saidU.S.
policy "appears to be at sea ... what is the foundation
ofthe policy? Is it a security nexus based on militarisation
or is it a much more development-oriented policy?"
"There is a sense that Africa has got the fag end of the war
on terror and that it has been very badly handled and if
anything has diminished the U.S.'s standing in the region
with no great benefit in terms of military effect."
There is also a widely held belief around the continent that
Bush is trying to counteract growing Asian, especially
Chinese, influence and investment and that Washington is
only really interested in oil resources in the Gulf of
Guinea --expected to provide 25 percent of its needs by
2015.
"What is on top of Bush's mind is the Chinese. China is
worrying to the U.S. It is not only taking markets and
alternative trade partnerships ...African countries will no
longer need American aid to survive," said Ugandan
studentJoseph Mwaka.
Houcine Akkari, a retired man in Tunis told Reuters: "The
U.S. says it wants to help Africa to boost democracy, reduce
poverty and improve governance. But the truth is so
different.Bush wants to exploit Africa which is rich in
natural resources, without giving anything to Africa."
(Additional reporting by Wangui Kanina, Francis Kwera in
Kampala, and SoniaOunissi in Tunis)
http://www.eleconomista.es/mercado-...sh-Africa-visit-seen-more-about-strategy.html
18:33 - 15/02/2008
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's
comingAfrican tour will emphasise the caring side of U.S.
policy but it is widely seen as being more about military
interests, oil supplies and combating Chinese influence.
Bush is scheduled to start a tour of five nations with a
brief stop in Benin on Saturday, although he has threatened
to delay the trip because of a legislative battle with
Congress.
The five countries -- Tanzania, Ghana, Liberia and Rwanda,as
well as Benin -- have been chosen for what are viewed as
strong democratic credentials and successful U.S. aid
projects.
The centrepiece and longest stop of the tour will
beTanzania, whose leader, President Jakaya Kikwete, is seen
by Washington as a poster boy for progressive African
government.
Bush, accompanied by his wife Laura, will visit
hospitals,schools, AIDS and malaria projects. In Tanzania he
will sign the biggest ever grant, of $698 million, under his
Millenium Challenge Corp, to fund water, energy and
infrastructure.
The MCC is intended to reward good governance and sound
economic policies.
Kikwete named a new cabinet this week after the previous
prime minister resigned over a corruption probe but
Washington sees this as confirmation of the president's
anti-graft credentials rather than an embarrassment.
Bush's attempt to anoint some of his more successful
policies in Africa in the dying months of his presidency
risks being derailed by cynicism over U.S. motives and the
sameissues, led by Iraq, that have made him unpopular
elsewhere.
About 2,000 Muslims marched peacefully through Dar esSalaam
on Friday to protest against Bush and his war on terror.
One of the march organisers, Sheikh Mussa Kundecha, told
Reuters: "Bush will be here for his own benefit instead of
caring about the people of the country."
Student Emmanuel Dickson said earlier: "America and Bushhave
one policy, to look after their own interests. If he is
going to give us money for infrastructure and health ...
whatdoes he want in return? He wants to bring forces to
Africa andhe wants to stop the Chinese from getting a
greater hold."
Beijing is now Africa's third biggest trading partner,behind
the European Union and the United States, after a huge30
percent jump in the first 10 months of 2007.
AFRICOM
Analysts say confused U.S. policy on Africa and bad handling
of its new Africa command (Africom), particularly premature
discussion of basing it on the continent, have alienated
regional powers like South Africa and made Washington
unpopular.
Bush approved Africom, a new command for Africa to offer
both training to African armies and humanitarian work, a
yearago. But African opposition has forced it for the moment
to shelve plans to base the headquarters on the continent.
Africom has added to Africa's unhappiness over other
elements of Bush's post 9/11 campaign against Islamist
militants.
U.S. backing for the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia a year
ago to prop up a weak transitional government against
Islamist insurgents and the subsequent "rendition" of Muslim
suspects,including Kenyan nationals, to Ethiopia has caused
widespread anger.
Patrick Smith of the Africa Confidential newsletter saidU.S.
policy "appears to be at sea ... what is the foundation
ofthe policy? Is it a security nexus based on militarisation
or is it a much more development-oriented policy?"
"There is a sense that Africa has got the fag end of the war
on terror and that it has been very badly handled and if
anything has diminished the U.S.'s standing in the region
with no great benefit in terms of military effect."
There is also a widely held belief around the continent that
Bush is trying to counteract growing Asian, especially
Chinese, influence and investment and that Washington is
only really interested in oil resources in the Gulf of
Guinea --expected to provide 25 percent of its needs by
2015.
"What is on top of Bush's mind is the Chinese. China is
worrying to the U.S. It is not only taking markets and
alternative trade partnerships ...African countries will no
longer need American aid to survive," said Ugandan
studentJoseph Mwaka.
Houcine Akkari, a retired man in Tunis told Reuters: "The
U.S. says it wants to help Africa to boost democracy, reduce
poverty and improve governance. But the truth is so
different.Bush wants to exploit Africa which is rich in
natural resources, without giving anything to Africa."
(Additional reporting by Wangui Kanina, Francis Kwera in
Kampala, and SoniaOunissi in Tunis)
http://www.eleconomista.es/mercado-...sh-Africa-visit-seen-more-about-strategy.html
