America has moved closer to introducing its forces into the restive Niger Delta, following the approval of President George Bush for an African Command Centre to assist needy countries to counter militant problems in their areas. The initiative followed Washington's acceptance to host an international conference on the Niger Delta to find lasting peace in the area.
"This new command will strengthen our security cooperation with Africa," President Bush said. The US president said he had asked Defence Secretary, Robert Gates to get the new command, up and running by the end of September 20 08. He said the US would consult African leaders on the command's base.
Gates said the new Africa command would allow the US to better coordinate action and counter potential threats because the administration received more than 20 percent of its oil from Africa and is worried about increased economic and diplomatic competition from China. There are also a variety of US security and humanitarian concerns, ranging from the potential rise of militant Islam to the threat of failed states and the specter of future genocide, especially in the Dafur region of Sudan.
The Pentagon said there are real potential threats, including terrorist threats that could emerge in war-torn areas, such as Somalia and Niger Delta. The Africa command would be the fifth regional operations base for the US and will concentrate on military assistance to African nations, which is currently divided among three regional commands. Gates revealed the new plans as he addressed the Senate Armed Services Committee on the defence spending which President Bush proposed in his 2008 budget and submitted to Congress.
"This command will enable us to have a more effective and integrated approach than the current arrangement, an outdated arrangement left over from the Cold War," Gates said. He said the Africa Command Centre would "oversee security, cooperation, building partnership capability, defence support to non-military missions, and, if directed, military operations."
Last year, the Pentagon requested Africa governments to forward a request on the kind of military assistance they would require from the new command. Senior Pentagon officials said former President Olusegun Obasanjo specifically requested America's assistance in pacifying the Niger Delta by deploying marines to improve security.
Posted: at 6-06-2007 06:56 PM (17 years ago) | Newbie
democrazy at 23-09-2007 11:50 PM (17 years ago) (m)
the beginning of the state of emergency to be introduced soon in the niger delta.
Posted: at 23-09-2007 11:50 PM (17 years ago) | Gistmaniac
wat nonsense, i believe Nigeria is more than capable of handling our own problems thank you!they should concentrate on the thousands of their soldiers that are dying in Iraq and leave Nigeria well alone, we have overcome greater turbulences(biafra) i am more than confident this issue will be resolved in due time.
Posted: at 25-09-2007 02:49 AM (17 years ago) | Gistmaniac
myragonza at 25-09-2007 09:32 AM (17 years ago) (f)
blame it on Bush....he is full of bullshit....he can't take care of his people in US and now he wants to interfere in other countries issues.....first was Iraq then, Kuwait now Nigeria......a bunch of A*#Ss!!!!!
I don't believe the focus should be on the united states but on Nigeria. If we (or more realistically our leaders) decide not to have the presence of American forces in the Niger Delta, then there will be no reason for any U.S troops deployment in the area.
I believe the government needs to sit down with the legislative arm, the NDDC, local leaders and the militia heads (including those among govt. officials) and to iron out whatever issues are involved in the crisis. On my part I think the only way out is to directly influence the lives of the millions of individuals living in the Niger Delta. This should be done first by ensuring that they live in comfortable surroundings and then provide them with the opportunity to be part of the exploration and exploitation process. Once they there is a relatively equitable prospect of not having to leave your homeland to become a lesser human being elsewhere, the rate of anger against the govt. and the expats will diminish and then development exercises can continue.
If we can deal with this problem with the most amount of sincerity especially from the govt. and the expats, then we can call the U.S bluff on their military offers but if not, we'll continue to feed off their military crumbs.
Posted: at 19-11-2007 09:33 AM (17 years ago) | Newbie
while he's busy sending troops to other countries...Who's gonna be invading the white house? i hope i get appointed for that special position oooooo.....
Posted: at 19-12-2007 05:37 PM (17 years ago) | Addicted Hero
Yeah and when you file your 2008 checks it gets deducted from there..thats what they said...though i aint' gon be getting any checks back..i had to pay back taxes....remember he did that same thing when he first became president?..send out checks to everyone....I think its a way of him trying to get a republican back into the white house.
Posted: at 17-02-2008 02:28 PM (17 years ago) | Addicted Hero
Quote from: nigerianvixen26 on 17-02-2008 02:28 PM
Yeah and when you file your 2008 checks it gets deducted from there..thats what they said...though i aint' gon be getting any checks back..i had to pay back taxes....remember he did that same thing when he first became president?..send out checks to everyone....I think its a way of him trying to get a republican back into the white house.
You might be right...But i tell you what ,the democrat are in the lead and i hope Obama wins
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