VOA常速英语2007-African Reactions Mixed on New American Military

By Kari Barber
Dakar
03 October 2007

When the United States officially launched a new military command for Africa, this week, several countries on the continent reacted positively¹ to the new post. Liberia even offered its own territory as a possible base. But other countries, especially in the southern part of Africa, are positioning themselves against heightened U.S. military presence, which they view as unnecessary and intrusive². From Dakar, Kari Barber has more on why AFRICOM may be facing resistance and what American officials say the purpose of the new command will be.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has invited the new Africa U.S. military command to set up headquarters in Liberia, a historical ally of the United States.

Liberian Minister of Information Lawrence Bropleh says he is hopeful the American presence can help the country rebuild infrastructure³ devastated⁴ in recent civil wars and bring employment.

"For Liberia, we see it as a 'win-win' situation, because we are coming out of war and the presence of a U.S. military outfit⁵ will represent a possibility where our country will feel more secure. Development and security will be the way for our post-war-conflict success story," said Bropleh.

Botswana President Festus Mogae has said he is not closed to the possibility of cooperating with the United States on the new command, but says he is just not sure what it will look like.

"It is our understanding that they have, in fact, visited many African countries to consult about the project, but, otherwise, we are still not very sure, ourselves, as to what the proposal is. Our own position is that we do not have any position at this point," explained Jeff Ramsay, spokesman for President Mogae.

Others have been forthright⁶ in their opposition⁷ to the new Africa Command.

The countries that make up the South African Development Community, known as SADC, have pushed for unified⁸ resistance to the command.

Senior Pentagon official Ryan Henry says he is trying to get the message out that the new command is not about increasing military presence in Africa, but is about restructuring what already exists.

"We did have consultations⁹ with South Africa and, at that point, we made it clear that Africom is not about bases and it's not about new forces, so we really do not see that as an issue there has never been any plans to put any forces in South Africa, in the SADC countries or anywhere new on the continent," said Henry.

Responsibility for American military involvement in Africa has been divided among three commands. With the unification, officials say they hope efficiency will be improved.

Analysts¹¹ say the establishment of AFRICOM reflects the growing importance of Africa to U.S. security and economic interests.

Senegalese human rights lawyer Ibrahima Kane says African nations have been working hard, in recent years, to make the continent more independent. He worries the command could mean increased foreign influence.

"I think that is the best way to deal with African issues, [is] giving African countries an authority to deal with those issues, but if we included other countries and actors that do not have the same objective, I think it will be damaging for the whole continent," said Kane.

With the U.S. war on terror, Africa has become a strategic security interest, as many people see it as a potential safe haven¹² for terrorist groups.

Kane says he worries close involvement with the United States military may cause African nations to become wrapped up in conflicts that are not their own.

Analysts have also expressed concern that the military goals of Africom could become mixed with U.S. government humanitarian¹³ efforts.

Analyst¹⁰ for Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies Jakkie Cilliers says this is not what the continent needs.

"Our concerns are developmental concerns. They are poverty and they related to the absence of functioning states on the continent and there is very little military forces can really do to deal with those major challenges," said Cilliers.

Cilliers says in South Africa, an economic and political powerhouse on the continent, many people do not see this as a means for America to help Africa, but rather America looking out for its own interests.

"The history of U.S. engagement will be that this is about U.S. interests and the U.S. will do whatever it wants to do in its interest. And, Africa, as is often the case in the past, will be a spectator," added Cilliers.

Criticism and resistance to the new command were expected, says defense¹⁴ analyst J. Peter Pham of the U.S.-based Nelson Institute for International and Public Affairs. But Pham says the United States could gain support, even from its staunchest critics, if it works closely with bodies such as the African Union, and if it treads lightly on African soil.

"American personnel, American material and such should be limited to what is necessary to help Africa stand up for itself. As long as it is on that premise¹⁵, then I think you will get buy-in [participation] and you will get the partnership," said Pham.

American military officials say details about how AFRICOM will work still need to be worked out, but they say they plan to establish an estimated five bases in the continent.

The Africa Command, temporarily housed in Stuttgart, Germany, is expected to be fully¹⁶ operational by late 2008.

1 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

2 intrusive   

adj.打搅的；侵扰的

参考例句：

• The cameras were not an intrusive presence.那些摄像机的存在并不令人反感。
• Staffs are courteous but never intrusive.员工谦恭有礼却从不让人感到唐突。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

5 outfit   

n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装

参考例句：

• Jenney bought a new outfit for her daughter's wedding.珍妮为参加女儿的婚礼买了一套新装。
• His father bought a ski outfit for him on his birthday.他父亲在他生日那天给他买了一套滑雪用具。

6 forthright   

adj.直率的，直截了当的 [同]frank

参考例句：

• It's sometimes difficult to be forthright and not give offence.又直率又不得罪人，这有时很难办到。
• He told me forthright just why he refused to take my side.他直率地告诉我他不肯站在我这一边的原因。

7 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

8 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

9 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

11 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

12 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

13 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

14 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

15 premise   

n.前提；v.提论，预述

参考例句：

• Let me premise my argument with a bit of history.让我引述一些史实作为我立论的前提。
• We can deduce a conclusion from the premise.我们可以从这个前提推出结论。

16 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。