North Africa's problems: their view vs. the U.S. view

by Ben Reilly Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:16 am

So now, it has fallen to Gen. Carter Ham — the second officer to run AFRICOM — to explain its role.

"We think our best efforts are when we are supporting and enabling African nations and African regional organizations to achieve their ends," Ham said in Washington in December. "That often gets condensed into the short hand, 'African solutions to African problems.' "

African leaders tell the U.S. military that real African problems aren't about war and conflict, but poverty, food shortages and a lack of education.

But the U.S. Africa Command sees a different African problem: terrorism.

http://www.npr.org/2013/01/23/170087261/u-s-military-seeks-its-role-in-north-african-conflicts

by veya_victaous Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:28 pm

Well if people are starving, poverty stricken without the ability to better themselves (Education) then the chances of them being disenfranchised enough to join a militant action groups are greatly increased.

the solution to terrorists isn't guns or bombs but food, education and compassion. Sure there will always be extermists, but we can greatly reduce the numbers they can infulence if the standard of living improved in those areas.

by Ben Reilly Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:47 pm

veya_victaous wrote:the solution to terrorists isn't guns or bombs but food, education and compassion. Sure there will always be extermists, but we can greatly reduce the numbers they can infulence if the standard of living improved in those areas.

Exactly -- extreme situations have always given rise to extremist ideologies. For instance, look at the rise of fundamentalist Christianity when Europe was in the grip of the "black death" plague.

Here's another author's musings on the same topic:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6136133

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North Africa's problems: their view vs. the U.S. view

North Africa's problems: their view vs. the U.S. view

sort of the same thing

Re: North Africa's problems: their view vs. the U.S. view

Re: North Africa's problems: their view vs. the U.S. view