Running After Resources, Guns Ablazing

US to get Africa command centre

President George W Bush has approved a Pentagon plan for a command centre for Africa to oversee US military activities on the continent.

US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said the new Africa Command would allow the US to better co-ordinate action and counter potential threats.

Mr Gates said the Pentagon would consult the US Congress and others about the plans.

Africa Command would be America's fifth regional operations base.

Responsibility for Africa operations is currently divided among three regional commands.

It was unclear whether the new command centre would be located in Africa or the United States - along with the US Central Command, the Southern Command, and the Pacific Command.

'Outdated arrangement'

Robert Gates was addressing the Senate Armed Services Committee on the defence spending President Bush proposed in his 2008 budget, submitted to Congress on Monday.

"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 an outdated arrangement left over from the Cold War," Mr Gates said.

He said Africa Command would "oversee security, co-operation, building partnership capability, defence support to non-military missions, and, if directed, military operations".

US officials say Africa is of growing strategic importance to the United States because of increased efforts by China to gain influence on the continent.

Also, the Pentagon has voiced concern over potential threats, including terrorist threats that could emerge in war-torn areas, such as Somalia.

Original article posted here.