Africa: Lost cause for U.S Military?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 16:43:02 -0500

Ranging for peace keeping, Humanitarian assistance, reconstruction..... etc.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2014 6:39 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 18:39:56 -0500

The U.S. can't do it alone. It's too big and would take a world wide effort to fix it. There are many countries that are doing their part like Japan, Germany, and France. China has definitely developed a heavy footprint there in their search for gold and other minerals so they should up their humanitarian assistance as well.
Unfortunately though all of this aid is causing a culture of corruption. Check out Zambia and see how well they've spent their aid.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Dec 9 at 2014 7:12 PM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 19:12:08 -0500

Lost cause? No

A money PIT? YES

We seem to be consumed with Africa and keep sending them funds after funds and i dont know if we will ever be able to help them. It seems we are the only ones that send them money and troops for aid.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2014 7:34 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 19:34:42 -0500

Having returned from Africa recently, I think I will weigh in.
First: what is the "cause" to be lost?
If it is to promote stability, prosperity, and degrade extremism, than we are on point. Stability sometimes means a status quo that is distasteful, but better than the likely alternative. Read: Libya. The Kenyattas of the world might not be modern-day saints, but they can be reasoned with and often have goals that mesh with ours.
There are a lot of bad actors on the continent, most of them local in scope, but nasty, barbaric purveyors of the worst parts of humanity. Trafficking in persons, forced prostitution - often of children, child soldiers, rare animal poaching, rape... all are common activities of these people. Some of these groups have gotten a little more enterprising of late, attacking shipping, industry, or government targets.

If the "cause" is to counter corruption, then the cause is definitely lost. Let the State Department give it a try. Maybe they will make some inroads. I can say with conviction that the vast majority of US and Foreign aid go to government officials and not for the intended purpose. If we want to do good deeds in Africa, we would be best served to send expertise and deliver it ourselves than try to get them to do it for themselves. The continent is just not wired that way.

African people are impressive in their self-reliance and work ethic. They aspire to prosper and become players in commerce and economic development. They have the natural resources to get there. They just need a good friend to help them realize their goals.
If it isn't us, China, Russia, and to a lesser extent others would be happy to do it for their own purposes. They are busy working towards that right now.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Dec 10 at 2014 8:45 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 08:45:18 -0500

Having been there, during "Restore Hope" IMHO, Its another situation of stabilizing a region that will only be re-de-stabilized by their own government's lack of action the moment we pull out. I pity the people, but we spend so much effort and money helping corrupt governments who then can't help their own people. Is it a lost cause, probably not but it's a tough and expensive effort.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2014 9:56 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 09:56:49 -0500

Lost Cause? No. However, IMHO we have been going about it the wrong way. The governments of Africa need to be able to stand up and self sustain the things that we bring for it all to work. The problem is that they don't have the economic means to do so with much of what we do there.

Response by MAJ William Guglielmi made Dec 10 at 2014 12:33 PM

MAJ William Guglielmi — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 12:33:37 -0500

It is not a lost cause--more like a forgotten cause. The majority of our efforts since the 1960's have been narrowly focused: first, anti-communist, then anti-apartheid, then anti-Libyan, then anti-Islamic extremism; etc.... Our policy has been a string of 'anti' something, Sure, we have had some success in humanitarian areas and have made some progress in some human rights efforts, but I would argue that we have never had a coherent and consistent set of political and military objectives.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Dec 10 at 2014 1:32 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 13:32:39 -0500

Lets ask our 2 resident experts who are in Djibouti at the moment CPT Private RallyPoint Member , SSG V. Michelle Woods What's your take on this question?

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Dec 10 at 2014 2:20 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 14:20:08 -0500

Wrong question at wrong level. The question is not whether Africa is a lost cause for the US Military. Rather the questions are/should be:
- What is the US strategic interest in Africa?
- What is the "whole of government" US strategy to further the US strategic interest in Africa?
- What is the US military piece of the "whole of government" US strategy?
- After asking/answering these questions then we can have an educated and informed discussion as to US Military missions, tactics, and how/if they are successful or not.
- Tactics without a strategy will win battles but not wars or other operations. Strategy without tactics will lose both wars and battles. It takes a winning strategy combined with good tactics to win both battles and wars.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2014 8:52 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 08:52:38 -0500

IMHO the military shouldn't be doing this, we need to stop being world police. there are charity organizations and international police organizations you can join if wish to do such things.