Comments on: AFRICOM and the Geopolitics of African Oil http://concernedafricascholars.org/africom-and-the-geopolitics-of-african-oil/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=africom-and-the-geopolitics-of-african-oil acas Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:58:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: The military will lead efforts in understanding Africa « Mengineyo http://concernedafricascholars.org/africom-and-the-geopolitics-of-african-oil/comment-page-1/#comment-104 The military will lead efforts in understanding Africa « Mengineyo Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:21:41 +0000 http://concernedafricascholars.org/?p=1066#comment-104 [...] is a good example of US foreign policy toward Africa past and present. Many of us believed Obama will reverse this history of disruptive relations. However,  the military budget of 2009-2010, shows little divergence from the previous [...] [...] is a good example of US foreign policy toward Africa past and present. Many of us believed Obama will reverse this history of disruptive relations. However,  the military budget of 2009-2010, shows little divergence from the previous [...]

]]> By: Bill Bray http://concernedafricascholars.org/africom-and-the-geopolitics-of-african-oil/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Bill Bray Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:08:33 +0000 http://concernedafricascholars.org/?p=1066#comment-25 Thank goodness President Obama isn't as cynical about the potential for the U.S. to be a constructive partner in Africa as Dan Volman is. For sure, U.S. military interaction with African militaries is tricky. It comes with risk and some downside, but there are plenty of examples elsewhere in the world where U.S. military engagement has, in the long run, been a productive factor in helping countries build more professional and responsible militaries, and democratic societies. For an academic who claims to be an expert on U.S. military activity and security policy in Africa, I was surprised to hear him get so many of his facts so terribly wrong. He must have some poor sources. And when the facts were more or less correct, he took care to put the most ominous possible spin on them, questioning the motives of faithful, honest civil servants. There can be an honest, reasonable debate about Africom and U.S. policy towards Africa without resorting to condescension toward our fine military and character assaults against decent public sevrants. Thank goodness President Obama isn’t as cynical about the potential for the U.S. to be a constructive partner in Africa as Dan Volman is.

For sure, U.S. military interaction with African militaries is tricky. It comes with risk and some downside, but there are plenty of examples elsewhere in the world where U.S. military engagement has, in the long run, been a productive factor in helping countries build more professional and responsible militaries, and democratic societies.

For an academic who claims to be an expert on U.S. military activity and security policy in Africa, I was surprised to hear him get so many of his facts so terribly wrong. He must have some poor sources. And when the facts were more or less correct, he took care to put the most ominous possible spin on them, questioning the motives of faithful, honest civil servants.

There can be an honest, reasonable debate about Africom and U.S. policy towards Africa without resorting to condescension toward our fine military and character assaults against decent public sevrants.

]]> By: tom kirkpatrick http://concernedafricascholars.org/africom-and-the-geopolitics-of-african-oil/comment-page-1/#comment-23 tom kirkpatrick Sun, 12 Jul 2009 06:34:57 +0000 http://concernedafricascholars.org/?p=1066#comment-23 Mr Volman was excellent last night on Al Jazzera Television News commenting on Obama's visit to Ghana and the press around that.Best interview about the real reason and truth behind involvement in Africa by US foreign policy makers. Mr Volman was excellent last night on Al Jazzera Television News commenting on Obama’s visit to Ghana and the press around that.Best interview about the real reason and truth behind involvement in Africa by US foreign policy makers.

]]> By: Cynthia G http://concernedafricascholars.org/africom-and-the-geopolitics-of-african-oil/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Cynthia G Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:52:03 +0000 http://concernedafricascholars.org/?p=1066#comment-20 As always, Volman provides keen insight and critical awareness around a set of key concerns often less openly discussed within the context of African politics. Also helpful is this 2007 report by Lubeck, Watts and Lipschultz's 2007 report: Convergent Interests: U.S. Energy Security and the "Securing" of Nigerian Democracy. [http://www.ciponline.org]. Moreover, David Hughes' public contention that academic researchers shouldn’t accept employment with the Defense Department could not come at a better time. Noted this brief article: AFRICOM Building Research Center: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=63315 Thank you to social scientists with such integrity and and long-term dedication to various aspects of African politics and peoples. Anthropologists David Price as well as Catherine Besteman also help keep modest grad students on track and considers some scholarly concerns about and responses to AFRICOM. Thank you again... As always, Volman provides keen insight and critical awareness around a set of key concerns often less openly discussed within the context of African politics. Also helpful is this 2007 report by Lubeck, Watts and Lipschultz’s 2007 report: Convergent Interests: U.S. Energy Security and the “Securing” of Nigerian Democracy. [http://www.ciponline.org].

Moreover, David Hughes’ public contention that academic researchers shouldn’t accept employment with the Defense Department could not come at a better time. Noted this brief article: AFRICOM Building Research Center: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=63315

Thank you to social scientists with such integrity and and long-term dedication to various aspects of African politics and peoples. Anthropologists David Price as well as Catherine Besteman also help keep modest grad students on track and considers some scholarly concerns about and responses to AFRICOM. Thank you again…

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